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the civilian population were still there, hardly a,hie as yet to credit the fact that Fritz had gone forever, 1*11 het we had a dozen drinks of coffee and cocoa in the next hour, in as many houses. Many and varied were the tales we heard of how they were treated under German rule. Here’s a few of them.
No civilians were allowed on the streets after six o'clock. Once a week they could visit friends or relatives in the neighboring villages. Should a German M.D. he asked to see a sick civilian, he charged 10 marks for each visit. ¥ivilians were forced to plant vegetables in their gardens and had to have a permit to pick even what they wanted for their own use. Every so often the Civilians would he assembled in the "grand place", and while there, Heinie would go through the houses, taking whatever he required. Soldiers would flop into beds with dirty muddy shoes, then get out again. Soldiers were billeted in all the houses "buckshee". The old fellow in whose house I am writingthis, had a permit to leave this village at 5 o'clock in the morning. His clock was a little out and it was ten to five when he tried to pass the sentry. Six days in the prison. With girls it was work or immorality, etc. etc.
Next morning mine was one of five squads picked to go up the line, or rather in that general direction-- for in these days it is a difficult proposition to catch up with tne war. Stayed in a brewery that night, wrecked of course. Everywhere we go it is the same. Manufacturing plants stripped of all the machinery. Fritz is not taking any chances on having France to contend with in the manufacturing line apres la guerre.
On again in the morning, an hour's walk bringing us to the home we are in here. At the time we came there were no civilians in the place, but a couple of days ago the old man and his wife csrae back, and are staying here now. It is surely one fine joint this. Three stoves, plenty of fuel, and dozens of vegetable gardens to choose from. Yesterday we had for evening dinner- fried rabbit, mashed spuds, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots and celery. Today we are going to have steak, spuds, green beans, turnips and water cress. This is a bon war these days alright]
The day we hit here, Gerry and I crossed © canal into a good sized town of which this is a, suburb. Souvenir hunting of course. We sure made a find too. Went into a Fritz police barracks just off tne "grande place", and corralled no less than ten spiked h el mite. Picked out the four best ones, one for each of the squad, and/”sent the rest down for Let to look after till we get back to hqrs. The one I have is the betet of the lot, and the best I've ever seen .
I intend to send it and maybe one other over to Blighty by Let when goes on leave, and have him leave it with his folks till apres la guerre. Can't afford to chance sending it in the mail, A 49th offered me 2G0 francs for it yesterday. If I send much more junk home you'll have to have an annex built to house it.
Have every reason to believe that the days of dug out life have gone forever. From, now on we'll have fine billets everywhere we go. The ambulances sure run right up to all the R.A.P.'s on this
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