“TOMMIES” IN THE SAAR

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 22 January 1935, Page 5

“TOMMIES” IN THE SAAR

SHOULD NOT BE UNPOPULAR (From Our Own Correspondent) LONDON, 27th December. Nazi agitators are trying their best to make the unfortunate Saar episode an excuse for a boycott of the British Army contingent. If they succeed either they must be very clever or the Saar population quite unusuallv disgruntled. Even just after the war, and as an army of hostile occupation in Rhineland, Tommy Atkins immediately became a warm favourite with the German civilians. The British private, as distinct from the Brass Hat, and there have linen exceptions even among the latter, is One of the best mixers in the world, and, given half a chance, will soon become “matey” with the Saar folks, of ■both sexes, by virtue of his simple sportsmanship, rugged humour, and adaptability. It will be rather surprising if, by the time they have to leave for home, our soldiers are conscious of the least unpleasantness in the Saar. SAAR RATIONS It is just the War Office’s luck that tho sudden emergency of our military contingent in the Saar comes at tho very busiest moment of the Army's year, when tho trooping season is in full swing, and units are being moved about the map in all directions. The task of rationing the Saar troops, who number only a thousand or so, is a negligible one compared with feeding four or five million men during the wav, hut the elaborate machinery then created is no longer in existence, and the Saar is further off than even the most advanced front line of the old Western Front. Q, branch of the W. 0., on whom tho duty of rationing our Saar troops now falls, is determined to do them well, and fresh food supplies will ho forwarded daily from this country. Moreover, short though the occupation may be. an Army bakery is being set up in the Saar itself, from which the British troops will draw their bread rations. There will be no more haggard problems about how many to a loaf, and Q means to give its exiles a slap-up Christmas fare.