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OSTEND BOMBARDED 277
contented-looking when they are fed like this. If I were to be
put on field diet for a long while and could choose between
officers’ and men’s fare, I would unhesitatingly take the latter.
It is wholesome, nourishing, and tasty food, and does not
encumber the soldiers’ stomachs with unnecessary ballast. That
the state of health in the German Army is as good as it is, is to a
great extent due to the excellent and ample hot food.
But it is now five minutes to one and we must not be late
for dinner at the officers’ mess, for which I, for my part, had
thoroughly spoilt my appetite. We walked up the Rue du
Ccrf. At the corner of this street and the Digue de Mer, the
road fronting the sea, stands the Hotel Littoral. The former
street lies a few metres lower than the Digue de Mer, which is
perched on the dune skirting the sea. The streets are paved
with granite slabs. The last bit of the Rue du Cerf forms a
slight rise. Up at the corner of the Hotel Littoral a group of
officers were standing in animated conversation, pointing to
the west and busily using their glasses. We went up to them
wondering what was up. The British squadron lay in its
accustomed place to westward and west-south-westward,
perhaps a little closer in than usual—about seven or eight
kilometres away.
A destroyer had just detached itself from the rest and was
making at full speed for Ostend, parallel with the coast, as
close as possible to the shore. Presently another destroyer
appeared, following in the wake of the first. What could they
want, these ruffians ? Strong language was heard—it was a
piece of consummate impudence to come steaming right under
our noses like this. Evidently they were reconnoitring—but
what insolence, they must have known that we had occupied
Ostend ! Aha ! they suspect that there are submarines and
destroyers in the inner harbour, and want to see whether they
can detect anything from outside !
Well, whatever their intentions are, we may as well go
upstairs and get ready for dinner. I stepped on to my balcony,
feeling convinced that by this time the destroyers would have
turned back or gone out to sea again. But no ! They kept
on the same tack as before, and at a speed which made the
foam break over their bows. My neighbours, Bess, Haak and
Kiibler, were also out on their balconies with their glasses.
" Astounding insolence," I heard them mutter. There will be
something doing presently, I thought to myself, and went in
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