LIFE IN FRANCE

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21232, 1 October 1940, Page 2

LIFE IN FRANCE

TWO ACCOUNTS GIVEN LITTLE FOOD AND NO LIPSTICK (Times Air Mail Service) LONDON, August 15 Here are two accounts of life today in France-—that .part of France which the Petain Government rules so far as the Nazis permit. One is by the Madrid correspondent of the Daily Express, who managed to cross the frontier from Spain. The other is by Madame Pons—mother of Lily Pons—who has just left France. No. I.—Sent from Cerbere, on the Franco-Spanish frontier, by Daily Express correspondent Reginald Williams. The French police officials at the frontier knew me. I was lucky. They let me across—“but don’t go out of Cerbere,” they warned me. And now I sit on a cafe terrace overlooking the harbour. A few minutes ago I asked the waiter to bring me something to eat. He shrugged his shoulders and asked: “You have ration cards, monsieur?” “No,” I told him. Another shrug. “Then, I regret, monsieur, you can have no food. We have only a small ration for ourselves.” “Since this Government came we have no butter, no sugar, no meat.” As I watched the people passing I noticed thut none of the women used make-up. It is now forbidden —in France, of all countries, which has sent powder and lipstick ail over the world. Women cannot now buy wine, or any other alcoholic drink in a cafe or restaurant unless they have a man companion. Madame Pons’ Story No. 2—As told by Madame Pons, mother of the film star and opera singer, before she left Lisbon by clipper to join her daughter in America. I came to Lisbon two days ago from my country home near Avignon, where I have been staying with my other daughter. We saw many Germans in unoccupied France. Two weeks ago, in Avignon, I saw a commotion in the market-place, with gendarmes clearing a passage for sixteen smart limousines. In them were elegantly dressed, monocled German staff officers. The French country folk crowded around gaping. I was furious, and would have liked to tell them all to go home and not stand there looking at the invaders. { Recently Germans came to a small macaroni factory near our home and wanUd to buy ten tons. The manager said he had only five tons in stock. He was told he had 48 hours in which to produce the ten tons. But France will come back. You will see.