GERMANY TO-DAY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 20 January 1931, Page 10

GERMANY TO-DAY

THE WOUNDS OF WAR EFFORTS OF REHABILITATION INDUSTRY OF THE PEOPLE LAND TILLED EVERY INCH HATRED OF THE FRENCH (BjTt.C.L.) We were at Wertheim, a little village in Bavaria, in the month of August. It. was a beautifully fine day; we wero sitting in front of the village inn watching the river Mainz course by. With us were two Bavarians, father and son, the former a doctor of philosophy and head of a large manufacturing concern; the son a student at Frankfort, who had spent some time in England in order to improve his knowledge of English. The father was talking, in measured, at Limes stilted English. He was endeavouring to show the difference in tile nature and outlook of the average German from the average Briton. “We in Germany,” he said, “are not long past the feudal stage. Not so many years ago the German agriculturist was a. serf of the nobles who tyrannised the Vaterland. Father Jahn emancipated the German States. Ho came into prominence at the end of the 17th century, when the Vaterland was occupied by the French. Our women wore French clothes and spoke the language; French immorality and atheism had spread like a plague; Napoleon of vile memory had taken the sword of our Frederick from Berlin. It was Father Jahn who formed the ‘Turnschulen,’ order that the generations to come might return to simple German ways—plain fare, high principles, the German tongue, and the development of the body. Napoleon was vanquished, only to come back again and ravage our lands. The French conscripts filled our sacred land like a swarm of locusts, devouring as they went, taking all our houses, our cows and even our swine. What was Germany then? Ashes. But the red embers were underneath, fanned by Father Jahn. HUMBLING THE NATION “Napoleon made our princes weep. Never, even in the days of the Frankish kings, had we been so humbled. He dragged our young men with him to Russia, and left them to die moaning on the frozen wastes while he drove off in his sledge. Next year Germany rose. High and low, rich and poor, canio flocking into the army, and even the old men. Russia was our ally, then Austria. Our men drove the French back. “Then Napoleon was banished to Elba. The victors quarrelled amongst themselves, and our country was torn into

strips, setting brother against brother. Then came the German confederation, with Austria at the head. Rid of Napoleon we had another despot in Metternick. But the tree which Jahn had planted grew and its branches spread, and we, after further tribulation, became again a united nation in the seventies.

“Then came the jealousy of the neighbouring powers, the misunderstandings, lost opportunities to compose the difficulties, and the great war of 1914-18 with all its horrors and loss of valuable lives, ending in the humbling and weakening of our great nation. To-clav our difficulties, our problems, are greater than ever they were, and if the world is to save itself, if civilisation is to endure, then our nation, great as it has proved itself in mechanics, in arts, in science, and in every other way, must be helped and not hindered.” A PLEASANT SURPRISE We had come to Germany not without some trepidation, quite unprepared to like the country and the people, for the excesses of the Germans and the horrors and losses of war had not been effaced from our memories. But wo found all with whom we came in contact as kindly and courteous and frank as the learned doctor of philosophy, and soon discovered that not only did they not bear any, animosity towards the British hut''were anxious to show them courtesy and extend them help. We also learned the extent to which the Germans bad suffered in the war, physically and economically. They bad no delusions as to which of their enemies bad played the decisive part in their defeat. They knew it was Britain with her navy that had exerted the economic pressure which, combined with the prowess of Britain’s great armies in the field, had brought about her overthrow. They also recognised that after her defeat Britain bad stood for fair and just dealing towards her when 1' ran.ee and others of the Allies were seeking to keep her prostrate and powerless. It may have been this feeling that dictated the consideration of her people towards the British. It may, of course, also have been the outcome of the innate courtesy of the people towards strangeis within her gate. Whatever the cause we soon found ourselves enjoying the scenery and life of the country.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS

Passing into Prussia, from Holland one is immediately struck with tho efficiency, the completeness of the farms, and the commodiousness of the buildings and the general clean and tidy appearance of the farms. For 150 miles it was the same Eacli farm had its own home and outbuildings, many of them quite new. Tn Berlin we were to he told the reason. During the war, when the farmers there, as well as in other countries, profited by high prices for their produce, they put ail their profits into improvements and household* goods. They did not respond to the national appeal to invest their money in Government bonds, it was just as well they did not for tho bonds and the cummcy 'generally became valueless. Now they have theu new buildings and their equipment, lhe only flv in the ointment is the extent ot the house tax, which makes it very costly for one to live in a sizable house in Berlin life is very much the same as it is in other larere European cities. The main streets are studded with restaurants and hotels whence father mother and the family repair as often as they can to sip lager and watch the crowds go by. No longer, however, aie they entertained by the glittering array of the Kaisers arrogant hosts prancmg down the Unter der Linden or through the Tier , gardens. These gentry belong to a distant, unpleasant period. THE INDUSTRIAL SITUATION

Unemployment is considerable, from 31 to 4 millions being out of work, with prospects of a considerable increase. Wages are low, unskilled men receiving from 30s to 40s a week, and skilled from 40s to 555. From this 10 per cent, is deducted for unemployment insurance, another 10 per cent, having to be found by employers. House-rents, two rooms in a flat 'in the poor quarters run from 10s to 14s per week. Foodstuffs are dearer than in England and much more so than in New Zealand- Potatoes are the staple article of food. The principal crop grown throughout tho land is potatoes, and there is also a good deal of asparagus. Why these vegetables are so dear in the cities is hard to understand. Tho poor have a hard time on the Continent, and nowhere more so than in Germany. The class hit most by the war was tho retired class, widows and others, dependent upon their investments for a living. Their returns became less and less as tie war pioceeded, and the price of foodstuffs continued to rise. To keep alive they wero compelled to part with their securities,, and then their homes, and now they arc a charge upon, charity. One notices tho absence of luxury in Berlin and other cities. Outside of taxis, there are comparatively few motor cars in Germany. Petrol is as dear as it is in this Dominion, which may be one reason, but the general poverty of the country is the principal cause. . ® German cheap car is the Opel, which sells at about £150; the next most popubir is the Adler at £2OO, and then, the Mercedes-Benz, a well made and appointed car, at from £350. One sees very few cars of the luxury class, and those one does generally have a foreign name plate affixed. Hotel and railway tariffs are high all over Europe, and particularly in Ger-, many. In Berlin a good, not a luxuiy hotel, costs from 30s to 35s a day, and baths an additional 2s. Then there is a 10 per cent, service tax, supposed to go to the servants, but the latter expect a tip as well, and, if they don’t receive it, exhibit their displeasure in a way which the most casual foreign visitor can thoroughly understand. The service, however, is very good, and. everything is scrupulously clean, which cannot bo said of the general run of hotels in France and Belgium.

THE SIMPLE LIFE The clothes worn are much the same as in other cities of Europe. In Ger-. many, however, the young men and women are effecting as little dress as possible. Tn the slimmer the girls go without stockings, contenting themselves with short bands near the top of their shoes. They also dispense with hats, whilst the young men and boys go about in shorts, witli coat in hand. Hiking is most popular. Wherever one travelled in the country districts one came across bands of young peoplo on walking tours. Sometimes one found they were whole school classes under a teacher spending their holidays seeing distant parts in this interesting and healthy way. Each town now provides its rest house for walking parties, where beds and food may he obtained at nominal prices. The lesson taught by Father Jahn is being relearned by young Germany. The railway system is very efficient. There are three classes provided, tho second being superior to anything wo

have in tho Dominion. The Germans use the trains a good deal, notwithstanding the railways are said to be unpayable, and that rates and fares are to bo increased shortly. It is not from competition, for, except between big centres of population, one sees few heavily loaded motor-lorries on tho roads. The railways are of wide gauge and run very smoothly. Crossings have gates, ( which arc worked automatically by the trains, a system which would suit New Zealand admirably and save many 'a fatality. Their cost cannot be heavy, ! for they are simply constructed, and ! worked electrically. | Wherever one goes in Germany one is impressed with the general efficiency shown, in factory, in shop, in. the railways, in the lioieis. The Germans have had a terrific set-hack and their whilom arrogance lias disappeared. We stayed at Wurtzberg, in the River Maijiz, once the canital of Bavaria and ruled hv an Archbishop who built for himself a castle and laid out grounds that must have kept the people of the State in penury for generations. It is a miniature Versailles. The steep banks of the river are terraced and grow grapes from which the good red wine of Wurtzberg is made. In tho district are

large industrial works, where the men commence at 7 a.m. and work with hnlf-nn-hour’s respite for luncheon until four o’clock. Then, the workers do not go to the howling or cricket green, but into the fields, where their women folk and grand parents have been toiling the whole day long, staying there until darkness comes. They do not complain ; j it is the life they have been accustomed to, and nowadays the struggle to live—our peoplo would say to exist —is harder than ever. Yet, apparently, they are a happy people. THE USEFUL COW Iu southern Gcrmanv few horses are to he seen. All the heavy work is done by the domestic cow, which draws tho plough, brings in the hay, supplies tho milk, and then, after all this, warms the house in winter time, for Hie bvres form part of the dwellings. Nothing is wasted here, not even land for fences, the allotments--all fairly small—being marked by wh/'o stones. There are no hedges, no open drains. Every inch, of territory is utilised, even the hill tops, which grow trees. Afforestation is a marked feature of Saxony, Baden, Bavaria, ana other southern States. The sandv plains grow excellent trees, and it .is an eye-opener io the visitor to see how wail tended the forests arc. The fire-breaks are wide and clean, and no undergrowth is allowed to remain amongst the trees, nor broken trees or branches. Thinning seems to be regularly practised, and the wood is cut up and tidily stacked to dry. The most popular tree seems to he a pine similar in appearance to our pinus hut to reach maturity they take from eighty to a hundred years, as against the radiata’s thirty-five to forty. Germany is not rich in natural resources. Most of tho land has been made arable by the industry and science of her people. She possesses, however, an abundance of brown coals of low calorific power, those in RlienoWestphalia, hut necessity has turned her engineers to evolve processes for the converting of the coals into fuel of value for manufacturing purposes by the development of low carbonisation. Several systems are now in use, the most successful being known as the Plassmann and the Lurgi. The latter has been adopted by the Waikato mining companies, and their works should soon be in operation. The Plassmann system is in operation on the Thames, where large works have been erected to turn out smokeless fuel for London.

IDEAS.ON THE WAR The average German has no reluctance to discuss the war with the visiting Britisher. On the contrary, _ lie seems to appreciate the opportunity. One thing he does not recognise, and that is that Germany was responsible for tho war. That he will never acknowledge, no matter how overwhelming may be the proof adduced- To him the war was caused by the machinations of France and Russia. Nor will he admit that ,]iis country did anything, wrong in breaking the Brussels’ treaty' by invading Belgium. To him Germany did the obvious, the only thing. The line of defence between Belfort and Verdun was impregnable, as the hundreds of thousands of men wasted on attempts to reduce .Verdun subsequently proved. The 1 German Army had to go: by Belgium. That fact is indelibly impressed on his mind, and the wrongness,’ the immorality of the action do not appeal to him in .the slightest. He'is constitutionally unable to believe himself or his nation to ever he in the wrong,, and it is .quite .futile for anyone to argue the point with him. During the wav his attitude was the* same: his country could do no wrong. And until August, 1918, ’ lie never' thought for a moment that tho Allies,. with all their men and resources, could ever prevail against the Kaiser’s troops. And now lie consoles himself with the reflection that the German armies were never beaten militarily, but were defeated by hunger caused by the British naval strangle-hold and the treachery of the Socialists within their gates. THE EX-KAISER

There is, however, one German in whom they have no confidence, namely, the ex-Kaiser. They do not speak disrespectfully of him; they prefer to forget him. In crises of the war he failed; in the revolution he abdicated, and in defeat lie fled from his country. His former subjects might have forgiven him all this, but when he remarried in exile in such unseemly haste after the death of his first spouse he put himself quite beyond the,pale. “He is not now what you English call highly regarded in our country,” was the way in which one educated 'German described him. Will the Hohepzollern over reign again? That is a question which naturally arises. In the.present, temper of the people ,the answer may be given, No. They have had more than their fill of; this .family and tho losses and misery they have inflicted. The monarchic system is at a discount, and it is un-. likely that it .will be reinstated, though the .Germans are more conservative and disciplined than any other nation in' Europe outside of This applies* to even the .socialists', who are now governing the country.

BITTERNESS TOWARDS FRANCE

The Germans feel very bitter towards the French, who naturally have seized every opportunity to clip their talons. The Germans, however, realise their present powerlessness, but unless the relations of tho two neighbours are put on a different and better footing, the time may come when the Teutons, having rehabilitated themselves, economically, and industrially, may again throw down the gauge of battle. To-day young Germany is saying: “Why should we bo kept down by heavy reparation payments for the actions of others? We had no hand in making and carrying on the war, and we are not going to work our souls out for the rest of our lives for tho benefit of foreigners.” It is this feeling that was exploited by Hitler during the recent elec-

tions. “Down with the public and all its works !” was his gospel, and his Fascists, styled the National Socialists, responded to an extent that has ever since caused considerable uneasiness in the chancellories of the Allies. The Hitler programme included the non-payment of reparations, the repudiation of the peace treaties, and tile overthrow of the Republic in favour of a dictatorship. Fascism may take a more moderate turn, but its growth will undoubtedly lead to further anxiety and perhaps trouble. A thought which .is uppermost in the visitor’s mind is how such a kindly and courteous people could have violated international agreements, ravaged whole countrysides, committed crime after crime against humanity, and generally behaved more atrociously trian savages. These people who love their homes and families, their music and literature, and who 'in the past 'have suffered themselves at the invaders’ and despoilers’ hands.' The visitor is forced to the conclusion that either they are consummate dissemblers or were hypnotised by, their war lords. Just now, however,, they are a disillusioned and chastened; people who entertain a wholesome respect for the British and go out of their way to show their friendly feelings to the British visitor