HEMMED IN BY WAR.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 12571, 7 March 1919, Page 5

HEMMED IN BY WAR.

LIFE IN SWITZERLAND. The further east one travels from Great Britain, the greater becomes ones knowledge of the part the British Grand Fleet played in winning the war —sea; power and the fqod question are so closely allied (writes a contributor to ‘ The Express.”) In Switzerland cue finds a country that for more than four years was hemmed in by belligerent countries. Sea power strangled the Central Powers, riiid'Switzerland had to suffer with Diem. In this country there are no fewer than nine food c£u'ds. and the rules are most strictly' enforced. Tho daily allowance of broad is about seven ounces; half an ounce of fat is all that may bo consumed per day. There are nutter caids aud there are cheese cards,- hut I have not soen either commodity since I left France.

Sometimes one can be supplied with a tiny drop of milk with one’s- morning cup of tea, but this had better not be reckoned upon. Tho Swiss are paying 1 the penalty of supplying Germany with milk. They have little themselves, but they have, been sending more than 400,000 pints to Germany each week.

The only .important a Hide of food that is not rationed m Switzerland is meat. There is plenty, and probably to spare, for much' meat lias walked on-jts four legs over the smugglers’ paths acres; tho frontier to Germany. Switzerland knows that, had Germany controlled tho seas, she would most likely have starved, hut, if she has gone short, it is because, of the German submarine campaign. She thinks it over and compares what the Entente lias allowed her with tlie very meagre coal allowanc'd from Germany. Because coal is lacking trains crawl in Switzerland to-day, and, as if she had not suffered enough, Germany tried to make her defeat coincide with a Bolshevik uprising here. AAliilo the civilised world, including French Switzerland, hung out flags and acclaimed tho victors, Berne and the rest of German Switzerland was practically under martial law. Aiachinc guns were at street corners, and while French, British and Belgian interned prisoners sang and cheered, thousands of people, including' myself, yvere dodging cavalry charges. Finally, tlie Federal Government rounded up-the Bolsheviks, and flung them, bag aud baggage over tho frontier into their “spiritual homo”— Germnay. Afraid of invasion by Germany, and fearful of tho Bolsheviks, tho Swiss Army—very smart and German-looking in shrapnel helmets—had been mobilised. The death rate from influenza has been fearful. However, the scourge is passing, and the Bolsheviks have gone, but the imprint of sea power will leave its mark on Switzerland for many a day. '