LIFE IN BERLIN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16942, 2 March 1917, Page 8

LIFE IN BERLIN

RUHLEBEN VICTIMS RETURN. GREAT SCARCITY OF FOOD. ' (Fbom Ode Own Cokbespondent.) LONDON, January 12. Over u. hundred civilian prisoners trom Germany reaened London tins week, in accordance w:tn the exciiaugo poi.cy agreed to a* lost by tho German Government. Amongst tho KngLsh. refugees was a gentleman wno, lor the past turee years, lias resided in Berlin, 'iho better claes people tnero, he says, look forward to tho wax •' lasting, another two years. They really do not believe that Uennany can bo beaten, though they thin]; a .draw is possible. "lhe tra-Lu by which wo travelled out of Berlin," ho. says, "was packed. Most of the passengers were soldiers. As I had plenty of money, 1 travelled nrst-olass,..and liad every comlort possible on the journey. My carriage was fuU of Germans, but there was littlo conversation. We- had to change three times. At night we passed- through Essen, which , was in full blast, and the flames from the furnaces lit up the whole country around. I have no reason to beheve that at any time during the war has Gormany been short of munitions of any kind. '"All the time I was in Berlin I have been able to road the Engl:sh papers. I -bought them at a local bobxehop, and tho contents were never blacked out nor censored in any way. The good Berlinera simply refuse to 'believe anytiiing that they read in tho English newspapers. Nearly every week recently the number of persons feed- 1 ing at the estate kvtchuns has increased by about 4000, and if they once go to tne kitchens they must continue their visits for the whole week and iorfeit certain food tickets. There is no m:lk for ordinary consumption. Special milk tickets are allotted for children and invalids. Healthy folk have to dr.nk their tea, coit'ee, and cocoa without miik—rich and poor alike. One has to have tickets for clothes, for handkerchiefs, for soap, for linen and woollen articles. Before you can get a pair of boots you must go to a magistrate and explain why you need them."

HARSH SYSTEM. Mr BerffiH'a wnu wad taken prisoner vvxuie on nouciay m tne -tt.rdv=nii<_6, siitLua uiao Llie conua.ons in the camp ai iiunieben hiiu impruvod, but mat none oi Uio creuit lor th.s was uue to tae Uermans. xhe pijboners had bL-en fccpfc alive by tne parcels oi iood irom lingland. A young Insiiinan iiauu;d John Lewins said he was strong oeiore no wua interned, out he was brougu* out of the camp 01 the sanatorium on a. streicner. They did not want nun to die. in tlio camp. lie. .<poKe iiDout tne prices of Uiiiigs outside, declaring that 60s was enarged iox a chicken, and! is ior a good egg. A l<iay aauud that salt herrings were Is each, biie explained that she lud lived m Bremen for a<: years, and expressed her intense pleasure to get .back to England, us '"things are so scarce m Germany." A baker in, Hamburg has boon punished for mixing sawdust with other ingredients m the making ol broad. Evidently tae Germans are expsecmg great tilings from .Rumania. All thoso conversed with, expressed the op:n.on that tho Germans tliougnt their supplies would keep them going lor the next six months, by which time they wcuid gather, tneir own harvest. As a rule, they are very quiet as to prospects of victory, but they etill think they are going to win. Everyone says that the continuance of tho war is due to England, ■ and they are preparing for a tremendous effort in tho springto achieve victory and to pun sh this country. In Bremen there was still tho legend. " God punish the English," to bo seen in the shop windows, but the people did not call after the English, "You old Englandor," as they used to do as. a term of opprobrium. , SUFFERING "CHILDREN. The patnos of tho war was well illustrated by a French woman, with seven children, from ,13 to two years of ago. The iamilv was living in Belgium v when the war broke out, and had just come from that country, while- their father, she proudly added was still fightin K ;for Franco. AH tho personal belongings of this little party were contained in one small parcel. There were several l< ronch women a.nd children who had come from Brussels. They told of the domineering spirit of the Germans. "They are'continually boasting of tlieir great victories everywhere," said one of the party "and they are as arrogant in their manner as if they had already won the war. They have all the best of the food, and take the beet from the houses of the people for. themselves. One day seven Germans entered a house and comandeered aU the potatoes thev could find." . ■ ' •*