DISCONTENT OF THE "DADDIES,"

Sun (Christchurch), Volume II, Issue 377, 26 April 1915, Page 10

DISCONTENT OF THE "DADDIES,"

jIANDSTURMERS DESERT FORT. ! RESENTMENT AGAINST AMERICA | ! [By Percival Phillips\ Special Correspondent to the London "Express."] Reports of disaffection among the German troops in Flanders are being received almost daily at the frontier. While some of them are obviously exaggerated, there is no doubt about the growing discontent of Landsturm soldiers recently called to the colours, who are convinced that they will be sacrificed needlessly in the next great attempt to take Ypres. This conviction'is. apparent in letters smuggled out of Belgium for forwarding to Germany by way of Holland, and in chance conversations with frontier guards. Disciplinary courts at Bruges, Ghent, and Courtrai have dealt, with many cases of insubordination since the middle of January. During the fortnight following the Kaiser's birthday fiasco at La Bassee and Ypres, several parties of disarmed soldiers were sent back from the advanced base under escort for having failed to obey the order to charge certain British positions. One detachment of prisoners included meti of a Frankfort Landsturm battalion which made an unsuccessful charge across a wire-entangled zone of fire towards a British trench, north of La Bassee, and was ordered forward again after suffering heavily. A major led his men, instead of using tliem in the conventional fashion as a fire screen, and was shot down before he had gone 20 feet. A mere handful of soldiers had followed him, and these, too, were mown down by machine guns. The survivors turned and fled to their French, where a staff officer who witnessed their demoralisation sent them to the rear in disgrace. Demoralised Troops. I have already described the depression of troops singled out for depot duty along the North Belgian coast, in consequence of constant attacks by

aeroplanes, warships, and laud batteries. The personnel of the Zcebrugge — Ileyst—Blaukenberghe—Ostend garrisonh if) constantly changing, for the moral of the troops deteriorates st-eadily under the strain of this triple menace. During the recent infantry attacks bet wen Ypres and the sea, regular troops were frequently shifted by motor cars and trains from one point to another, in order to stiffen the wavering 'Laudsturin battalions, which lack the stamina of younger, first-line men. | Desertions into Holland continue, especially from Antwerp and the frontier towns. Mouse-to-house searches have been conducted in Antwerp by infantry patrols in order to discover hidden uniforms and accoutrements left by deserters in exchange for civilian, clothes. Civilians who assist deserters are warn- ! Ed that they will be shot. ! One story of 'wholesale desertions j from Antwerp, which reaches me in a I private letter from that city, is almost ! incredible, but my informant vouches for its accuracy. He says that the 'entire garrison of a small fort of Merxem disappeared in a body one night - recently, leaving a uotice on the sentry-box stating: -''This fort to let. Apply within;" Discouragement, rather than cowardice appears to be responsible for this unhealthy condition of the German army of occupation. The troops have been misled, kept in the dark, and illtreated, iu characteristic Prussian fashion, at a trine when wholly different tactics are needed to maintaiu the spirit of resistance. Americans rArrested. Meanwhile German resentment against Americans, which has grown to a dangerous extent in Germany since the failure of the "blockade" warning to intimidate the United States, "is now also apparent in Belgium. I am told that, the relations between German officers and Americans engaged in neutral Work in the occupied territory, while still polite, are far less cordial than during the campaign of conciliation, waged in the United States by the Bernstorff-Dernburg bureau. Several significant incidents which occurred-recently show how the altered attitude of Berlin is faithfully reflected |>y the Army. Closer watch is being kept on American, workers for the Belgian relief organisation. They are .shadowed during their periodic, journeys between Holland and the German lines, and there is a growing disposition to regard them as potential spies, because, iu the words of one German staff officer at Antwerp (who was • educated in England), "American neutrality now means friendship for England." Two Americans engaged in distributiug food supplies received from the! United States were twice sent back from the frontier to Antwerp within a week while travelling from Brussels to Rotterdam in a neutral motor car. On the second occasion the sergeant commanding the frontier guard locked them in the guardroom for preliminary examination, and then ordered them back to the "Kommandatur" in Antwerp, escorted by two Mannheim Laudsturin infantrymen, who ostentatiously loaded tlieir rifles before they entered the car.

.On arriving at the office of tho '' Kominamlataur'' iu Antwerp, the Americana were detained for three hours in custody before being cross-examined separately. Then they were told that they were free, without any explanation or apology being vouchsafed for their detention. They were allowed to travel into Holland the next day. The Germa'n authorities in Belgium are so convinced that every man 'a hand ( is against them that they refuse to be- j lievo in the good faith of neutral phil- j

anthropists, whose only concern is the relief of starving civilians. Every neutral who is permitted to circulate in Belgium is watched from the moment he leaves Belgium for Holland on official business until he arrives hack in Brussels or Liege. Plain-clothes police agents dog them from the frontier to Rotterdam, dine at the same cafe, note the people they meet and converse with, and make exhaustive reports concerning every movement. Some of these, faithful shadows have been led a merry dance!