PARIS IN WARTIME

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 180, 29 July 1916, Page 13

PARIS IN WARTIME

PARIS, May 23. THE ATTACK ON VERDUN. There must exist something particularly attractive in Verdun for the Germans, for just as the two months' vain attack on the supposed fortress had ceased, it commenced again with renewed energy. Fortress is really an abstract word for Verdun, which is but an entrenched position of highly-defen-sive possibilities. The obsolete concrete and steel mountings no longer exist, militarily speaking; but the highsounding and important title of "fortress," which the Germans insist upon when referring to the Bcenc of their gigantic activities, evidently pleases them and offends nobody. Of course, the fall of so formidable a "fortress" would send the Kaiser's subjects into paroxysms of uncontrollable ecstasy; but, in spite of the greatest artillery display yet directed at the heart of the great "fortress" this week, it still stands where it did. There is every indication, however, that the German offensive, opened from the east of the Meuse, may extend as far as Woevre. Even so, the cry over here is: "They won't hive Verdnsi"

HIGHER COST OF LIVING. In spite of all Governmental anc municipal strivings to keep foodstuff! within living prices, ihe cost of thes< are constantly on the increase. Coalreally a strange mixture of somet'iinj black and stones—is difficult to procuri at 140 francs per ton; sugar has risen t( 1 franc 25 centimes the kilogramme and as much as four francs is beinj , charged for a single pound of butter j Everything else seems to have risei I concurrently, and yet very little grumb '. ling is heard. Those who happen /t< ; raise their voices iv mild protestatior are promptly reminded that in the 187< ! war "we were glad to pay a franc foi • an egg and dine off rata." This is in . variably sufficient argument for th< ; grumblers forthwith to hold theii tongues, and thank the Fates that mosl things necessary to life are procurable j at aUL And yet the port of Havre is sc full of merchandise of every conceivable ! kind that, were it possible to freight il ; all to Paris, there would actually be t 'glut of foodstuffs. The trouble is that being wholly occupied with military 1 work, railways and other transport ways have neither the time nor materia necessary to disgorge Hamre of its superfluity of edible goods. Food v oleatiM in _, do get

ting at it. Meanwhile, we axe daily . finding it more difficult to make enas meet, i "NO STTRRENDEB." Going his rounds of the Sens Hospital, ; the Surgeon-Major-in-Chief was no little 2 surprised to find a strange picture tat- , tooed on the chest of one of the wounded. This represented the Kaiser ' 'being kicked by a French soldier, and 'jcieated much amusement among the .; other inmates. "How came you to have 1 j such a dangerous illustration indelibly -jmarked upon your body?" asked the > officer with some alarm. Although sufi ] fering from a bad shell wound, the j j "poilu" laughingly explained that the r j scene but represented graphically what -jh? personally meant to do to the Gcr- » man Emperor if ever he got the chance. c "But had you fallen into their hands. t they would certainly have shot you for , lese-majeste," explained the militaxy , doctor, with apprehensive solicitude. . "Soldiere of my stamp, sir," Teplied the t man gravely, with a sweeping smile, k "die, but never surrender." ; INCREASED JUVENILE CHIME. t Some little while ago the clergy drew I attention to the increasing depravity of * children in France. This indictment is * now supported by reports issued by - various Childzen'e Aid Societies, accord-

ing to which juvenile crime has increased fourfold since the beginning of !^L W f- Amed b °y s *»to formed themselves mto "gangs," and as such have organised burglary raids on a big scale. Xhe contraction of school faei£ ties has had an effect in increasing delinquency. In Paris, for instance, about one-third of the school-houses have been emptied of pupils and put to military uses, as hospitals and the like. T_e consequence has been that classes have been crowded in the remaining schools school hours have been materially shortened, and female teachers have had to be .employed. The average boy and girl has euddenly found himself or herewith an increased number of leisure hours, generally without a restraining father to inflict chastisement for misdemeanours, and often without a mother as a substitute. The situation has been complicated further by the arrival in the larger towns of a great number of children from Belgium and Serbia—fugitives driven from their homes by the German invasion. Many lads of ten, twelve, and fifteen years now are entrusted as messengers with large sums of money, and in consequence, in some cases, embezzlements and thefts have resulted. It is almost a weekr» oocurrence to read in the newspapers of the flight or the capture of some youthful criminal.