THE BRITISH TROOPS IN GERMANY [To the Editor of the
SPECTATOR.]
Sin,—May I from some first-hand evidence, collected this autumn in the Rhineland, supplement Mr. du Mont's article in your issue of November 28 ? Here is one of the many small ways in which the behaviour of our troops has been appre- ciated. Until a short time ago, sweet chocolate was unpro- curable in the unoccupied parts of 'Westphalia, though pro- curable in Cologne. Consequently the anxious mothers and adventurous sisters of many small German children carried- on a smuggling trade ; they bought chocolate in Cologne, and tried to bring it unobserved through the frontier of the occupied area to their homes. Such a procedure was of course forbidden. Naturally they were sometimes caught, but, as several German ladies have explained to the writer, the English officers usually. laughed, and though they pointed out very clearly to the delinquent that the procedure was forbidden, they left the chocolate in her possession. Many other small courtesies of our troops at the frontier stations, in the carrying of valises, and helping of elderly people, have not been forgotten. Thus has much very genuine good feeling been created towards Britain in the Rhineland. A certain German doctor said to the writer once, " The English were always fair in the War:, This is no small tribute from a member of a defeated and considerably resentful nation. The occupation of the Rhine- land has in German minds borne out this opinion.—I am, Sir,
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