RHINE CITIES

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXX, Issue LXXX, 7 January 1920, Page 6

RHINE CITIES

—♦ H GERMANY AFTER WAR. OF AN AUSH , TRALIAN OFFICER. Arthur Hyman, a well-known solicitor, who unlisted soon | war broke out, and sailed with 7th Light Horse, unde r Lieut.-; Arnott, C.M.G., has only just after war service on Ga-Uipoli, ■d in Egypt, Sinai, Belgium and Major Hyman has had the experience associated with visit to many important cities of Germany held by the army He was in that part world as recently as August lo?t, "confesses to having been greatly by what he saw. A GERMAN IN UNIFORM, did not see a single German m uniform," he said, in convei"and from Brussels I went io Bon ; Seizbourg, Oobbns, Wiesbaden, Mayence, and JiiuNor did I see one wounded man. all the wounded weifc up after the Armistice • and well back from the ii cutlers of the Allies' sight. Outwardly, there was every indication of Money was being spent .Thsre were no unemploy<xl. factory chimney was smoking. course, everything was very dear but to the Allied troops cheap. Prior to the war the of the mark was about 20 to the , sterling. The troops found on Germany that the pound had worth. 150 marks, or approxi£7 10s. So a soldier with, say, found its purchasing power exto £75; but this,- relatively to purchasing pow ( 3r of the mark, the Germans were that worse off. Another thing is that were sold more cheaply by shopto foreign soldiers than to thia inhabitants, the former being exto the German luxury tax. As as food went, there was plenty of S-Qne coUiW get practically anyatthe restaurants. The charge a room at the best hotels was Is 6d |Hr da 3% the reservations being made the billeting office." KNOW THEY ARE BEATEN. about the attitude of the Gercommunities towards Englishmen others, Major Hyman said they obviously anxious to fraternise, «as practically all the troops were it became difficult to resist the made. "Politically there is a deal of division among them," he "but the opinion is very widethat, though Germany v?.s dethe war was a blessing in dissince it had submerged the uiilicaste. There seems to be an im|i in Australia.that the Germans not accept defeat —that they do not .they were beaten. My experiis quite the contrary. The Gerjj^Hans know they Mere beaten as well we do, and are quite prepared to themselves and their affairs that basis. MUNICIPAL EFFICIENCY,; ''The thing that, struck me most these German cities was the efficiency of their municipal They are beautifully and well ordered. Everything to be perfectly. "; Tlxoir of organisation are certainly remarkable. In parts of Belgium, course, one noticed the effects of the The change on crossing Germany was very marked. were still many outward signs demolition and of wear and tear. I found not nearly so badly off I had expected it to be. Industriit is quickly getting back to norThe effect of heavy shell fire can seen here and there, and seme have been demolished, but to intents and purposes it is now a concern. Brussels was not damaged. Troops were billuted the Palais de Justice —a truly magbuilding—but beyond tearing leathe r covers ofF the seats and names on . tlte Malls the soldiery did no injury to the They also slept and messed in Academy dcs Arts, but the buildis unimpaired. HISTORIC PLACES. was a most interesting journey travel through these historic places an economical trip, too, anyone uniform having the right to free by train, tram or steamer. going over the war area after tiie it was impossible not to nohow the German had quaiifii?d for first prize as a dernoiisher. When wrecked a road or *a raihvay. a canal, culvert, he did it with devilish completenKss. Tiie thing had existed simply ceased to be." fcer nearly a couple of years in and Egypt, Major Hyman left his and went to France and Belgium, he was attaclied tl:« hearciuar--staff of the Fourth Australian