OCCUPIED GERMANY.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 6 April 1926, Page 8

OCCUPIED GERMANY.

BRITISH AIIMY AT WIESBADEN

POPULATION QUITE PLEASED

It has been estimated that the cost of moving the army from Cologne to Wiesbaden will figure out at £500,000. An expeditious fitting it has been, accomplished with a minimum of fuss, all things considered, and the process of settling down in barracks, billets, and offices is being marked by orderliness, dispatch and, one might add, good humour (writes a correspondent from Wiesbaden at the end of January). It is difficult to imagine that the populations of towns like Cologne and Wiesbaden, separated by a mere three hours’ railway run, could be so vastly different in mentality and outlook. Latterly the people of Cologne—or, at any rate, the patriotic section—had become impatient, and were asking: “When are the British going?” In Wiesbaden, on the other 'hand, the query was: ‘‘"When are the British coming?” There was an eloquent- reason for Wiesbaden’s curiosity. It is essentially a town de luxe. Beyond mineral water works and a clock factory there are •no industries worth mentioning. Before the war the town practically lived and thrived on the hotel industry. There was virtually an nll-the-vear-round season. Since the war. however. things have gone from had to worse with Wiesbaden. At the hotels and the municipal and private establishments which cater for people taking the “cure” von will be told that the last seven years have been the worst in the history of the town.

There are many bankruptcies all over Germany at this moment, and Wiesbaden lias not been immune from business cataclysms. The cry everywhere is that nothing is doing, that- shopkeepers cannot pay their rents, that if the hotels are kept open they are being run at a loss. It is. I have been told, a case of working to pay taxes and boning for better days. Somehow the belief has grown tip that a new era is about, to be ushered in. that the town, which is international rather than German—this is the description of the leading inhabitants—will get back some of its prosperity of other times with the advent of the British Army. The truth is that there is no regret at the departure of the franc, though it was welcomed before Hip introduction of the "Rentenmnrk stabilised German money, and that a warm welcome has been given to the notitid : for it is firmly believed that the presence of our troops will mean that "Flnglisb and American people will come to Wiesbaden in greater number than tbev have done in the past. A BUSINESS PROPOSITION. There the sense of satisfaction expressed at the going of the blue and the coming of khaki uniforms very largely springs from a material reason. Wiesbaden is sighing for business, ready to give a cordial welcome to people with money to spend. Already it is preparing for the spring season, and prophesying in advance that it will be much better than those of previous years. In this confident hope the German. papers have announced that the tradesmen are arranging their businesses to meet the increased purchasing power of the British. This explains then, why, except in a very few cases, no resentment is felt at tho British occupation. There are no ardent politics in this town of luxury ivitli its beautifully illuminated shops in the Wilhelmstrasse, emporiums of dainty things of art and utility marked at figures to which the purchasing power of the franc found it difficult to rise ; and all that the local authorities desire is that the new masters will impose as few • restrictions as possible. _ It may well be that restrictions, considered irksome, will be unnecessary, for the first impressions of the Army’s contact with the population is distinctly favourable. The first troops arrived in blinding snowstorms, and the cold was intense. Milder weather has set in, and the snow has almost entirely , disappeared. Only three days ago the Headquarters Staff was installed in the Hohenzollern Hotel, which faces the Opera House and is only a few yards from the imposing Kurhaus. It has not the spaciousness of the Excelsior Hotel at Cologne, but the staff officers are making the best of things. A CHANGE EBOM COLOGNE. For the troops Wiesbaden is a great change from Cologne. It has to be admitted that many of the men regret their departure from the old zone. From the point of view of climate they are quite content. They speak of a feeling of springiness and exhilaration, hut the cmietude of a little_ town of lOfi.flOO inhabitants after leaving a city with a population of 750.000 oppresses them somewhat. Besides, they have not yet accommodated themselves to their surroundings. The aesthetic beauty of Wiesbaden will grow upon them when the spring comes and the Kurhaus garden is a blaze of flowers, when people, come to drink the waters and take the baths, rive life and movement to the now sleepy thoroughfares. Meanwhile, those who are musieallv inclined are in ecstasies. To he privileged to attend concerts of high-class music at the Kurhaus for 2?,d is a consideration which weighs with them. The means of recreation provided for them at Cologne have already been organised here. The Y.M.C.A. has found Quarters in a cabaret. The restaurant service is in full swing: there arc daming and whist drives several times a week: but one wish is not yet ful-filled-—the men miss the cinema, and are clamouring for one. The Armv cinema was a great success at Coloo-ne. and the t’-oons are anvionslv awaiting 1 its appearance at Wiesbaden.