U.S. At War: North African Echo

Ever since the once-mighty French battleship Richelieu limped into New York harbor six weeks ago with other ships of the French Navy (TIME, Feb. 22), New Yorkers have sympathetically watched, wined, dined and entertained the French sailors cavorting on shore leave. Easily recognized by the red pompon on their blue caps, the sailors strolled arm in arm up & down Broadway; they crowded the tiny French restaurants in the East Fifties, chatting with waiters, bartenders, barflies. Some started learning a few simple words of English (see cut), some gave their blood to the Red Cross.

Some began deserting their ships to join...

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