Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-07-09
DO THE GERMANS
LIKE OCCUPATION?
Bitterness Becomes More Ap-
parent and French Are a
Hated People.

DUSSELDORF, Germany, July 9-The
anti occupation sentiment is much
stronger in Dusseldorf. Ruhrort and
Duisburg. the cities OF Rhenish Prussia
recently occupied by the French, than IN
Mayence, Coblenz and Cologne, which
have Leen under foreign occupation for
more than two years by the French,
Americans and British.
As one crosses from the left bank Of
the Rhine and enters recently occupied
territory the mood of the population be
comes more sullen their behavior more
aloof and their hatred much more pro-
nounced.
The reason may be that the French are
occupying that part Of the night bank
OF the Rhine that they hold near the
Ruhr In much more severe fashion than
the occupation is on the left bank.
The hatred is directed more especially
against the French, and children are be
ing brought up in a constant terror and
undisguised scorn OF the occupying
forces. which gives but little promise that
brotherly love between French and Ger
mans will be achieved with the coming
generation.
Occupations bring out the witty sides
OF the occupied populations, and books
have been written about the good jokes
which the Belglans perpetrated on the
Germans while the latter were ruling
their country.
The Germans are now in the same posi-
ton toward the French as. the Belgians
were toward them. and they have mot
failed to take advantage Of the situation
and sense OF humor has been developed
among the Germans az an occupied coun-
try which they totally lacked when they
were the occupying forces.
The absolute refusal 10 speak French
even by persons well acquainted with
the language Is one Of the most COM
mon ways in which Germans show their
dislike Of the french military men. The
correspondent wnlkcd into n cigar store
the other day while a French officer was
attempting to make the woman In charge
understand the brand Of cigarettes he
wanted.
She seemed entirely unable to under
stand him when the correspondent
translated the officers request in Eng
Ish After the officer had departed she
told the correspondent in purest French:
Il understood him the first time, but
would not give him the satisfaction.
Many shopkeepers have forsaken good
sales by the same reluctance to speak
. French.
Few women in Duesseldorf. Ruhrort or
Dulshurg will b" seen in the company
Of n uniformed French soldier or officer
in the streets
The few who transgress the unwritten
law are promptly cataloged at the Ger
man city headquarters and are marked
for reprsals In some cases the diff
6culty is voided by the occupying swain
adopting civilian clothes which seems 10
be satisfactory all around.
In the wine cellars OF the most fash
ionable restaurants of Dusseldorf thers-
is a corner called 1.-THE occupation cor
ner." There are deposited all bottles OF
wines which have been refused by the
German customers as having soured ow-
ing to defective corks.
When a party Of French officers puts
in an appearance they are always served
with two or three bottles OF the special
wine. which they promptly reject, but
by the time good bottle Of wine is
reached "the French c. mot taste the
good Of it," as one head waiter put It. -
The entrance Of a party of French Of
ficers in a beer garden causes the tenn
perature TO descend to the freezing point
and surrounding tables to be vocated as
promptly as they were by Belgians in
their cafes when German onicers same
in.
Overt insults are avoided as carefully
as they were In Belgium. but acts in
contravention Of the DEGREES OF the oc-
cupying forces are treated by the French
as they were by the Germans in Bel
GUM. Fines are imposed in marks.
The Belgians and the French suffered
occupation Of territory more stoicalIy
than the Germans and with less self
pity. The owner of the palatial home
recently requisitioned in Dusseldorf for
tho general stan OF General Degoutte, the
French comma nder. wept bitter tears as
! be departed from his house