Diary of Annie's War (7 page)

If he was in England he would have no such trouble.

The head waiter told me today that everyone from nineteen to forty-eight years old must present themselves this month for an army of five million must be ready for April. So there is trouble for someone awaiting. It is such an anxious time and one hears such dreadful things.

Today I hear of twenty-four new Zeppelins for London. Each one is to carry fifty bombs of half a hundredweight each. They are going in nine weeks time and some of them are to be used in Nieuwpoort (Flanders) this week.

Got a postcard from Arthur and he wants a few things and a box to lock them in. It sounds as if someone is pinching. But I don't blame them if what I hear of the place is true.

I saw many men come in. There was not one under forty years of age. I felt so sorry for them. They just tramped along with their cardboard boxes as if they noticed nothing. They were looking for the houses they were to sleep in. Everywhere is full up.

With fourteen-thousand soldiers in the place it makes a difference. Frau Kuhner is very ill, inflamation of the lungs, but they still have a soldier in quarters with them and it makes such a deal of work. One must be up to get his coffee before he goes out. The people never grumble and say they must do it for their country.

I feel so sad for the horses poor things. They seem so very strange in a town and prance about as if afraid. Their drivers, young boys, look sad over the affair and the masters ditto. Now there are no horses to do the heavy work and spring is coming.

I have not heard anything of the war for nine days.

I had a letter from Emily yesterday. She is in Holland and writes that no one will change her German money. She is in a fix. I am so very sorry for her but she hopes to do better in Rotterdam. She says she has been to three banks but they will not change her any. I am anxiously waiting her next letter.

We hear of sixty flyers setting out for London. But the fog was so dense they could see nothing. On getting to Dover it was clear so they dropped a few bombs.

There are many new men in today and I hear we have fourteen-thousand men in the place. So you can guess that every home and place is full of them.

I was in the chemist's yesterday when a young man came in who was employed there and he was allowed to go free. There was great joy as the owner was at the front and he was the only capable one left - the rest being boys.

I have had a miserable two days, not busy at all, and my head nearly driving me frantic.

So many things are scarce though the prices are not high. It is just that things run out. Today it is posted that there will be no white bread after the 15
^th
.

I was at the Peligeaus' today and they said that for many weeks no bird seed could be bought. Many people were letting the canaries fly out of their windows. Marie saw one a few days ago on the house tops. One came into their garden and they caught it. It was half dead with hunger. Having some seed from the last bird they had they fed it. It was over an hour in feeding. They will keep it as long as the seed lasts.

No war news today but we hear of a terrible earthquake in Italy and ten thousand are dead. Here they say it is a great punishment from God to the Italians because they have not kept their bond in the alliance. They have gone to war with the Russians rather than helping Germany.

Also had a letter from Emily in Holland. She says she is waiting there for the birth certificates of the children which must come from England before they can be allowed on board ship. She has had a very rough time with the journey. I am glad I did not ask her to take the children. Now that it has turned out to be such a bad journey it's perhaps as well that she suggested it herself.

I am very anxious over them. In fact the anxiety is making me quite ill. As the letters are three days old before I get them it is very likely she is on her journey home by this time. She has heard how very badly the Germans are treated in England and seems anxious over her reception.

Well, she can't be any worse treated than I am here. In fact it will take a great deal to make me believe that the English so far forget themselves. She writes that her opinion has changed since she left here. She hears more news but cannot tell it to me. I wonder over it often.

Today the death is announced of the young priest who preached the sermon in the cathedral on Thursday last which so much surprised me. I think the poor man must have been partly delirious when he spoke to us that night. He was taken to the hospital on the Friday and was high in fever (Scarlet). He just sank and died on the Wednesday evening following. It's a very sad case as he is only thirty-two-years-old and was a marvellous preacher.

There is a lot in the papers at present of what Father Vaughn has been saying. The Jesuits here greatly deplore his sermon. I should like to read it. The Jesuits also remark that he did
not
say all that was published in the papers here as regards the Kaiser. We have written to a friend for a book of the sermon from England.

Today is miserable and I have been ill all day.

This morning I was awakened by the noise of many horses in the streets. They were for the front and were principally working horses for all the good ones went away early in the war. These were left for the farmers to use in the fields but now even these are going and they are here for examination. Some of these are poor enough and seem to me to be aged also.

Today is the last muster of horses and some fine heavy ones are in the town. I hear that two thousand soldiers leave here along with the horses in the next few days. From Monday the whole of the railway is held up for the transport of troops and horses. From the provence (that is ours) nine thousand men and a great many horse are to go. It is what they call the second muster and it will occupy the rail for five days. So no railway travelling for anyone else. Also the second Landstorm is called up. That is all up to forty-five years old. If Arthur was free he would have to go to the front.

We hear today of a great German victory in Flanders by Soissons. They have captured four thousand five hundred Frenchmen and as many guns. It seems to be a great advantage. We have no news of Poland for over a week.

I had a visit from Dr. Kahn today. He has been to Ruhleben to see Arthur and says he looks very well. I am so glad to hear it. He has brought me a paper giving me the control of the whole estate.

It is a comfort to hear someone say that they think that the war will be over by Easter and most people think June or July. But one man today said it cannot last longer than Easter really. I do some times lose all hope of better times.

Today the streets are full of soldiers for they commence to go away tomorrow, also the horses. Over two thousand men in all to go from here and six hundred horses. But where to? They themselves do not know.

There are notices in the papers telling us to be careful of white bread and tea. The flour will have to last out until we have new wheat.

They are collecting old woollen clothes at all the houses. These are then made into under-woollens for the soldiers and the pieces left over are joined up into patchwork rugs for the men. They are also asking you to sell all old silver spoons, ornaments etc. And are giving you the address to take it to.

Whole houses of people give their time to sewing all day for the army and are making all kind of things. I think all things on sale for the field are dear of course. They are considered as luxuries. I bought half-a-pound of butter in a tin for a shilling and two pence and I thought it dear.

Also the cardboard boxes are so expensive. I send one to Arthur about six inches deep, twenty inches long and twelve inches wide and it cost four pence. It makes parcels dear for poor people. Petroleum is very scarce. Forty-five pfennigs a quart. That is five-pence-halfpenny English and you cannot get it at that. No shopkeeper dare sell to any one person more than half a quart.

I had a postcard from Emily today, it has been five days coming, and she hopes to sail on Saturday the 16th for home.

Belle sent a parcel to Arthur today and he writes me there are several things they are not allowed to have now. Chocolate, cakes jams etc. They are getting scarce. We have now been warned for a long time about the white flour.

There came a sudden order today for Russia. Over a thousand soldiers left here at five o'clock and they had no idea, at noon, they were to go. The organisation of the men is really marvellous. This is the first time for many weeks that they have been told where they are to go.

I was at the baths yesterday and saw the people fetching their coke. There were six or eight women pulling a cart that ought to have a horse. The cart contained twenty or thirty bags of coke on it and at the back were a dozen women pushing.

So many poor people with baby carts are getting a hundred weight or so of coke. There are no men to hawk the coke and no horses to take it in the streets. The people must get it themselves. Now and then I would pass a handcart being pushed by a soldier. Very likely the house he was lodging at had no fire.

What struck me most was the silence of them. Not a word was spoken as the procession of little and big carts passed up the street. The cokes are only given or sold at a certain hour and the streets are full for a time. Even in the cases where six or eight girls or boys were with a cart there was no noise. Everyone here seems full of grim sorrow but they are confident of victory. Even in the churches. When the Bishop's letter was read for New Year he asked us all not to be too proud of when the news of the victory came and the Germans were the noble conquerors.

We read of the airship being over Yarmouth and Cromer. They say here that over two hundred are killed and many wounded. They are very delighted about the damage to a military school and stocks.

We have no news at all only a lot about the Yarmouth damage. But there is something in the papers over Romania and Italy which does not seem to please them.

I am very anxious over Emily and the children and expect a card each post.

The papers today tell us that the result of collecting old woollens from house to house, to make up for the soldiers, has proved to be very successful. They are now going to have a collection from house to house of old metal of any kind. So if we have any old silver or bronze ornaments etc. we must give them up. There was an advertisment in the papers a few weeks ago telling you where to take all old silver and it would be bought from you. Candlesticks, spoons, jewellery etc., anything at all out of silver. Now it is all kinds of metals.

Today they tell us in the papers that all pigs must be killed off because the food is scarce. The flesh must be made into sausages or be put in tins for future use. There is not enough food for the animals so they are killing off all they can. Especially all those we can cure and keep. So many things are scarce. One has a fear for a famine.

A number of soldiers go away again today. It really is a wonder where all the men come from but this lot are particulary sad. They are the men who are home after being wounded and were in the surrounding villages getting stronger – mostly with their parents and wives. They had been told they could rest until Easter but they got twenty-four hours notice to go to the Doctor. Then they were off to the front. I felt so sorry for them for it was to Russia they went. It's so very cold there besides the food being scarce.

We hear in the papers that after the next term the Turkish language is to be taught in the German schools instead of English. The hatred is dreadful and we must not speak a word of English in the streets. Two ladies in Hannover were mobbed because they were heard to speak English. We saw a motto in a window last week - ‘God punish the Englishman'. That is the universal greeting instead of – ‘Good day'. These are dreadful days to live through. I did not think that human beings could live and show so much hate.

The papers are full of the scarcity of food today and tell us we shall have to eat bread made of barley. They must have the oats for the horses.

We have had a slight frost for four days and I could think that the forest looks lovely. But I am not allowed to go so far. I am only allowed just over two miles and the finest parts are quite three miles distant. I am sure that the trees covered with the hoar frost are beautiful.

It is quite confirmed today that we are prepared for a scarcity of food and other supplies. Fresh meat is getting scarcer but the price remains the same as before. Cocoa, tea, chocolate, flour, oil candles, leather, meal and rubber have been scarce for some time.

It was announced in church today that on the Kaiser's birthday next Wednesday that there will be High Mass also. The collections on Wednesday and next Sunday are for a birthday offering for the Kaiser to use as he thinks fit.

We hear today of the whole coast of England being surrounded by undersea boats and nothing can come in or out. Also that the cruiser
Blücher
has been sunk in a battle at sea. Herr Roeder's brother was an officer on that and there is great distress in the hotel today. He was here for Christmas. We hear also that a large English ship has been sunk by a German mine but I have not heard the name of it.

Today I had a call from Frau Baroni and she tells me she had seventeen relatives in the war. Two are dead; three are prisoners, and the others still in the war. So she has anxiety. Her only son is in training for an officer. She asked me to go and live with her.