GERMANY’S PLIGHT.

Hokitika Guardian, 27 September 1923, Page 1

GERMANY’S PLIGHT.

SHIP CAPTAIN’S PLEA

SYDNEY, Sept. 12

While in Brisbane last week the captain of the German steamer Ascheii gave a remarkable Press interview, in which he drew a tragic picture of the internal conditions in Germany, and pleaded against hostility to German traders. ”1 do not think,” said Captain Wolff, "that the Gorman competition in the shipping trade is tinfaii. The cargoes which the German vessels carrv awav are not Australian, hut have been bought by Germany and aie therefore German. The Asehen is not being run for practically nothing, as «as stated, but lias been paid for in gold. It uses British coal, and the food lias also been paid for in gold. Germany has no enmity against Britain because the kind ol propaganda which had been conducted in Britain against Germany had not been conducted in Germany against Britain. Many stories that had been published regarding the behaviour of the German troopshould not have been listened to because they were just as untrue as wore tlic stories of the Belgian people blind mg Orman soldiers.” 'File German people before the war, said the captain, had been led to believe that their country was surrounded by enemies ready to pounce oil her. They never desired war, but bad been convinced that their safety depended upon it, even if it meant striking flic first, blow. And after it all— after sufferings of which Australia could have no conception, their boys badly fed and badly clothed, sent compulsorily to the war at D and, under their privations looking less than 15—after it all the country was in a plight from which he could see no wav out. “It is the middle class people who suffer the most,” he said. "These people have spent their lives trying to provide for their own future, and the future of their families, by saving up a little money for a small home. Perhaps they have paid for an insurance policy or earned a small pension, and all lias vanished—gone up in smoke. Even their little bouse is taken up by tenants forced upon them by the Government, and they are hardly paid anything. Many of these people, who were the best citizens are brought, to starvation. Even in worse position are the elderly ladies of the hotter German families, who arc too proud to apply to ilie Government for assistance. Jinny of these poor wretches, unable to buy food and coal, remain in bed most of the day. The whole country is so sorely crippled that there is really no need to fear German competition.