IN THE CHANNEL ISLANDS

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23177, 14 November 1940, Page 9

IN THE CHANNEL ISLANDS

♦ LIFE UNDER GERMAN OCCUPATION SHOPS RUNNING SHOUT OF STOCKS (raou oub own coHßr.srosDr.NT.) LONDON, September 27. An account of conditions in Guernsey since the German occupation has been given by members of a party of eight men who have just reached England after a daring escape from the island in a 20ft boat. The men left Guernsey under cover of darkness and rowed half a mile before using the motor. When they were about two miles out four flares were dropped by three German aeroplanes, flying overhead, and one fell only 20 yards from the boat. Fortunately, however, they were not spotted. Their engine broke down just after they had passed the Caskets, but the repairs were effected in four hours and finally they sighted Start Point, the landmark for which they were making. „ , . , The party consisted of Mr Frederick Hockey, 47, a signalman, employed by the harbour administration at St. Peter port, three of his sons, Frederick, 25, George, 21, and Harold, 16, who were engaged in tomato growing, and Messrs William Mahy, Percy de Port, William Doroy, and Herbert Bichard, independent growers. . The men relate that food rationing Is becoming severe. “Wc were only allowed 6d worth of meat a week, said Mr Hockey, ‘‘and the .bread was of very poor quality. It is made of potatoes and something like chaff, and it gave us all chronic indigestion. ‘‘Much of the tinned food in the island was being taken to France. ‘‘The licensing hours are unchanged! but the beer supply, which is of poor quality, is expected to last only another month. -Spirits can only be secured on a doctor’s orders. "Many shops are running short of stock, and some of the smaller businesses have closed through lack of business. The banks are still open and are circulating a large amount of reichsmarks, which are now at the rate of nine to the £. At first they were valued at five to the. £. Listening to Broadcasts

“Dance halls are open nightly and are patronised by the Germans, Jhe islanders are allowed to listen to the British broadcasts. The newspapers have been reduced to four small pages, in which are printed the German communiques in both German and English." Mr Hockey said there were now between 800 and 1000 German troops in Guernsey and they were all obviously under strict orders to create a favourable impression. They even stepped off the pavements to allow women to pass. Nearly all spoke good English. "Discipline among the German troops is strict. One man was courtmartialled and shot •at the town arsenal for molesting a young woman school-teacher. “The islanders have been ordered to refer not to Germans or Nazis, but to ‘our garrison.’ There is a penalty of 15 years’ imprisonment for anyone who speaks slightingly of the Germary soldier. The singing of ‘God Save the King’ is forbidden. , , . “Many of the Germans brought their wives and sweethearts,” the man added. “Those who had neither tried to fraternise with the people, but generally the people held themselves aloof. They are looking forward to the day when they will regain their freedom."