SOLDIERS' SHOPS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 294, 31 August 1918, Page 8

SOLDIERS' SHOPS

Tho E.F.C., or Expeditionary Force Canteens, in whatever foreign land Tommy is fighting, is generally situated not nearer than three miles behind tho line, while other branches extend everywhere from lines of communication to the base. The stores consist of a largo corrugated iron building with a counter at one end and tables and forms fdling the centre of the space. One portion of the place is partitioned off as a grocery canteen, while the remainder serves as a beer canteen.

A piano is the chief item so far as furniture is concerned, and of an evening you will find Tommy strumming music-hall ditties to the accompaniment of humming voices.

At most canteens of this nature a first-class dinner can bo obtained at an absurdly cheap price. For instance, I have had roast beef, potatoes, beans, pineapple, -and custard served me for ifr. 30c—a price which approximates to a shilling. The cooking is clone by Frenchwomen omployed by the ,E.F.C. authorities. How ponular these dinners are may be ostimatetl by the fact that each evening a queue of men forms up to obtain the meal. Each man is served with a plate, fork, and spoon, but he has to find his own knife.

Only a very small percentage of profit is obtained by the E.F.C, and then all of this profit benefits; the soldiers. For instance, every soldier in France last Christmas had a Christmas pudding served him which bad been bought by the E.F.C. Through the agency of the E.F.C. each unit, if it is desired, can obtain turkeys or

geese. There is a wholesale and a retail department connected with these "AVhiteleys" of tho front.. From tho wholesale department managers _of smaller canteens run by a section, company, or battalion can obtain goods ut a reduced price, Hundreds of these canteens exist throughout Franco and Delirium, and are run by soldiers for soldiers. Every soldier will testify that they are an jnestimablo boon. Tn an indirect way they are saving tonnage in ships' and labour.