SOLDIERS ALL

Evening Star, Issue 23292, 14 June 1939, Page 6

SOLDIERS ALL

CONSCRIPTION IH FRANCE (Contributed.) A youth wearing the word ‘‘.Bon,’? in gilt (paper, with blue, white, and red ribbons hanging .from it do wn-the. lapel of his coat, carries a sign,-that iets everyone know he has just passed me military medical examination and ; is “Good” for service as a, soldier, of his. country. Throughout France; he will forgather with his. companions,; also proudly displaying.the sign, and ia every town and village the young r£-.; emits will make merry. ■ Soon the day will come when the’new; recruit will be called up. On arrival ah the garrison town : he will . find a sergeant waiting to receive the new soldiers of France, and,; after marching from the station he will gather .with, the other? of his “ classe ” in the. barracks square; The farmer’s son, the clerk, the 1 student fresh : from his university, air are here, and among them are a few young‘meh in the flowing robes of priests who have left the seminary to give two years to the service of- their country. Nearly everyone has a small hand bag, a few only a white cloth bundle, and they look, around curiously at each other and at their surroundings. i , Across the big drilling ground the barracks-rise, and conspicuous, on the, wall’are the words “Honneur efc Patfie ” (Honour and Country), la a short time the new recruits will have been taught to march' properly, go through-their drill accurately. Then will come the great day when they will be worthy to take their place beside their elders. Drawn up in a square, the commanding. officer will pass them, in review, and then will telLthem what it means to be a soldier of France. He will remind them that every Frenchman considers .it ...an honour to be prepared to serve the country where he has been reared,- and e.nd by presenting the flag of the regiment. Trumpets sound, drums beat, while it is unfurled. Along the roads of Franca you will meet them singing -as ■ they .march along, beneath the blue sky and the' sun.,

Athletics■ play • a great part- in the training ,of the French soldier, and' football is much indulged in.- : Military service is a leveller; and once beneath the uniform t the boy from the farm or mine looks -just the same as the gilded youth. They get to know each other better.- But- stop One of them anywhere and put the - simple, question to him Combien? ” (How many?), and he wilt reply: “Two hundred and forty,” or “ a hundred and fifty,” and add, “au jus ” (at to-morrow’s' coffee distribution), which means that be has so many days still to serve. Two years of life to_ training, two years in which he has gained much in physical strength, a time of patience, of learning to obey, but when the' barrack doors open for the last time to let him pass out into the world, he will take away with him the satisfno +; m of knowing that should the call come lift will be able effectively to defend his country.