The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times FRIDAY, JULY 24th, 1925. FRIENDLY ENEMIES.

Hokitika Guardian, 24 July 1925, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times FRIDAY, JULY 24th, 1925. FRIENDLY ENEMIES.

In referring to an aspect of the Great War. a reviewer remarks that when the British troops marched into Cologne in 191 S they were astonished at the friendliness of their reception. They had expected a sullen, hostile population, but. in the ant'd* ot an officer, the people could not do enough for them. They naturally attributed this to a desire on the part of the Germans to l>e propitiatory. But six years later Mrs Katherine Tynan, the well-known authoress, had a similar experience. She spent some time in Cologne and its neighbourhood, and has published her impressions under the title of “Life in the Occupied Area.” She found everywhere a wish to let the past bury the past. Personally she encountered nothing but courtesy and kindness. Some English folk said to her. “It is all policy. They hate us just as much as the French. 1 ut they are more afraid of the French.” Airs Tynan believes them to to wrong. But Cologne is a Roman Catholic city ; the author professes the ! same faith, and she admits that religion is a strong bond. This may help; T

to account, for the cordial relationship that existed between herself and the (Jenna us she met. The author describes the general consternation caused by the report that the British were about to evacuate Cologne. N’iill, this may have been due less to affection for the British than to the fact that their place would have been taken by the dreaded french. However, even if Mrs Tynan may ln> inclined to exaggerate the good feeling which the German-, cherish inwards England-- they would scarcely lie human if they did not harbour n grudge against a recent foe who had contributed so largely to their defeat—there seems to lie little doubt that Germans in the mass are satisfied that Britain will give them a fair deal, and are relieved by the knowledge. She mentions a significant incident. In a conversation with a very able German she, remarked that it must have been terrible when the German people began to realise that they were going to lose the war after all the sacrifices they had made. He answered: “I a,in going to say a surprising thing. It. was the best thing that ever happened to Germany that she lost the war. Any business man will sav the same as I do.” He made ail expressive gesture. “If Germany had won the war you could not have posted a letter without a man with a sword standing by for you to salute. If you forgot to salute, if’you wei'e clumsya.mil stumbled against him. .” 'flic pause, adds Airs Tynan, was full of meaning, indicates our enemies would not have been so friendly after all.