The Western news. [volume] (Libby, Mont.) 1933-current, 1944-12-21
Libby Woman
Writes From
Heart Of Paris
Gives Most Interesting
Description Of What
She Sees in Paris.
SAYS ENGLAND 100
YEARS BEHIND TIMES

parents, Mr. and Mrs. Carl Larson,
that she Is now in Paris, having
flown there from England. Her let
ter follows, in part.
The farther we 90 from home,
the closer to home we get, as war
goes, and row it's Paris. We are
right in the heart of the city. To
and from work | pass the Arc of
Triumph each day, and our office
is close to the Eiffel Tower, and not
far from the Seine, so there are
three of Paris interesting attrac-
tons which are becoming common
sights to us -. :
Our trip was made by plane
from Cheltanham, England. Though
it was two days before we took off
because OF the weather, it was only
a few hours trip. It was safe and
uneventful except for 10 WAEs
getting plane sick, 50 we were busy
passing the helmets J. 1.-THE wealth.
er was rough part Of the time, but
the sun came out In time4tn give us
parting view of the white cliffs
OF Dover, then the channel and the
beaches Of France. Our pilot point
ed out several of the robot bomb
ramps the Germans had been using.
Our bombers had levelled every
thing off here now for some dis
ance around. ] saw SHAEF pictures
OF their locations before they were
destroyed and they were well cam
ouflaged peaceful looking country
side, but not now, thank good
ness. When ! think of the trouble
they gave us in London We haven't
even had an AFRAID alert here and
the blackout restrictions are not as
strict, that alone is quite a change.
It's good to see few lights again.
After being here from England,
| have definitely come to the con-
clusion thai England is 100 years
behind the times. Except for a few
differences such as language, Paris
could be another city in the states,
as it is modern in our sense of the
word
Five years of occupation hasn't
changed the French peoples de-
sire to be smartly dressed Of course
this is Paris and the capitol, SO
things would be better here, but
they certainly dress well.
Il received letter from you to-
day in which you mentioned Mag
mar r. being injured. | looked up
what information we have on him
and he is reported Liza, or lightly
wounded in action on. September is.
Because of a leather shortage,
Wooden-soled shoes and wooden
sandals are popular here. Incident
ally these wooden shoes are noisy
Il haven't decided which is worse
the English and their habitual tea
times at 10 a. m. and 3 p. m. or the
French and constant odor Of gar
lie throughout the office. | can well
understand why they use lots OF
perfume.
The former luftWaffe
Hq. Of the Germans was surround
ed by pill boxes, trenches and re-
endorsements of sand bags as were
other former Nazi headquarters
Throughout. the city. Many Of the
monuments which were here ir
Paris had been taken to Germany
for the metal they contained. There
are signs of German resistance
around most of the important pub
lie buildings, big holes in the side,
of buildings, bullet holes all over
broken windows, burned tanks ant
some of the ancient monument
have been broken or have big piece
Clipped out from gun fire. They ev
identally felt the best was non
too good for they occupied tn
incest hotels and public building
for their headquarters and person
mel Our office was occupied by til
luftwaffe and it is very nice. TIL
hotel we live in is one of the bes
and very modern. We have every
thing, maid service, lovely dinin
hall with French mattresses an
French cooks, a beautiful lobby
well, everything but heat and he
water Ard it is getting cold owe
here. We do have water once
week for the day, but no heat. w
had four blankets but turned tw
in to be sent to combat troops ];
the front, SO we pile everything bl
our shoes on top of the bed to kee
warm. Our offices are not heate
aithar h11t wa certainly haven't