Rushden Boots for France - Local Manufacturers’ Visit to Paris
The Battles of the Marne and the Meuse
Paris No Longer “The Gay City”
A French Aeroplane Riddled With 400 Bullets

A deputation of the Rushden and District Boot and Shoe Manufacturers’ Association, comprising Messrs. C. W. Horrell, F. Sharwood, and H. Brawn, paid a further visit to Paris last week and approached the French War Office authorities with a view to obtaining further fresh contracts for boots for this district. They crossed from Folkestone to Dieppe on the Saturday night, Feb. 20th, their boat, the first to cross the Channel after the German blockade declaration, doing the voyage with all lights out. Six British torpedo destroyers escorted their vessel until they were within 20 miles of the French coast, when six French destroyers then took up the duty.

During the week they were on the Continent the deputation had several appointments with Government officials, and as a consequence it is expected that good results will be forthcoming. During the week they were in Paris, Messrs. Horrell, Sharwood, and Brawn found but little time to devote to anything but business, but they took advantage of a few hours’ leisure yesterday week to pay a visit to the scene of the battles of the Marne and the Meuse. This, so a representative of the “Rushden Echo” was informed, proved a very interesting visit, as there were to be seen the ruins of many bridges blown up by the French in their attempt to stop the advance of the Germans. The lines of trenches remained exactly as when the battle was fought, as did also the barbed wire entanglements.

Paris is no longer “the gay city,” but is drab and gloomy, a large percentage of the female population being in mourning, whilst wounded soldiers may be seen at every turn. The Hotel Astoria, a big Spanish hotel, has been turned into a hospital for the wounded.

The deputation enquired at several hospitals whether there were any British wounded, but found that there were practically none in the city. In Les Invalides were exhibited a large number of machine guns of Krupp manufacture, captured from the Germans, together with a German aeroplane. There were also on show a French aeroplane which had flown over the enemy’s lines no fewer than 120 times, and which had 400 bullet holes in its planes.

The return journey was made during the night of last Friday, Feb. 26th, the boat the deputation travelled by being one which narrowly escaped being torpedoed a few days previously, when the captain actually saw the deadly missile pass about 20 yards in front of his vessel’s bows.

Amongst the passengers on the homeward journey was the Duke of Manchester, who had just come from the front. The crossings at the present time are, we are informed, done at top speed, the journey occupying only about four hours. The most dangerous periods of the voyage are on departure from or on arrival at harbour.