LIFE IN TILE VILLAGES IS NOT SO HARD

From a Special Correspondent B.A.O.R.
EVERY time the electricity is cut off the clock jutting out at the corner in the centre of the village stops, because it is an electric clock. These days it has gone Connpletely haywire, the current being turned off frequently in the interests of economy. But the bell from the Catholic church crashes out each quarterhour anyway.
To say that this typifies the extent " suffering " encountered in the Westphalian agricultural community of Twistringen, near Hanover, where I have been for seven months, would be a well-considered and fair expression of opinion on a situation which has at times baffled many of us trying to find out these things for ourselves. Twistringen, Catholic stronghold in this part of Germany, lives well, due, to its agricultural produce. This, I am told, is typical of this part of Germany.
" We have enough," the parish priest told me. " Of course, we must do without many things—but starvation? In the big towns perhaps, butt not here."
Asked what things a comparatively flourishing community as this missed most, the benign, ageing priest smiled ruefully. ' " Before the war I smoked ten cigars a day I smoke only cigais. Too many, eh? But now—we must give a coupon: I am allowed 12 cigars a month."
A friend who accepted a casual invitation toe dinner one Sunday reported on the meel: a thick, vegetable soup. followed by roast mutton, runner beans, potatoes, a meat savoury and a home-made sauce. The sweet was a rich concoction made with whipped milk. A cup of ersatz coffee completed the meal. The people were " well-off," By din l of a little snooping I have been able to obtain what I am assured is a correct statement of -ration allowances for the people of this village: Flour, le lbs a week. sometimes 2 lbs.; bread (ft long brown, peat-looking loaf),
I Ills, twice a week: tea. nil; fresh coffee nil: ersatz coffee, 75 grammes a week; butter, i lb a week ; margarine, 75 grammes a month; meat, 150 grammes a week; sugar. I lb. a week; soap. I lb. every two months: egge, nil; cereals, e lb. a week.
That is the purchasable ration. Maas,
being farm people, are able to supplement the ration with their own product in certain cases.
The people of Twistringen themselves admit their good fortune in comparison with the folk of the larger towns and cities. Twistringen is not typical or the whole of Germany, but conditions here serve as a warning against unconditional acceptance of either favourable or unfavourable accounts of Germany's plight.
The people here have little, but they have a knack of looking comfortable and sufficiently supplied. Their clothes are adequate against all weather and, if they haven't coffee to offer a visitor, they can produce a most warming drink made up of German wine sweetened with sugar or saccharine with half as much real schnapps.