TURNING THE TABLES

Matamata Record, Volume III, Issue 123, 13 March 1919, Page 4

TURNING THE TABLES

With the Army of Occupation. Mrs W. D. Bayley, of Wellington, received the following letter from her brother, Capt. A. D. Mcßae, M.C., who is now with the Army of occupation beyond the Rhine. Capt. Mcßae, writing from Bonn, Germany, on December 10, says : —“ Here we are at last at the Rhine, and at present located in the above fair city. We sure have these birds where we want them now, and they have to watch their step and step lively too. It is rather funny walking into some swell house, looking it over and then telling the Hun proprietor which room you intend to live in for the night. The men all have to raise their hats to the officers and flag us as we pass along the roads or through the cities. Sometimes they try to slink by, or feeling chesty decide not to do so, and as a consequence get them knocked off. The ones with felt hats usually figure the best, as it is a simple matter to swipe a felt hat off with a cane without greatly damaging the cranium under it, whereas those with peak caps usually get the odd jolt on the “Bean” as well as losing the hat. For miles after crossing the frontier the country is very sparsely settled, but as we neared the Rhine it got thickly, settled, with lots of little towns. There is only one language the Hun understands, and he is just foxy enough to know that he would be out of luck if he did not do what was wanted of him, so we find the World Conquerors of last March quite willing to lick one’s boots. Talk about kids —there are thousands of them; never saw so many in my life. Th<-y are greatly pleased with the show of course, and follow the bam' f"i' great ways. The talk and noise put up by the Hun about the people over here starving is all rot— and but a game of tin- •wily Hut. to try and gain sympathy.’’