SMELL OF GERMANY.

Taihape Daily Times, 17 October 1918, Page 2

SMELL OF GERMANY.

AUSSIES’ ANTI-HUN SENTIMENTS One of Germany’s firmest Convictions in August, 1914, was that attlwv touch of the “shining sword" British Empire would fall to pieces. Not merely was India to rise in a great revolt, hut the Overseas Dominion* were confidently expected to seize tnc opoprtunity to break away from the Motherland. * Those heavy-witted Germans who entertained these pleasing delusions ought to hear what is being said Jn St. George’s Chapel at Windsor nowadays, says the Daily Graphic. Parties of wounded soldiers, mostly hailing from overseas, are the principal visitors to that historic building, and the verger who shows them the rounds testifies they are ever on the alert to detect and reprobate any memorial which savours of Teutonic connections. As may he Imagined, they rejoice unfeignedly at the sight or those empty sockets in the choir whence the banners of the enemy Knights of the Garter were torn in disgrace three years ago. But there is one memorial in the Chapel which the enemy soldiers regard askance. It is that to George V. of Hanover. An Australian officer recently paused before this memorial and read its inscription. He then turned to the verger and ejaculated: “You smell of Germany here.” When the verger asked his meaning he pointed to the line which reads: “Born in Berlin.” Explanations that the king in question was a grandson of George 111 did not mollify the critic. At last, however, the verger had a happy thought. He told the Australian how George or Hanover sided with Austria against Prussia, how he lost his kingdom for so doing, and how, to the end of his •ifo he refused to he reconciled to the arrogant Huns of those days.