THE FRENCH ARMY.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 4, Issue 87, 24 September 1915, Page 1 (Supplement)

THE FRENCH ARMY.

WORST PAID AND BEST FED. Two farthings a day! That is the fat pay of the French conscript to begin with, but there are many good reasons for ins being quite contented with his lot. There is 110 menagerie like feeding in the French Army—that is to sayone big diet per diem, and let the rest ot the clay take care of itself. French soldiers are not expected to do a stroke of work till they have had steaming coffee and roll, and at ten o'clock in the forenoon they are called oil to dismiss hot soup ot tip-top quality. They are very busy men during the time that the British Tommy Atkins is attacking his official repast of stew and potatoes, but at two o clock the French conscript downs his tools and tackles a light repast which is neither dinner nor yet luncheon, but a species of snack. It is not until the day'a labours are over—■ usually about six p.m.—that he prepares for dinner proper, and what a dinner it is to be sure. Seldom less than three course*, and served in a style to satisfy a King—a hungry King at learst.

A BORX ARTIST. The French Army cook is a born cuisine artist, and the savoury dishes lie can concoct out of a handful of eggs are legion. It is as different from the system of regimental cooking in the British Army as night is from day. There is no rush and hustle to get the "hungry beggars'' fed by the simplc-st and readiest means obtainable, but rather a desire on the cook's part to live up to a high ideal cf Tasty menus. Small wonder, therefore, that thrccl'ourths of the famous chefs a: Paris were at on? time Army cooks, their fame in regimental kitchens, in many cases, dictating their civil career when the two ye.:trs of active service were up. Four diets are thus supplied the French conscript at Government expense, so that he need not spend a sou of his own slender income towards embellishing the regimental comniissnrat; but should lie be so disposed, a sum equivalent to one penny will purchase a mug of coffee and a tiny loaf and butter at tin- c.inteen, and a halfpenny more will <set him a snjill bottle 01 wine. Then he need not trouble about buying tobacco, for he is supplied on a liberal scale with the fragrant word ;;t the country's expense. THE MKAGKE POCKET-MONT, Y. Ail the-e advantages nr.irrthstar-fVng. a salary of a hni'fpenny a day takes a lot- of explaining away. Eve:i in the 1 ght of pocket-money it is only 3Jcl. per week—not very nun h frtr a voirog fellow fond of a littlt cni'Tlai/img i'e- o in his spare time. But another raci-:>r enter-; to discount this seeming penury. The French conscript system no class. It is all enveloping, and the young tellons annually drawn into the net comprise all shades of society, from the son of some rich finnnc:er down to the care-free ft' low from the slum who never saw his father. Now the spirit of the conscript is fraternal to a degree we in this country can scarcely conceive. If the wealthy banker's son receives a sleek remittance from home some day. every man in his mess is certain to benefit. It is one of the unwritten laws cf French comradcrie that "what's mine is yours." and not one conscript in a hundred would dream of evading it. Even between the commissioned officers and the men there is a spirit of friendliness prevalent not to be found probably in any other European army, enhanced, no doubt, bv the fact that nearly one half of these officers have risen from the ranks.

Small wonder, therefore that, despite Irs imposible-looking emoluments, the French conscript is as happy and contented a soldier as is to be found anywhere.