The evening Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1918-1920, 1919-02-14
Letters from Huns Not
Permitted to Come to
America
DIsCLOSES FEELINGS
Americans are Still Swine to Huns
Who Cannot Realize Their
Defeat

COBLENZ, Feb. determination
of a large number of letters written
by Germans in the territory occupied
by the American Third Army to
friends and relatives in the United
States and other countries reveals a
wide range of expression of hatred
of Americans.
1t should be explained that letters
from Germans here are not allowed
to go to America, because technically
Germany is still at war with the AL
lies. These letters go to the Ameri-
can Base Censor's Office to be held
until peace is made. Meanwhile they
have been examined by the American
Censor, and it is to that examination
I refer.
1t goes without saying that these
letters, or perhaps nearly all of thefn,
were written by Germans who did not
believe tina. they would be read by
American officers, and therefore the
expressions of their feelings to their
relatives ard friends may be taken as
sincere. The expressions of dislike
of the American are not unanimous,
but there is so much of it in COM
parison to the attitude of Germans
in person toward Americans thatsit
comes with striking force. 1t is just
because the Germans say one thing
to Americans here in Coblenz. and
write another diametrically opposite
to their cousins that it is worth no.
ticing. 1t is further proof of the
working of the German propaganda.
Here is an example taken from the
letter of a wealthy woman here:
These detestable Americans have
been here again in my house. First
they came searching fof arms, and
now they come again, searching for
food. GOD speed the day when the
curse of their presence will be remoy-
ed from u.s."
incidentally it may be stated that
this search to discover food hoarders
was undertaken not to obtain any
for Americans, but to protect the
poorer Germans against their wealthy
neighbors.
Many of the letters express resent
n1ent because the Americans are bill
lifted with the writers, who seem to
have forgotten that the Germans in
France did not content themselves
with taking only spare rooms as the
Americans in Germany do, but often
drove out the families.
Scores Of letters accuse the Ameri-
cans of deeds of which they were
never guilty, and criticize the be-
! havior of our army, which is perhaps
more exemplary than any other army
of occupation in history.
There arc few statements of facts
| in these letters. They are simply the
expression of the innate feeling which
needs no overt act of the Americans
to force to the surface. They show
how these same Germans hate us.
! They know that Americans caused
them to lose the war, and they hate
them for it, their sweet words and
/ servile obeisances to the contrary not
withstanding.
If one heard any of these express
sions in his daily contact with Ger
mans, it would be different. But one
never does. 1t is always praise Of
the Americans and their army and
their President and their country and
their behavior, and talk of how 1--WE
hope the French do not come when
you go, because the French are SO
cruel and the Americans are so NICE"
That reminds one of an incident
which throws light on the situation.
Yesterday was seated in cafe at
| table next to that of French Lieu
tenant. In came a German, well
dressed and speaking excellent
French. He asked the Lieutenant if
it was true that the French were
coming into Coblenz. The lieutenant
replied automatically that he didn't
know.