CONDITIONS IN PARIS.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 1739, 21 July 1917, Page 2

CONDITIONS IN PARIS.

A VISITOR to Wellington, who has visited Paris during the present year, described the scene as very sad. “You people here,” he said, “ are complaining because you are without a few hours’ gas daily. How would it be with you were you to suffer as the people of Paris suffer? They have been without gas for over a year, and it is many

months since the Parisiennes Lave had electric light. Most of the people use candles or oil lamps for lights, and every evening the windows are double-hlinded, so that no ray of light may penetrate the gloom outside. That is because they must give no guide to enemy aircraft. Last winter there was no coal for gasworks or electric powerhouses, nor for the railways other than those engaged in military service. It was a hard, long, cold winter, too. Having no coal —(he French coalfields are in the hands of the Germans the French people resorted to the charcoal stove and brazier chimney to draw . off the fumes, but now and again one heard of people who succumbed to the fumes as they drowsed over charcoal fires in rooms that were ill-ventilated,. Few entertainments are now given in Paris —perhaps a tew vaudeville shows to help to entertain the soldiers home on leave from the trenches —no opera, and very few comedies. All families have been affected —some killed outright. But they will light on to the end. They have the measure of (he enemy, and are far from being the poor, decadent race that would be easily overrun by the highlytrained hordes of Germany. France has proved that she can meet them and boat them on level terms. It is the spirit of France that is beating the German ('very time he comes, and so it will be till the glorious finish!"