Glacier County chief., 1939-11-03

A tlrSt-nanQ account OF Ine re-
actions of the French people toward
brought to Montana few days ago by
Miss Margaret Gordon of Helena,
graduate Of Helena high school and
Montana State college. Miss Gordon
was studying art abroad as a member
of the travelling class of the New York
School of Fine and Applied Arts when
the war broke out.
The travelling class was in Italy late
in August when the situation abroad
grew ominous. At that time 1t was
generally believed italy would be in
volved in the struggle, and the Ameri-
can students were advised to leave.
But we wanted to go to Budapest"
she said land asked the American
consul if it was all right. He nearly
- fell through the floor. He said we
should get back to Paris as quickly as
we could"
The Helena girl travelled back to
Paris on an crowded train which
moved through the darkness without
lights. In Paris she was advised to get
into the country because of the pos
sibility of bombing raids.
Paris. as she left, was becoming a
city of bomb cellars. The bomb cellars,
"chic" or mot chic" 1.-THE chic ones"
she said, "are large and comfortable:
In the others you'll meet a lot OF
people who have been eating garlic"
Went to Mayenne
From Paris Miss Gordon went up
into the province of Mayenne-on the
morning Germany moved into Poland.
War was Just around the corner.
Mayenne was quiet and lovely and
the peaceful countryside seemed as
far as the stars from blttle-until
one looked at the highways. They were
damned with trucks moving SuppneS
and munitions toward the battleflelds.
There was no communication except
the French radio.
Then the English armies moved in
on their way to the western front, but
there was no flag waving, no cheering
on the part of the French people who,
while they will fight to the death TO
defend their country. are gong INTO
this war with an attitude stole IN It's
grimneSs.
Miss Gordon spent three weeks at
Mayenne waiting for things 10 QUE.
doWn"-waiting until somewhere near
normal transportation could be re-
stored. Even then it took ID hours TO
make the customary SlX-h0ur trip 10
Bordeaux where she waited three Gays
for the Shawnee. Things were nVely
and gay in Bordeaux with humdreaS OF
American tourists waiting Tor thelf
home. The Shawnee took the southern
route past the Azores and-eXcept Tor
some rough water-there was no I'M
toward incident to mar the trip.
No Thought of Defeat
War bites deep into the economic
resources of France and touches the
private life of every person. MISS Cor.
don said, yet there is no thought that
France may be beaten.
Were poor but the Germans are
poorer" is the brief comment OF the
French peasant. A.. x,o,s.
There is no one left in the FIELDS
but the women, she said, and there are
no Young horses left. They've been
requisitioned by the government. Ihere
are no new automobiles-theyt 700 nave
been reuuisitioned by the government.
Grain Of course is requisitloned:
But Miss Gordon said she detectso
no tremendous spirit of malice on the
part Of the French toward the Ger
toward one man-Adolf Hitler.
on the other hand, she sald, Sne
detected q feeling that the leaoerS I,i
in Europe is not up to par; Ine
people ask, Where are the leaders we
Should have todayp' then answer tn Ter
own question. They were killed In 'he
last war" +;,,,,od ore
hopeful that internal revolt VIII nreak
In Germany thus cracking tha' 'ouA-