PAPERSPAST

The War and its Effect on Holland

A resident of Wellington has received the following letter from bis old schoolmaster in Holland: "New .Zealand does not appear to be yet- an ideal' democratic country, but old Europe is a long, long, way off also. It is all fire, flames, and wholesale murder. ■ , "Germany is trying to conquer France via Belgium, and England is helping France to checkmate that move. Russia is fighting Germany in Eastern Prussia and Toland; and the Russian mode of warfare is something awful. 'Barbaric' describes it best. "It has been figured out that Ger* many has lost 2,000,000 men. "Numerous cities and towns have been destroyed in Belgium. "Although our country is out- of the actual warfare so far, the effects of the war in Holland , are mournful, r First, there is the feeling of insecurity re our neutrality, and all our ablebodied men are practically underarms, Last week our "landveer," i.e., "last reserve," were called out. I went to tho station to see our boys off, but the return through the village was heartbreaking to see the women and children crying. I am old, and can do very little myself, but I wondered WHY this international debacle was? . . . : [Profits.—Translator.] "Our country is overrun with Belgian refugees. Every town, village,' and hamlet has its quota. Some of our public schools aro used to house tho Belgians. Wo havo in our district very decent Belgians, but in someplaces tho riif-raff of fchfe big Belgian cities have settled, and we pray that, they may or will leave Holland with a single ticket! •' • j "Our progressive Government, Libe- j ral and Social Democrat 9, keep every-! thing in splendid working order. Their j notions are even praised by tho Tory Clerical • Party. The Government took I a firm stand at the beginning of the | war, : re the cost of food, and has main-1 tamed that position ever since. "The prices AND INGREDIENTS of the.staple foods have all been fixed, j How everything will turn out is hard j to tell; to. hope for the best and to keep cool is the only thing to do." ;

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