27 FEBRUARY 1915, Page 12

IMPOVERISHED SWITZERLAND.

[To ram Eorron Or Tea "Srrcreroo."] Sr a,—In one of our leading papers, the Ncue Ziirchcr Zeitung, I read that in your number of January 23rd there is an appeal of Professor Adamson in favour of the Swiss hotel- keepers in the mountain resorts who are suffering heavily in consequence of the war, and that your paper, in giving its valuable support to Professor Adamson's invitation, contains the following remark " We believe that the majority of the inhabitants of the mountains still stand up for freedom." As a German-Swiss who has personally no pecuniary interest whatsoever in the Swiss hotels, but sympathizes heartily with hie suffering countrymen, I wish to thank you for the noble sentiments expressed in the aforesaid sentence, and to assure you that indeed the Swiss people, be they German, French, or Italian speaking, have no more ardent wish than to keep their ancient liberties intact throughout and after this terrible war. Were it not so, our country would not cheerfully have taken upon itself the heavy

sacrifices which the defence of our frontiers since August 1st, 1914, entails, directly or indirectly, upon all its citizens. Also' let me say that, especially among the German-Swiss of the' cultivated classes who read English and French as well as German papers, you will find a great and still increasing number of people who render justice to England with respect to the present war, and who are aware of the immense debt of gratitude which our nation owes to your country for the political services rendered to Switzerland in the years 1815 • (Congress of Vienna), 1847 (war of the Sonderbund), and 1856 (Neuchritel affair), as well as for the commercial advantages offered to ne by your Liberal Free Trade policy, and who can draw the consequences—I am, Sir, &c.,

AN ANOLOPHILE GERMAN-SWISS.

P.S.—Will you allow me to add that, irrespective of per- sonal sympathies, the Swiss have open hearts and open purses for the refugees and other victims of war of all nations, and do their utmost in order to help them?