Evening star., 1941-05-05
Dutch Resistance
Puzzles Nuzis
NetherIunders Cold to
Benefits of HitIer's
New Order

still thripes in that country. This
article yas ,Dritten for the North
American Newspaper Alliance by
prominent Dutch journdlist-Sonle OF
1UhoSe relatives are still hUing in Hol-
lund-on the basis of In formation con-
tanned in letters smuggled out OF his
country.
II in France the aversion to the Ger
man invaders is mainly expressed by
aloofness and disdain, the people of the
Netherlands find an ever-growing num-
ber of ways to annoy and harass the
Nazis.
Thousands of Hollanders play an ac-
tive part in this resistance, with the con-
sequence that the prisons are filled to
overcrowding. Even hotels are made to
serve as jails, among them the Orange
Hotel at The Hague, which, ironically
enough, used to be favorite. haunt OF
visitors from Germany.
One morning recently a placard was
found pasted on the front of this hotel.
1t read:
This hoosegow is-queer though 1t
A crook-less JAIL by CAD!
For here lives part of Hollands glory
AS great as ever we had!"
Cases of serious sabotage or espionage,
for which the death penalty is demanded,
have thus far been comparatively few.
But there is no lack of smaller offenses!
If you tear off German banner. Brit
ish Airmen Know No Mercy" you will
get half years solitary for "sabotaging
the German Army" Should you turn
your back on Nazi commissioner Seyss-
Inquart's image when it appears on the
cinema screen, you will find yourself
with four months on your hands in
which to think out other effective ways
of demonstrating your dislkes.
There are many poems" in circula-
ton, such as this:
II crave for the day when the very last
Hun
without sieg, without he'll, to the devil
will run!"
Price for the distribution of this heart
felt verse: Three to Is months confine-
ment. Listening to broadcasts from
SouiipIiC SOSI yOu d year.
Nevertheless, tens of thousands listen
daily to the Dutch programs from Lon
don and Boston. Besides, splendid
system has been developed for the rapid
distribution of other important news
items. Chain letters are forwarded to
people Of all ranks and classes. Each
letter contains a single message, and
the recipient is requested to copy this
item Is times and mail to friends.
This has got the Gestapo stumped.
What to do about it? Censor all home
mail? Or abolish the postal services
altogether?
The backbone of all resistance in the
Netherlands is strong feeling of unity
throughout the nation. One for all, all
for one. Ingenious ways are used to
warn against danger" It happened,
for example, on an Amsterdam trolley
rumbling along the straightest of the
citys streets. The passengers were
freely discussing their general plight
when the trolley stopped and two Ger
mans got on. Immediately the con-
ductor poked his head inside the car
and shouted, Mind the curve. ladies
and gentlemen!" Deep silence followed
the signal was well understood
The Germans have recruited firemen-
and no doubt fire-dghting apparatus also
from Dutch cities. An Amsterdam
fireman who was sent to Cologne was
able to get this through the German
censor: "Of course, it is not true that
British planes have caused many fires
in Cologne, as have not seen such fires.
spend good deal of my time in a
bombproof shelter"
The Netherlanders possess a sound
sense Of humor-an invaluable character
istic in these dark times. 1t is their safety
valve when the constant pressure under
which they live threatens to overwhelm
them. Lately the handful of Dutch
National Socialists, being encouraged by
their German bosses, became provocative.
They marched the streets and Haunted
their scurrilous journal People and
Country" Between these rowdies and
crowds OF indignant patriots many
hand-to-hand fights ensued. But the
humorists of the nation merely shrugged
their shoulders. Said they: "Why get
excited? After all--what are those fell
lows doing? They're only selling their
people and country!'"
Last fall woman was brought before
German court, accused Of having lis
tened to the London radio. Said the
judge sternly: why did you listen in?
You knew it is prohibited!"
Well the lady answered, 'Mr. Hitler
promised to talk from London in October
and I didn't want to miss that!"
German looting has been thorough,
and foodstuffs are getting very scarce.
AS yet there is no hunger. but the fear
exists for what may come. One Hol-
lander expressed this on a sheet Of air
mail paper, recently received in New
York. Below the printed legend "This
paper and envelope weigh 5 grams only"
this humorist had scribbled; land so
shall we-quite soon!"
There is, of course, unspeakable con-
tempt for the few women and girls who
hobnob with the Germans. They are
generally known as five points"-be-
cause that number of points on the ra-
tioning card sufices to buy-a floor mop.
The press is gagged and therefore dis
believed. The A. N. p (Algemeen
Netherlands Press Bureau is no more
than q tool in the hands Of the German
propaganda Office. The people now call
it "Adolf's newest parrot" AS counter
move, a new A. N. P. Office, entirely