MANY TOMMIES WILL WED FRENCH GIRLS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 14048, 19 July 1916, Page 6

MANY TOMMIES WILL WED FRENCH GIRLS.

BRITON ADMIRES THRIFT AND CLEVERNESS. British Headquarters m France, May 17. One of the results of the presence of the British army m France is that a good many British soldiers' Mill take French wives home with them. The difference m language, far from being a . barrier, is an accessory. Tommy Atkins teaches Miss France English, and Miss France teaches Tommy Atkins French. There is plenty of leisure for the courtship to develop. Frequently British battalions remain m the same section for months at a time. When the men have done their shift m the trenches they return, "m rest" as the saying goes, to the same villages where they were before. Usually; they have quarters m the French houses. • In a sense they become members of y the community. With the French men-folk away the British soldier lends a hand with any heavy work which requires a man's strength. Only to-day the correspondent saw a British soldier drawing a harrow. A feminine hand does some sewing or cooking for him m return. The romantic atmosphere is not lacking. When the Bifton says "au revoir" to his sweetheart and starts for the trenches he may never come back; and he is going to- fight for France. On Sunday afternoons the girls 1 are out m their best frocks as they aie anywhere else m, the world, and walking with them along the roads and lanes are men m khaki; their conversations are a mixture of French and English. „ It is not romance. alone that leads the Briton . to . marry m Franae. - He has learned to admire the thrift and cleverness ofi the Frenchwoman and her industry m taking th 6 place of her fathers and brothers Who are at the front. atmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmth