PARIS IN WARTIME

Waikato Independent, Volume XL, Issue 3707, 21 May 1940, Page 3

PARIS IN WARTIME

RESTRICTIONS CHEERFULLY BORNE INTEREST IN BRITISH TROOPS (From a Paris Corrspondent). PARIS, April 2. But for sandbags" and uniforms, with many British among them, Easter, 1940, might have been a peace-time Easter. Children in the Tulleries Gardens looked wide-eyed at the barrage balloon crouching on the ground like a great green animal, and little boys in the Luxembourg Gardens explained the mach-ine-gun nests, but soon turned away to run to the Guignol, the punch-and-judy show, at the clanging of the showman's bell, or to hire small model sailing boats and set them on the artificial lakes and shout with excitement as their white sailed ventures skimmed towards the splashing fountain in the middle.

British soldiers in great numbers come to Paris, and with the warmer touch of weather they were able to enjoy the pleasure of sitting at the small round tables outside the -cafes on the Boulevards and watch the wonderful crowd go by. The R.A.F. look particularly smart, but one wonders why they always walk so quickly, almost flying. The British soldier at Easter got everywhere, and was to be seen in the Bois de Boulogne, along beside the Seine, as far south as Montparnasse, and as far north as the summit of Montmartre, where from the steps of the church of Sacre Coeur he had a panorama'yiew of all Paris at his feet.

Military police, with their red hats, were something new for tlie French, and they looked very dignified and serious. One little Parisienne with a small knowledge of

English explained to her friend that "M.P." meant Member of Parliament. Entertainment for Troops Two places popular with the British troops on leave were the Social Centre, in the Champs Elysees, and the Leave Club, on the Place de la Republique. Here an S.O.S. had to be sent out for dancing partners, responded to very willingly by a number of Red Cross nurses only too happy to oblige, and everyone had a jolly time, Lady Moore looking on smiling and happy. She is doing a great work at the Leave Club, a work which brings her memories of'the last war.

Restrictions on Meals

Restrictions have come and are cheerfully borne. As a matter of fact, they are by no means severe. The days on which only two dishes may be served in restaurants are little different from other days, especially as the dishes restricted in number are meat dishes, and one can order hors d'oeuvres and dessert with freedom.

The days on which cafes cannot serve "aperitifs," the alleged appetite provoking drinks, put no ban on wine, so that instead of a cocktail of dubious benefit one can drink fine French wines. Many people who had forgotten some of the wines for which France is famous renewed acquaintance with old friends. Pastry cooks are looking a bit glum behind their counters because of restrictions on the sale of pastry, and chocolates are to disappear. ~., ",'.'"

One confectioner's had a notice in the window,;"The last days of the condemned," with beside it a large box of chocolates.

Sand-bag Protection

Many of the well-known statues have disappeared under pyramids of sand-bags, and the obelisk, which

was standing three thousand years ago in Luxor, has a hideous poultice of sand-bags reaching half way up the shaft. The Marly horses, at the entrance to the Champs-Elysees, have also been buried beneath sand* bags. King Albert of the Belgians, on the Place de la Concorde, and Clemenceau, in the Champs-Elysees are without protection. The reason is that the moulds from which they were cast still exist, and in case of damage the statues can be recast at less cost than it would take to protect them.