COBLENZ, Feb. 5 — Judging by the number of letters from German civilians of the American occupied asking for special permits to carry firearms for hunting purposes, the wild boars in Rhenish Prussia more numerous this season than in many years. In fact, several letters written to the headquarters of the Third American Army stated that the wild boar menace this winter greater than any other year in German history.
Every day from various parts of the occupied territory letters into Coblenz from German civilians who have been deprived of their usual winter sport by the American decree forbidding civilians to have possession of either rifles or revolvers. In nearly every case the letters agree that the wild boars are overrunning the country, destroying crops and eating certain winter growing plants which should be preserved for the horses and cattle.
One letter stated that, in the region of Trier, the boars had become so bold that children of the farmers their way to school had been badly frightened and had to run for their lives when a wild hog appeared in the road and chased the youngsters to a nearby farm house.
So far no permits for German civilians to hunt wild boars have been issued. Third Army officers say that if there is any wild-hog shooting to be done, American soldiers will do it.
The American officers do not quite understand why there have been no complaints about the boar menace except from those Germans who want to hunt.
The Commonwealth, Greenwood, MS, February 5, 1919