SHOPS IN THE WAR ZONE

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2717, 11 March 1916, Page 12

SHOPS IN THE WAR ZONE

TOMMY'S DRY CANTEENS

Probably the finest effort ever inaugurated solely for the personal benefit of soldiers in any ivar lias been the establishment within tho war zone in France of what are known as Expeditionary Force canteens, and the Army Council is to be highly complimented' on their unequalled success. They aro hardly canteens in the true sense of the word, for they sell so many varied articles that they resemble in that respect some of the great London stores, with the reservation, however, that some branches cannot oven boast of a door to the shop. Still there are the Roods inside, and they comprise practically all the goods Tommy or his officer wants.

[ Co-operative Tommies. I There must have, been numberless difficulties to bo overcome in organising such an undertaking, but many curious things have happened in this war, not the least being that we should ojien shops for our soldiers in a. foreign countiy, and not only open the shops, but actually construct tho buildings first and then stock them with nil-British goods. At- tho head of , affairs are gentlemen not unknown in the catering world; other officials hold" commissions in His Majesty's Amy, while all subordinates arc in uniform, the entir.e staff being recognised as being engaged in the performance of duties under' military authority and subject to military law. There are a number of branches in various parts of France, and these branches are supnlied with goods from a base depot. The buildings are of wood and of temporary _ construction, the base depots having, in addition to the shop, a. largo storeroom, which is ' generally ,full from floor to ceiling, with sometimes three br four trucks on tho railway outside waiting to be unloaded. I Some branebos are situated in curious spots. Judging from the number of ' branches that have made their appearance sinco last February, ,-when the first was opened, many more are likely to follow, for their success is phenomenal. To give an example, a new base depot has rcccntly been opened, only a .doeen miles from tho firing line, and the first dav's sales amounted to over £1100. and it is a poor day now if they do not take £400 worth of orders. Tho staff at this particular depot only numbers twolvi, hut everybody is expeditiously served. An excellent catalogue is issued, coil, taining narticnlars of all goods stocked, ■in alphabetical order, and with prices in francs and centimes, although English money is willingly ftaken. The prices charged are exceptionally reasonable, though they aro inevitably,, in many cases, slightly in advance of home oricos, except as regards which is oxported from England free 0? dutv Nothing that n soldior can reasonabll want is lacking—from needles and cotton and soidlitn powders to tinned oral) and footballs, or from officers' sleepinglines to shilling cigars, gum boots at ISs. a pair, or nortable waslistands. at equally reasonable prices. _ Most regiments stationed behind tho linos for any period usually run nu officers' mess, and it is from these that the large orders come. Their cooks are able to serve up -in excellent, evening dinner, and probably 011 the sideboard, if they are lucky enough to have one, there will "be a selection of liouid refreshments which would do no discredit to a London club.-

A Deal In Matehos. One rule of these cahtcons. which is strictly adhered to, is that British soldiers only can he sprved, no other person being permitted to purchase anything either directlv or indirectly. In. this_ connection a rather strange state of affairs has arisen at a large base camp, which the local French n'eople are not precluded from visiting. French matches are notoriously horrible affairs, for not only are the fumes offensive, but they take about twenty seconds to burst into flame after -being struck. As a consequence the French are yory pleased to get English matches, and are always j-eadv to buy a Quantity, the m-ice being less than half tho price of French matches, which are a Government monopoly. Tommy Atkins, having found all this out ; proceeded to do some excellent business in the match trade, not only with his French comrade-in-arms, but also with the local tradespeople—■ with tho unfortunate result that he is now only allowed to nurchase one box at a, time; and should ho be sent, for a. dozen boxes for his superior officer, that officer's signature must be produced before ho gets them. , Naturally there is somo profit on tho organisation, but it is pleasing to noto that neither tho chief officials nor 'anv other individuals connected with it aro nlowed to participate in anv share whatever of tho profits, the whole of which will bo passed to the War Office, after spccial audit, and are devoted to tho good of the soldier and his dependents under tiie orders of the Army Council. The organisation is thus iu reality tho British Tommy's own co-operative society, founded in a foreign country for him and him nlone, and you may be sure h« fully realises it, for whenever any of his chums are visitini the placa containing a British canteen, his words are 'Bring me back something from, the canteen," and tho lucky individual usually returns overladen with goods, among which there a.re sure to plenty of and tinned fruit. The latter is a sumptuous delicacy in the trenches and the hoys never say "No" whert invited to share a tin.- —"Daily Express."