BETTER TONE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 66, Issue 268, 24 August 1946, Page 6

BETTER TONE

BRITISH ZONE IN GERMANY “RETURN TO MORALITY” (N.Z. Press Association —Copyright.) (Rec. 11.45 a.m.) LONDON, Aug. 23. A “return to morality” campaign and a curb on drinking are among th& aims in tightening up British Army of Occupation of the Rhine discipline, a high military authority told Reuter’s Herford correspondent.

The authority, citing causes for the falling off in discipline, said that 1946 was a difficult year. “There have been many changes in the zone and small abuses have crept in. There is too much drinking in officers’ clubs and there is a great deal of cheap German gin. A minority of members of the 8.0.A.R. have let us down. I am hopeful the arrival of their famines will raise the standard of morals.” He added that troops wishing to marry German girls will be compelled to have a six months’ engagement, because “it would be unfair to soldiers, who brought in wives from England, for the new German wives to have the same facilities.”

The military authority pointed out that in some parts of the British zone there are six women to every man. “There te a great temptation for German women to try to go to England, because life is very difficult for them here.”

The G.0.C., Northern Command, General Christison, has abolished pay, sick and leave parades. “They are petty nuisances, irking' to the. modern soldier,” he stated. Soldiers and A.T.S. in the future, will have their pay handed to them by n.c.o.’s instead of lining up and saluting an officer, before and after getting their money.- Army doctors are adopting surgery hours, letting officers and rankers make their own appointments. Men and women living in barracks arc also allowed to invite friends to visit for tea.