Life in the Occupied Area

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 829, 25 November 1929, Page 4

Life in the Occupied Area

HYBRID HOUSEKEEPING FANTASTIC EXPERIENCES I never remember feeling so lonoly as when I first arrived in Cologae, where part of the British Army of Occupation was quartered, says an English woman correspondent. I had known Cologne in the pre-war days, and I had many German friends, but this was like walking in a land of shadows. An army order decreed that we were not to "fraternise” with the ex-enemy, so even if they themselves had wished it it would have been impossible to look up old friends. It was altogether an extraordinary experience, but. as in most circumstances, after the novelty wore off we accustomed ourselves to our new life and settled down. The bewildered housewife found herself faced with a hybrid sort of housekeeping. AVe were quartered in German houses, and were allotted so many rooms, while the owners were allowed to retain the remainder. There was nothing in the way of provisions to be bought in the shops, even had we been allowed to do so. Our rations came straight out from home and we were issued a fixed amount every day. The owner of the house in which an English officer was quartered was expected to find what servants were necessary—they were paid, of course, by us—and, in addition. we had that ever-present help, a soldier-servant. I bless the British soldier-servant, ; for in whatever country lie finds himself, he makes life easier and more amusing. It was he who would coax the reluctant "Fraulein” into a good temper and persuade the cook to turn out a nice dinner when we had guests. Looking back 1 realise wliat a curious existence we led. We had our own club (commandeered German premises). our own daily paper, tie Cologne "Post,” and our own bookshop. We gave wonderful dances, and, on account of the low value of the mart, lived at the rate of several thousands ; a year on our ordinary incomes. It was all very fantastic and unreal, but in the end it lead to an excellent understanding between the Germans ; and ourselves, and the two races probably understand each other better now than ever before. Life In Constantinople But if living with the army in Germany was fantastic, it was like being in the Arabian Nights to be part ol the British Army in ConstantinopleLife was almost incredible. There were thousands of Russian refugees, many of them starving, tor whom camps were founded. But the 1 nobility worked in the cabarets ana j night clubs for a few kourish a night, and you would be served by a princess, while a Georgian, splendid m high boots and astrakhan-trimmed tunic, danced for your cation. Truth was certainly strange than fiction in those days. ! Cocaine and other drugs could ! had for almost nothing in the type of night clubs, and every other : man or woman was a spy for som intelligence corps. The Russians all their belongings for pathetic to raise enough money to i n. and I have seen a priceless R lls ]?*; foible coat change hands for tonally I couldn’t bear to bargain such a connection. One could dance every night to wonderful music, and in the day-tflP” there were the bazaars to be explore®* ; nd if you were not fastidious loods to be tasted, such as YoU fJJ which is a delicious. creamy s’vee composed of curded milk- We us€d fro hunting—the master and hunt v ants very correct in pink—up a clown the sides of mountains, or sWU® our horses across Sweet Waters. I rather wonder how English heu’vives will take to the fret and worries of life in England, after ha'u£ had things made so easy for them , the occupied area.