VANISHING BERLIN HOTELS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 193, 4 May 1918, Page 9

VANISHING BERLIN HOTELS

Another of the best known Berlin hotels, the lvaiserhof, has had to closo its doors owing to tho stress of war. It is probable that the premises, which are closo to the Wilheliustrasso, may bo bought as an adjunct to one of tho Ministries. This is the twenty-fourth hotel in Berlin which lias had to givo up business. According to the "Berliner Tageblatt," only one-fifth of the number of beds used at the outbreak of war aro now available. The 6ame journal writes that the Kaiscrhof has fallen a victim to tho exigencies of war. Communication with tho provinces and foreign countries has been reduced to a minimum, thoro have been drastic rules practically alwlishing lighting and heating, the rationing of food is ruinous to the business of an hotel, and tho confiscation of tablo and bed linen and other necessarv things make hotel lifo impossible. You cannot get a hot bath, you cannot get soap, tho electrio light won't work; these and a hundred other drawbacks and inconveniences compel' people ta 6tay at homo. Tho Kaiserhof branches at Bremen and Hamburg havo also been closed.

It is interesting to follow the monthly polico reports of visitors in Berlin. Austrians aro at the head of the list, but their number is not a quarter of tlio pre-war figure. Scandinavians aro onceixtecnlh of the former number. Dutch one-eighth, Swiss a quarter. There is an occasional Turk and Bulgarian, and in tho latest list thoro vroro three Persians and two Hindus. Clearly tho citizens of foreign countries do not regard Berlin any longer us a placo cither for pleasuro or ;businese. ...