Diary of Annie's War (22 page)

The Bishop of Metz has written to his churches that all their monies must be invested from the church funds into the war loan so it is sure to be a success. I wonder if we will have a 5
^th
war loan in another four months.

We are having lovely spring weather and for the last week it has been so warm. The sun is so strong that we had no need for any fires in the middle of the day. On St. Patrick’s Day we had no fires (only in the kitchen) until five o’clock in the evening.

Bread is so scarce and the bakers are often sold out at ten o’clock in the morning and many people have made a row at the town hall. One man went with card and money and would not leave without bread so they had to telephone to all the bakers. A woman with her six children said awful things so it all looks pretty serious.

Got a letter from Willie today and also a photo of little Joan – she is a bonnie little girl – and I long to see her. Willie says all are well and that the news from Canada is good. That’s a blessing.

I have not heard from Arthur for over two weeks and I expect that he is as disappointed as me about his leave.

Meat is very scarce and has gone up dreadfully in price and many days you can get none. Flour is not to be had at any price so you can use none for cooking. Bread we get at the bakers and it is awful stuff and so sour and the white bread is so dark and full of potatoes.

The war loan has reached ten million marks or shillings so there is still plenty of money still.

I have been today to hear a young priest celebrate his first Mass. It was a very elaborate but touching ceremony. On the feast of St. Joseph three young priests were ordained and today they all celebrate their first high mass. One of them celebrates in the Dom (cathedral) for he and his parents are members of that congregation and the others celebrate theirs in their respective churches where they were brought up – one in Hildesheim and one in a village nearby.

At the beginning of the war there were nine young men in the seminary or church where they are educated for the priesthood. Those who were only in their minor orders had to go to the war, but those who had advanced were allowed to complete their studies and be ordained before they went away. Four went to the front in the first month of the war. Three are dead and one is wounded. He has lost a leg but is to be ordained for a cloister and he can become a monk. The three who were ordained last Saturday go to the front in a week or so. Then there is one left and when he is ordained the place will be empty and the seminary must close until there are more boys advanced enough in their schools to join the priesthood. It’s very sad. Even the professors (priests) go away every so often to the front and we expect every week that the regent (the head of the seminary) will have to go for he is already called up. There are no young priests left and all around here those remaining are in their fifties and over.

I asked what they made of the priests in the military and they said that they are made sergeants and are given watch duty. It seemed very sad to think that this young man saying his first mass must go away soon. I felt so sorry for his parents and grandparents. What is not sad in these times? I feel sorry even for myself but how about the poor people?

Every week food is getting dearer and scarcer. Cocoa is now ten shillings a pound, coffee four shillings, tea six shillings, soap two shillings and two pence, meat and sausage two shillings and four pence and three shillings a pound and not to be got at all, sugar is only sold in half pounds and butter in a quarter. Fat of any description cannot be had. We hear that lard is to be sold for three days next week in one place at six shillings a pound. They can keep it at that price.

We hear today that Russia has publicly sold her German subjects’ belongings so perhaps it will come here. One man said last week that if the war lasts much longer he is afraid that we shall have serious trouble over the food. There is a very bitter feeling against England again.

We hear of no more progress in Verdun. If only one could see the beginning of peace. It sometimes seems so far off and the anxiety of these days tells on one. The poor soldiers – I feel so much for them. Now we understand what a delightful time we lived in - in the days of peace. How small those little differences seem now – politics, education, income tax, free trade etc. in the face of this dreadful war.

We are now told that we must not have visitors and give them coffee or tea. Also we must not buy much material for our clothes so that there will be enough for all. No one can make these new wide skirts as it takes too much stuff. There is to be a new post tax next month and all is to be double price. The people are grumbling at that and we must not send Easter parcels to the field as luxuries are not required for the soldiers. We must consider the post which is very much understaffed and is closed for four hours in the middle of the day. In fact wherever you look it is serious.

It is now a month since the attack on Verdun commenced and we do not hear of its fall, though it is expected every day.

We read here that it is much worse in England for everything is scarce and the people are quarrelling amongst themselves very much.

A lady called to see me last week and a sister of hers is a nurse in a lazarett and she says that the French prisoners are very willing to help in the work and are very polite. The Russian will do what you tell him and is very obedient. But the Englishman is neither polite nor obedient and is very lazy. He will refuse to do even a simple job and he is the most unsatisfactory prisoner they have. Now, that is the second time I have heard the same complaint from two different lazaretts and I feel ashamed of the Englishmen. Such unthankfulness is dreadful to the people who nurse and attend them. Even if it is not as good as home it is better than nothing and one must be thankful for small mercies in these times of war.

No war news of any note but a lot in the papers about the conference in Paris and that England has threatened to break the neutrality of Holland.

A lot of soldiers left here very hurriedly this week at only two hours notice. Many left home in the morning just to drill and never returned to say goodbye. They left the barracks straight away. They must have received urgent summons.

We read that Mrs. Asquith has been fined one thousand pounds for playing tennis with the prisoners (German). I don’t believe it.

We have had such a lot of fliers here this past two days – eight or nine in the air at once. They land and start off on a high meadow near the river. I have been to see them and it is very interesting.

Got a letter from Arthur today and he says that Ettie has written to him as regards Winnie at school. She is now fourteen but I wish her to have another year study and then we will decide what to do with her.

It is not true about Mrs. Asquith (we read in a neutral paper – Swiss) and that ‘The Globe’ had to pay her one thousand pounds for slander. So now the boot is on the other foot.

Many men are going away today and my servant’s young man has been called. He has ten days leave and it is his first for eight months. He had only been here for four days when he found out that he must return. He left here at six o’clock and arrived at eleven o’clock at night in Halle. He was re-clothed and on the train for Russia at half-past two in the morning and not a minute of sleep. It was sharp work.

Prices are rising very much and we expect double post rates this week with letters costing two pence and post-cards a penny and so on. Everything is to be at double price.

There is great excitement this last three days about Holland. It is reported that England has made her mobilise and that the Germans have had to send many men to the Dutch frontier. I cannot believe it but the men were sent off in a great hurry.

They announce also that Asquith has been received by the Pope and that the Italians have once more turned around. They thought here that Italy was tired of England.

A big change in the weather and last night we had a violent thunderstorm and all the nice cherry and apricot blossom has been destroyed.

No special war news and there is nothing definite in the papers about Holland. Germany is quite prepared for whatever happens.

There are new rules about eating and every restaurant or hotel has to close two days a week and nothing to eat must be sold. There are two days without fresh meat and another two days nothing is to be cooked with fat. That is no fried or roasted, only boiled. Sunday is the only day you can have a real meal (dinner).

One day last week a man came here to see all the food you have in the house and you do not know that they are coming. They simply come in and ask to see your goods for you are not allowed more than a certain quantity in store or stock.

It is quite a trial about bread and I know people of money who are sometimes a whole day without bread and must eat potatoes and salt for breakfast and also for supper (tea time we do not have here) and many people are three and four days together without butter. If that is the case where people have money, what about those who have none? My servant is often two days without bread for she is a big hungry girl and eats her seven days bread up in five days. When you have no bread cards you can get no bread. Everything is scarce and dear. There is not one thing that is not dear and bread and butter are a
great
luxury. You cannot give them to a visitor for money will not buy them. Even the newspapers have risen in price because paper is so dear.

Everyone expects that something is going to happen in the next few weeks and they are looking to the Belgium and Dutch frontier for it to happen.

Such a lot of fliers have been here this week with eight or ten in the air at once.

The Chancellor’s speech seems to have upset things. The people say now that there is no likelihood of peace for some time. There is trouble with the Social Democrat leader but the papers are forbidden to print the speeches.

We hear from a private source of great trouble in Berlin and also in several small towns that smallpox has broken out. Thirty-six cases in one town but it is not in the papers. People have come here to visit to be out of danger. We had a visitor here from Göttingen and she tells us that we are well off here. In Göttingen they have had only three ounces of butter per person per week for a long time and many other things are not to be had. She took goods back with her from here but not butter as that is impossible to be got.

I often see the children going to the good Sisters of Charity for their dinner. It’s a great blessing that we have them in Hildesheim. The children get their cards in the schools and so many of the poor go to the convent for dinner. How the Sisters must work for they feed about eight hundred a day. Also the poor people can take their cards and a dish and then take enough home for the family dinner instead of eating it there. It is really pitiful to see the old men and women with a small enamel bucket with a lid going to get their hot pot for a penny a pint. There is more water put in it when they get home and the family is fed. The Sisters do a great charity.

It is sad to see the feet of the children with their slippers made from sacking. They have five or six old stocking feet sewn together, one over the other. Others have wooden soles on old shoes that are falling to pieces. Worst of all are the little ones going to school in felt slippers in the pouring rain. It makes me quite ill to see them and knowing that there is no fire or food at the back of it all, and no end in view. All say that we must hold out till the end.

We hear that Asquith returned to England after his Rome trip to find all his party against him. I don’t believe it at all.

I had a letter from Johanna Pulmann today and she says that she has seen Arthur for a minute. He told her that I was to ask permission to visit him for now they are allowed to see their nearest relation. I have applied for permission and it will take fourteen days to get an answer. I do not have any hopes of being allowed to travel.

Got a letter from Arthur saying that he would not sell the estate until he was able to look after it himself. I only hope that it is not too late. In Ruhleben one cannot write all one has to say.

There seems to be a depression at present. Certainly one looks a deal differently on life when one is never full of food. What you do buy is all imitation or an adulteration – ‘ersatz’ they call it here.

I am having a deal of trouble with my stomach for this last three months and hope that it does not result in another ulceration. But it seems like it. I have been having medical treatment for three months for it.

I hear through a friend from Ruhleben that Arthur is anxious for me to go to England.
That is not to be thought of
. Firstly I will not cross the water in this sharper undersea boat war and secondly I cannot go into a neutral land for the bank will not send me any money out of this land. They are forbidden to do so and you are not allowed to cross the frontier with anything of value on you and no gold at all. Even your wedding ring is taken from you and held until after the war.

I got good news today in a letter from Arthur in which he says I can visit him. I have sent up for permission and one hour is allowed. So, very likely, it is to be soon after Easter. That is something to look forward to.

This morning a gentleman came to see me, he is retiring on a pension from the saving bank, and he would like to rent Woltershausen. I hope that he takes it since Arthur does not think of selling it.

No war news of any note but there is news of a sharper blockade of Germany by England. It does not make the people here friendlier.

Got a letter from Willie today with Christmas greetings and it was posted on December19
^th
.