Evening star., 1941-12-09

as in London and exceedingly mo-
notonouS.
Food conditions in Germany, as
matter of fact, should and would be
quite good and would certainly be
far better than they are if the sit
uation were organized. which most
definitely it is not. This comes as a
shock in the face of such wide ac-
ceptance Of Germany's claims as an
organizer, but the truth is the whole
country is fantastically topheavy
with bureaucrats, each of whom is
taught to be suspicious of the others
and it is next to impossible for the
Germans themselves to get anything
done.
No Butter or Sugar.
There Is no butter or sugar what
ever in Berlin. Saccharin is used
everywhere. Beer is poor and linn
tied. There are no eggs, no meat,
coffee does not compare with British
coffee, but the sausags is about the
same. German bread is extremely
bad. 1t is mealy and solid, more like
| a black mash pressed into cake. I
didn't see a piece of white bread or
good brown bread at any time in
Germany. There are absolutely no
fruits and very little soup.
/ Prices are reasonable, but you
cannot buy anything in any res
taurant or store without food tickets
and these are limited and very
complicated.
It's impossible to get a taxi in
Berlin. There are none. And. of
course, there are no private cars.
Bicycles are hardly ever used for
every one walks and uses the SUBJ
ways. After pm. no vehicle of any
kind is allowed ON the streets with
out a special pass and this, in the
intense blackout, gives the city an
eerie atmosphere.
Crowds Along Sidewalks.
Since you see no headlights or
traffic lights any place and the
streets are absolutely vacant, the
effect of the blackout is totally
different from London. Great
crowds move along the sidewalks
/ in the dark. crossing only at inter
sections. There is only the strange
sound of shutting feet. There are
no buses. no horns, no purring of
motors, just surge Of people walk
ing and breathing in great, SER
pentine mass.
Tobacco stores in Berlin are open
at certain hours each day. You have
to register to get tobacco card
once each month and long lines
always form in front of the shops
waiting for them to open. German
tobacco has always been poor. Now
it is very much worse and very
expensive.
Clothes are not bad and. although
closely rationed in the most compli-
Gated and impractical way. the ma
terial itself is good. Likewise shoes
for there is surprising amount OF
leather, ersatz and genuine, in Ger
many.
Frequent Searchlight Practice.
Movies run full blast, mostly Ger
man films with a few Italian pic
lures here and there and propaganda
shorts everywhere. Movies are
cheap and all are equipped with
loud-speaker systems TO cut in OF
the radio whenever high Naz
official speaks-which is very otter
indeed. This is a little annoying t.
the audience and most management.
have cut it down as much as the,
can.
They have searchlignt practic
frequently in Berlin and thes
nights the whole city is ringed witt
swaying lights. The searchlight AM
anti-aircraft defense is immense
although there is no balloon bar
rage at all.
The great, wide boulevard through
the Tiergarten from the Branden
burg Gate at the head of Unter del
Linden, ironically named Peace ave
nue., is camouflaged to look half a
wide as it Is This is done by erect
ing high poles for several mile
along the curb and in the middle G
the street Across the poles is hun
a web of green matlike cloth, form