GERMANY TO-DAY

Taranaki Daily News, 24 February 1921, Page 5

GERMANY TO-DAY

DISTRESSING CONDITIONS. POVERTY AND HARD WORK. NEW ZEALINDERS PRAISED. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Received Feb. 23, 5.5 p.m. London, Feb. 22. Sir Robert Anderson, a well-known Australian business man, has returned from a visit to Germany. He says the conditions are distressing. The people are very poor, but proud, and they are suffering humiliation without showing it. * The Germans 1 , he says, are very shabby, wearing clothes made of paper, but they are worjring hard and long hours, and the output is good, with increasing efficiency. There are few pro* fiteens, but there is considerable extravagance, mostly amongst affluent foreigners. Under-feeding is apparent everywhere, especially amongst children. The Germans do not object to the heavy indemnity, but they resent a long delay in payment. They attribute their defeat to the British Navy, and are exceedingly proud of the work of their army. Ex-officers are in a deplorable state, and many are reduced to selling newspapers and novelties, while hunger is compelling many others to join the Russian Reds. The English soldiers at Cologne are popular, but the French are loathed. The Germans will never forgive the use of black troops. The impression gained by Sir Robert Anderson is that the people are suffering from depression, and not from despair, and that the country will eventually come out strong, self-reliant, and He says Australia will be compelled to trade with Germany, her attitude being regarded by the Germans with amusement rather than anger. The Germans have a high opinion of New Zealanders, who are generally described as “a division of gentlemen,” because of their treatment of German prisoners and their demeanour when im-prisoned.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.