LIFE IN GERMANY.

Taihape Daily Times, 26 October 1918, Page 5

LIFE IN GERMANY.

The internal conditions of Germany is referred to in a letter from a New Zealander now engaged in war work in England. The writer says: “I was called upon yesterday by one of our soldiers, who has been a prisoner of war in Germany for 31 years, after losing an eye and being otherwise wounded. Ho says that the civilian population i n Germany, unquestionably look half-starved, and that in Berlin most of tho shops are closed, owing to lack of something to sell. He was offered 40 marks for a piece of soap, and 20 marks for a loaf of bread with some tinned butter, which he refused sell, of course, as the money would not have purchased anything worth having. He also told me of many cases of really brutal treatment that I need not dilate upon. One feature of it all is, however, satisfactory, namely, that the parcels for prisoners are not interfered with, as the orders to that effect are very strict, and the population is so cowed that they have even lost the spirit to steal food .for fear of punishment. He informed me that the only suits available for prisoners are made of paper-woven material, but aour prisoners' got clothes sent thorn they do not suffer in this respect.”