OUT OF HELL.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 8, Issue 90, 14 April 1916, Page 2

OUT OF HELL.

LIFE ON RATIONS DRIVING GERMANS FRANTIC. “Are we downhearted? Heavens, no!” There were the words of greeting with which fifty English girls expelled from Germany arrived in Holland one Sunday evening recently. This was the first batch of the socalled “reprisal women,” who, the Berlin authorities have decided, are eating too much meat, bread and butter, and whom they decided to send home. There are still some 650 British women in Berlin who will follow' in due course. One of the girls gave a true picture of the actual conditions in Berlin after eighteen months of war, a truly dismal picture, which is most hopeful for the Allies. “Germans now know what they are up against,” she said. “They are already suffering agonies, especially the poor people. “They know, in spite of the lying press, that their sufferings are merely beginning, and they are preparing themselves for more suffering until their rulers are forced to recognise that the limit of endurance has been reached, and then sue for peace. This, however, is not likely to happen before many months.” Berlin presents a more dejected appearance now than ever in the course of the city’s history. The streets are empty. The absence of men is a noticeable feature of the town’s aspect. The only thought of the people is: “When is the blessed war going to end?”

The Germans are ready to bear the financial less and also the appalling losses in men, but the life on rations i„ simoly driving them insane. The bread cards at first amused them like children, as one more opportunity, of which they are so fond, for obeying orders. Now they have butter cards, fat cards, and in some places petroleum cards.

Living for two days weekly without fresh meat and paying 3s a pound for rice and 6d each for eggs are only instances of tlie food troubles. The German hausfraus’ hardships are still net compensated by news of a decisive victory.

The reports of the rioting may have been exaggerated abroad, but everybody knew in B'erlin, though everybody was prudent enough not to men tion it, that women circled the Kaiser’s palace howling for bread. The police quelled the riot. This was not the first time that the usual Prussian method of persuasion was employed. When the Kaiser returned to Berlin last time from the army headquarters, the' hour of his arrival was kept from the public, and in fact, a wrong time

was announced. The Kaiser arrived two hours earlier and at a different station, as a demonstration and a possible attempt on his life were feared, and the Berlin police were not willing to take any chances. “We have been expelled, but not one of us knows why,” said the Englishwomen. “Many cf us had positions there as governesses and secretaries, and so on. One day we got notice that we had to leave. Each of us received a visit from a policeman, sometimes accompanied by a locksmith, who proceeded to search all cur belongings. The wildest questions were asked, especially whether some of our relatives were fighting. “No consideration was shown for the sick. One woman who travelled with us was seriously ill; she asked to be allowed to stay, but her request was naturally not granted. Later the Germans treated us politely; they gave us a good train ,on which we had dinner. We had great fun, as some girls brought some champagne for the trip. It made us feel so happy to be allowed to speak English once more. “Finally, we reached Holland, where we found two things we had not seen for months, freedom and white bread. We all feel just out of hell, though most of us lost good jobs, and have to start afresh in life. We considered ourselves the happiest people in the world the minute we saw the last spike-helmet in Germany.”

THE PETROL COMMISSION. SYDNEY, April 12. Before the Petrol Commission, Morgan gave evidence that he mentioned 3 per cent, as his commission. He looked on the matter ns an ordinary commercial deal, and was out to make as much as possible* for himself. The whole thing would have been submitted to the Cabinet, and in the event of the pruning knife being used he wanted to ensure substantial brokerage. He did not care if the world knew that he received 10 or 15 per cent. He stated that Black had said that it would come pretty rough on him if the Government took over the company, as he had made the New* South Wales agency a pretty good thing for himself.

The Hon. Griffith, Minister of Education, examined, said he understood the charge wa s that, through. his agents, he asked that a. secret commission should be paid to himself or his colleagues by the company through whom they were doing business, and that if was supported by strong evidence, both oral and written. He was abw lately unaware that the brokerage asked for was to be shown in any document to go before the Cabinet. The whole gravamen of the charge was I that it was to be a. secret document to be kept secret in Australia while satisfying the company’s auditors in England. Had he known there was no charge of secrecy, but merely a scheme of open brokerage to be paid on the contract, he wouM not have stood down from his administrative duties and abandoned his work in Parliament. In giving details of the scheme, he chose the best man he conld get to make enquiries. He told Rood not to bother him with details, also that if the scheme was formulated there would bo a. possibility of a. charge of cormution against the Government by the peonle. Reed interviewed Morgan and after the interview anpointd Morgan as agent because he impressed

him as a man knowing all about +•'■ ■" oil business. Nothing was said about the payment of Morgan, because he was representing the venders. The Hon. Griffith declared that he would never be a party to petting commission in connection with the, petrol proposed, nor any other in the wide world, nor was any other He had absolute confidence in Reed, who for 25 years -bad been a departmental officer. Morgan had no power to bind the Government. There was absolutely no agreement to pay him brokerage — merely authorising him to act as agoiit, not as broken. He did not for a moment contemplate that Morgan should have asked for commission from the company. The Government would have paid for his services. Reed never mentioned the nnestion of brokerage or commission. Bevond casual reports made by Reed duffin" Al- - of the negotiations, the He" Griffith was unaware of the real position of affairs until the in+°rvt wherein Mr. Holman explained the charges.