i c Rhine Army' Today " *
SIR,—I would like to say how true, how near the mark, is the context of Mr. Ronald W. Clark's article Rhine Army Today. Obviously Mr. Clark's tour of B.A.O.R. was extensive ; his comparison of the
occupation force, its life and morale as they were In 1945-6; with the
changes as they are nowadays is accurate. - Much wider publicity'should be given to articles of this kind in service journals (i.e., those readily available to the men such as The Soldier or Blighty) or in Sunday newspapers. Officers and men alike thereby would realise, perhaps more than they do just now, that their presence and training in B.A.O.R. are a distinct necessity. . Except for the privileged few in high positions, the overall- picture is obscure to the individual.
The pendulum has swung too far from the position of the early days-; yet the fault does not rest with the army alone. C.C.G. facilities, whiCh never really got into stride,' were intended to provide opportunity for learning about the German people, their customs and so on ; they have faded away ; now, apart from organised German language classes and a remnant of combined social activities, no link exists between the soldier and the German population apart from casual associations and that brought about through mixed marriages. On the other hand it is well known that collectively Englishmen have not an inbred desire to learn about other nations' way of life, without having a specific, defined, material reason for so doing. To improve matters, fraught as they are with so many controversial, dynamic, political issues, in my humble opinion, would require administration beyond the modern army's scope ; and generally speaking, in a short while the services will be, the only sign of victory left in B.A.O.R.
Thousands of words have been spoken and written about the question of security. Soldiers have to become instinctively alert to the menaces of subversive propaganda, rumours, activities—cold war methods—the presence, as it were, of new enemies amongst a former beaten enemy who live and work by their sides. Perhaps entrenchment behind British contacts and services aids irresPonsibility," discourages the gullible, strengthens the security of the regimental technician and soldier. But most certainly where civilians are employed in large numbers by the ser- vices, it is impractical, impossible, to keep secure the numerical details of units, their function and training routine from them ; and without a doubt a constant flow of such information reaches the Russians. The best done is in the withholding of' vital, secret information—that-an integral part of the allied intention. The next best is in our efforts to counter the subversive effect of the cold war—and how good is our effort in that direction, over-all, I am not privileged to-know. .
If we all become alert to the menaces everywhere, thousands in allied countries will be spared,to live as normal citizens and, maybe, one war
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