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276 WITH THE GERMAN ARMIES IN THE WEST
He had another suggestion, combined with less risk, namely
to visit a couple of his companies of marines and inspect their
quarters. A company and a half had been billeted in the
theatre, which was only a few steps away. Outside stood a
couple of 6-cm. so-called Bootskanonen (boat guns), neat-
looking little guns of the same grey colour as the armoured
ships. Their ammunition wagons were lined up along the
pavement.
We stepped into the large, handsome foyer. The men had
rigged up their beds along the walls—mattresses and pillows
had been requisitioned from the Mayor of Ostend. Their arms
and clothes were hanging on chairs and coat-hangers and the
tables were littered with their cups and crockery.
The first-tier boxes had also been converted into sleeping
berths or armouries. The whole of the corridor was filled
with beds. We had a look into one or two boxes where the
marines were sitting cleaning their rifles, patching their clothes
or polishing their accoutrements. In front of us we had the
handsomely decorated well of the theatre. Only three months
ago this had been the scene of every conceivable extravagance
from Paris, Brussels and London, From the box where we
were standing we would have been gazing down on row upon
row of elegant ladies intent on displaying their charms and
jewellery. Not long ago coquettish, languishing glances had
been exchanged across the stalls which now stood bare and
empty. Then life was a whirl of dissipation and excitement.
The days had been spent in bathing and in lounging in the
high-backed basket chairs or basking on the sun-baked sands.
Excursions, dinners and festivities had followed close upon one
another and the evenings had been spent in the theatre in
careless idleness. Then suddenly the curtain was rung down
for the last time, and the war broke out.
We could not resist the temptation to pay a visit to the
theatre kitchen. Here stood the fat, jovial, naval cooks in
their long white coats and caps and sleeves tucked up. The
caldrons were on the boil and appetising fumes filled the
atmosphere. Needless to say I was made to taste the dishes,
and a gigantic portion of goulash in a soup plate was put in
front of me—stewed meat, potatoes, vegetables and broth.
" Excellent ! This is even better than the food we get at the
hotel," I thought to myself. I ate my dish with great gusto.
No wonder that German soldiers are so strong, fresh and
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