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diff --git a/27229-h/27229-h.htm b/27229-h/27229-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..45bc7e4 --- /dev/null +++ b/27229-h/27229-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,6176 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" lang="en" xml:lang="en"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of “Brother Bosch”, by Captain Knight + </title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + p {margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + text-indent: 1em; + } + + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 {text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; + } + h1 {font-variant: small-caps;} + + h2 {padding-top: 2em;} + + hr {width: 20%; + margin-top: 1.5em; + margin-bottom: 1em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; + height: 1px; + border: 0; + background-color: black; + color: black; + } + + body{margin-left: 15%; + margin-right: 15%; + } + + p.description {font-size: 95%; + padding-left: 2em; + padding-right: 1em;} + + p.negative {padding-left: 3em; + text-indent: -1em; + padding-right: 0.5em;} + + p.dedication {text-align: center; + text-indent: 0em; + padding-top: 2em; + padding-bottom: 2em;} + + p.publisher {margin-top: 2em; + text-align: center; + font-size: smaller; + margin-bottom: 1em; + text-indent: 0em; + line-height: 180%; + } + + div.advertisements {margin-top: 4em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + font-size: smaller; + padding: 1em 0.5em 0.5em 0.5em; + background-color: #FBF5E6; + color: black; + width: 60%;} + + div.note {margin: 4em 10% 0 10%; + padding: 1em; + border: 1px dashed black; + color: inherit; + background-color: #F0F8FF; + font-size: smaller; + } + + ul {list-style: none; + line-height: 150%; + margin-left: 15%; + } + + ul.transcriber {list-style: none; + line-height: 150%; + margin-left: 0em; + } + + .pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + right: 1%; + font-size: x-small; + text-align: right; + font-weight: normal; + font-style: normal; + letter-spacing: 0ex; + text-indent: 0em; + } + + a:link {text-decoration: none; + color: #104E8B; + background-color: inherit; + } + + a:visited {text-decoration: none; + color: #8B0000; + background-color: inherit; + } + + a:hover {text-decoration: underline;} + + a:active {text-decoration: underline;} + + .bb {border-bottom: solid black 1px; + margin-top: 1em; + margin-bottom: 1em; + padding-bottom: 1em;} + + .bt {border-top: solid black 1px; + padding-top: .7em;} + + .bbox {border: solid black 1px; + width: 60%; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + } + + .center {text-align: center; + text-indent: 0em;} + + .right {text-align: right; + margin-right: 25%; + font-size: 90%; + } + + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + + .poem {margin-left:33%; + margin-right:10%; + text-align: left; + font-size: 90%; + } + + .poem br {display: none;} + + .poem .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} + + .poem span.i0 {display: block; + margin-left: 0em; + padding-left: 3em; + text-indent: -3em; + } + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of 'Brother Bosch', an Airman's Escape from +Germany, by Gerald Featherstone Knight + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: 'Brother Bosch', an Airman's Escape from Germany + +Author: Gerald Featherstone Knight + +Release Date: November 10, 2008 [EBook #27229] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BROTHER BOSCH *** + + + + +Produced by Irma Spehar and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<h1>“Brother Bosch”</h1> + +<h3>AN AIRMAN’S ESCAPE<br /> +FROM GERMANY</h3> + +<p class="center" style="padding-top: 2em; font-size: 80%">BY</p> + +<p class="center" style="padding-top: 1em; font-size: 130%">CAPTAIN KNIGHT, R.A.F.</p> + +<p class="publisher">1919<br /> + +LONDON: WILLIAM HEINEMANN</p> + +<p class="dedication"> +<big>To the Memory of</big><br /> +<br /> +<big>CAPTAIN MORRITT,</big><br /> +<span style="line-height: 200%"><big>LIEUT. MEDLICOTT,</big></span><br /> +<big>LIEUT. WALTERS,</big><br /> +<br /> +<small>AND ALL OTHER OFFICERS, N.C.O.’S AND MEN,</small><br /> +<small>WHO, BEING LESS FORTUNATE,</small><br /> +<small>GAVE THEIR LIVES IN THE ENDEAVOUR.</small> +</p> + +<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> +<span class="i0">Belovèd Country! banished from thy shore,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">A stranger in this prison house of clay,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">The exiled spirit weeps and sighs for thee!<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Heavenward the bright perfections I adore<br /></span> +<span class="i0">Direct, and the sure promise cheers the way,<br /></span> +<span class="i0">That, whither love aspires, there shall my dwelling be.<br /></span> +</div></div> + +<p class="right"><i>Longfellow.</i></p> + + +<h3 style="padding-top: 2em">NOTE</h3> + + +<p>“The spelling of the word ‘Bosch’ was the +customary one in the German prisoners’ camps +from which the author made his escape, and is +retained for the sake of local colour.”</p> + + +<h3 style="padding-top: 2em">ERRATA</h3> + +<ul> +<li>P. <a href="#Page_25">25</a>, line 6 from bottom, <i>for</i> “<i>weis</i>” <i>read</i> “<i>weiss</i>.”</li> + +<li>P. <a href="#Page_43">43</a>, line 14, <i>for</i> “balolaika” <i>read</i> “balalaika.”</li> + +<li>P. <a href="#Page_47">47</a>, line 10 and p. <a href="#Page_55">55</a>, line 16, <i>for</i> “<i>Weiswein</i>” <i>read</i> “<i>Weisswein</i>.”</li> + +<li>P. <a href="#Page_51">51</a>, line 7, <i>for</i> “Hammelin” <i>read</i> “Hameln.”</li> + +<li>P. <a href="#Page_126">126</a>, line 20, <i>for</i> “Pupchen” <i>read</i> “Püppchen.”</li> + +<li>P. <a href="#Page_159">159</a>, line 16, <i>for</i> “Briefeasten” <i>read</i> “Briefkasten.”</li> +</ul> + + + + +<p class="center" style="font-size: 130%; letter-spacing: .15ex; padding-top: 4em">“BROTHER BOSCH”<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[1]</a></span></p> + +<p class="center" style="font-size: 110%">(An Airman’s Capture and subsequent<br /> +Escape from Germany)</p> + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a>CHAPTER I</h2> + +<h4>CAPTURED</h4> + + +<p><span class="smcap"><big>I</big>t</span> was November 9th, 1916. I lay in a +state of luxurious semi-consciousness pondering +contentedly over things in general, transforming +utter impossibilities into plausible +possibilities, wondering lazily the while if I +were asleep. Presently, to my disgust an +indefinable, yet persistent “something” +came into being, almost threatening to dispel +the drowsy mist then pervading my brain. +The slow thought waves gradually ceased +their surging, and after a slight pause began +to collect round the offending mystery, as if +seeking to unravel it in a half-hearted sort +of way. They gave me to understand that +the “something” recurred at intervals, and +even suggested that it might be a voice,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[2]</a></span> +though from which side of the elastic dividing +line it emanated they were quite unable to +say. With the consoling thought that voices +often come from dreamland I allowed the +whole subject to glide gently into the void +and the tide of thought to continue its +drugged revolutions. The next instant a +noisy whirlwind swept the cobwebs away. +I knew that the voice was indeed a reality, +for it delivered the following message: “A +very fine morning, sir!” Obviously my +dutiful servant desired me to rise and enjoy +the full benefit of the beautiful day. Agreeing +with Harry Lauder, that “It’s nice +to get up in the morning, but it’s nicer to +stay in bed!” I am sorry to say I cunningly +dismissed the orderly with a few false assurances, +turned over on my side and promptly +forgot all about such trivial matters. Conscience +was kicking very feebly, and just as +sleep was about to return, the air commenced +to vibrate and something swept overhead +with a whirling roar—an “early bird” +testing the air. Galvanised into action by +this knowledge, I sprang out of bed, and +seizing whatever garments happened to be the +nearest, was half dressed before I had even +time to yawn! Then snatching up my map, +coat, hat, and goggles, I burst from the hut +and began slithering along the duck-boards +towards the hangars, at the same time endeavouring<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[3]</a></span> +to fasten the unwilling hooks of +my Flying Corps tunic and devoutly hoping +that I should not be late for the bomb raid. +For weeks we had been standing by for this +raid in particular, the object of which was to +bomb Douai aerodrome. This was a particularly +warm spot to fly over, for in these +days it was regarded as the home of +“Archies” and the latest hostile aircraft. +It is, therefore, not surprising that the +general feeling of the squadron was that the +sooner it was over the better for all concerned. +Arrived at the sheds I was relieved to find +that I was in good time, at all events. The +machines (two-seater artillery machines, then +commonly known as “Quirks”) were lined +up on the aerodrome with bomb racks loaded, +their noses to the wind, awaiting the signal +to ascend. I saluted the C.O., waved to a +friend or two and climbed into the pilot’s +seat of my waiting machine. Then, adjusting +the levers, I signified to the waiting mechanics +that I was ready for them to “suck in” +(an operation necessary prior to the starting +of the engine). Having made sure that +everything was O.K. and waited for the +others to ascend, I took off and, after climbing +steadily for some time, took up my specified +position in the formation. For some time +we circled about over a pre-arranged rendezvous, +until joined by an escort of fighting<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[4]</a></span> +machines and another squadron of bombers, +and then settled down to business. Flying +straight into the sun we soon arrived at and +passed over the irregular spidery lines of +trenches (those on Vimy Ridge showing up +particularly clearly), and continued forging +ahead, past many familiar landmarks, always +in the direction of Douai. I for one never +dreamt of being taken prisoner and had +every intention of making a record breakfast +on my return. My engine was going rather +badly, but the odds were that it would see +me through. Only too soon the anti-aircraft +started their harassing fire, throwing up a +startling number of nerve-racking, high +explosive shells, each one a curling black +sausage of hate and steel splinters. When we +were some way over my machine lagged +behind the rest. The engine spluttered intermittently +and could not be induced to go at +all well. As my machine became more +isolated I cast anxious glances about and was +soon rewarded by seeing two wicked little +enemy scouts waiting for an easy prey (at +that time they did not usually attack a +formation, but waited behind for the likes +o’ me). While one scout attracted my +attention on the left and I was engaged in +keeping him off by firing occasional bursts, +a machine gun opened fire with a deafening +clatter at point-blank range from behind.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[5]</a></span> +In an instant the surrounding air became full +of innumerable tiny, brilliant flames, passing +me at an incredible speed like minute streaks +of lightning, each one giving forth a curious +staccato whistling crack as it plunged through +or beside the tormented machine, leaving in +its wake a thin curling line of blue smoke. +I was in the middle of a relentless storm of +burning tracer bullets, vying one with the +other for the honour of passing through the +petrol tank, thereby converting my machine +into a seething furnace. Having no observer +to defend my tail I turned steeply to meet my +new adversary. However, before completing +the manœuvre I received another deadly burst +of fire, which, though it somehow missed +me, shot away several of my control wires. +What happened next I cannot be sure, but +the machine seemed to turn over, and my +machine gun fell off with a crash. This took +place at an altitude of six thousand feet. +My next impression was that I seemed to be +in the centre of a whirling vortex, around +which all creation revolved at an extraordinary +speed, and realised that my trusty +steed was indulging in a particularly violent +“spinning nose dive.” A “spin” at the +best of times rather takes one’s breath away, +so, shutting the throttle, I endeavoured to +come out of it in the usual way. To my +surprise, the engine refused to slow down,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[6]</a></span> +or any of the controls to respond, except one, +which only tended to make matters worse.</p> + +<p>The one thing left to be done was to +“switch off” and trust to luck. This, however, +was more easily decided on than accomplished, +for by this time the machine was +plunging to earth so rapidly, with the engine +full on, that I felt as if I were tied to a peg-top, +which was being hurled downwards with +irresistible force. Fighting blindly against +the tremendous air-pressure, which rendered +me hardly able to move, I forced my left +arm, inch by inch, along the edge of the +“cockpit” until I succeeded in turning the +switch lever downwards. A glance at the +speedometer did not reassure me, the poor +thing seemed very much overworked. +Descending very rapidly I kept getting a +glimpse of a pretty red-roofed village, which +became ominously more distinct at every +plunging revolution.</p> + +<p>I vaguely thought there would be rather +a splash when we arrived at our destination, +but at eight hundred feet Providence came +to the rescue. I heard the welcome cessation +of the wild screaming hum of the strained +wires. After switching on, the engine +informed me with much spluttering that it +was sorry that I should have to land on the +wrong side, but it really had done its best. +I had just managed to turn towards our<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[7]</a></span> +trenches, when the scout pilot, seeing I did +not land, at once followed me down and with +its machine gun impressed on me that the +sooner I landed the better. As I was then a +long way over the lines, sinking fast towards +the tree-tops, I had no alternative, so endeavoured +to reach the village green. By +this time the machine was literally riddled +with bullets, though, luckily, I had not been +touched. Before landing I overtook a +German horseman, so thinking to introduce +myself I dived on him from a low altitude, +just passing over his head. Well, scare him I +certainly did, poor man; he was much too +frightened to get off, and seemed to be doing +his best to get inside his would-be Trojan +animal. The machine landed on a heap of +picks and shovels, ran among a number of +Huns who were having a morning wash at +some troughs (or rather I should say, a lick +and a promise!). They scattered and then +closed in on the machine. I ran one wing +into a post, and tried the lighter, which did +not work. I was a prisoner. Undoubtedly, +the next German communique announced +that the gallant Lieutenant X. had brought +down his thirtieth machine; it is probable +that this gallant officer had heard strange +rumours of what lay behind the British lines, +but preferred cruising on the safer side. I +could hardly believe that these grey-clad,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[8]</a></span> +rather unshaven men who jabbered excitedly +were genuine “Huns.” I was furious and +very “fed-up,” but that did not help, so +turning in my seat and raising my hand I +said, “<i>Gutten Morgen</i>.” This surprised them +so much that they forgot to be rude and +mostly returned the compliment.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[9]</a></span></p> + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II</h2> + +<h4>CAMBRAI</h4> + + +<p><span class="smcap"><big>T</big>he</span> immediate treatment I received was +rather better than I had expected. Several +officers came forward, and one, who held a +revolver, told me in broken English to get +out. So leaving my poor old machine, we +proceeded to the village headquarters.</p> + +<p>Photographers appeared from nowhere +and I was twice “snapped” on the way, +though I’m afraid I did not act up to the +usual request, “look pleasant.” On arriving +at a small house I was received by a German +general, who looked rather like an Xmas +tree, the Iron Crosses were so numerous. +As I stood to attention he politely inquired if +I spoke German, even condescending to smile +faintly when I replied, “Ja, un peu!” At +first when I answered a few preliminary +questions he was politeness itself. He then +asked for my squadron number, to which I +could only reply that I was sorry but could +not answer him, whereupon he pointed out +that it was of no military value whatever,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[10]</a></span> +and that it was only to assist in my identification +in the report of my capture which +would go to England. So thoughtful of him; +such a plausible excuse! Of course I remained +silent, whereupon “<i>la politesse</i>” +vanished and an angry Hun took its place. +He screamed, threatened, and waved his +arms about, but as I did not seem very +impressed at the display, he rushed out of +the room, slamming the door and not returning. +Oh, for a “movie” camera! A Flying +Corps officer then took me in a car to an +aerodrome, and told me I should have lunch +with the officers at the chateau, where they +were quartered. Here I met about nine +German airmen, who greeted me in a typically +foreign manner. They seemed quite a +nice lot on the whole, though I did not know +them long enough to really form an opinion. +Soon a good German gramophone was +playing and lunch began. The food was +rather poor, but champagne plentiful. During +the meal the gramophone, which was nearest +to me, finished a record, so getting up I +changed the needle and started the other +side. But it wasn’t the “Bing Boys” this +time! Strange to say, they were quite +astonished at this performance, thinking, +perhaps, that I could not change the needle. +Afterwards, at coffee, a lieutenant asked +me what we thought of their flying corps, to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[11]</a></span> +which I replied that I thought it was all +right. He seemed quite prepared for this, and +hastily said that I must remember that they +had fewer machines. I think it must have +occurred to every captured airman how +splendid it would be to steal an enemy +aeroplane and fly back, then after a graceful +landing report to the C.O. that you had +returned. These flights are not infrequently +pleasurably accomplished in imagination, but +such opportunities do not often, if ever, +present themselves.</p> + +<p>Just before leaving the chateau, I excused +myself and got as far as the back door, +where I had to explain to some German +orderlies that I was only trying to find my +coat. I was taken by car to corps headquarters +at another chateau, where I saw +some young officers, elegantly dressed, lounging +about. After much useless bowing and +scraping I was again interrogated by an +objectionable colonel, but they seemed used +to failure, and soon ceased their efforts. A +major who assisted spoke English well, and +made himself quite pleasant till I left. On +hearing that I was in the Devons he told me +that on leaving the university his father had +sent him to live at a small village near +Barnstaple, where he had remained for +several years. Doubtless, a hard-working +man of leisure! He seemed a very able<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[12]</a></span> +officer, but decidedly young for a German +major. On being told that all leather goods +were confiscated, I was forced to give up my +Sam Brown belt much against my will. They +seemed very familiar with the movements of +our troops, and I noticed that though their +telephones were rather large and clumsy +they carried slight sounds very distinctly, +so much so, that when at the other end of the +room I could hear practically the whole +conversation.</p> + +<p>Towards evening the major told me to get +ready to go to Cambrai, and at the same time +said, that as my leather flying coat was also +confiscated they had cut off the fur collar, +which he then handed back. This rather +annoyed me, so I told him to keep it, which +incident I regretted afterwards. However, he +lent me a German coat, which was some +comfort. On the way to Cambrai we again +passed near the lines, some British star shells +being plainly visible. What a difference a few +kilometres make! The Germans depend on +their railway transport more than we do. +Certainly their road transport cannot be +compared with ours. We passed a few cars +and motor lorries, the majority giving one the +impression that they were falling to bits, so +noisy and shabby were they. I only saw +two or three motor cyclists the whole time, +and those I did see rode machines of an<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[13]</a></span> +antiquated pattern. We passed a lot of horse +transport, nearly all the ambulances in the +district being horse drawn. Most cars, including +our own, were only capable of emitting +useless squeaks on emergencies.</p> + +<p>Soon we entered Cambrai, an old, picturesque +French town, and drew up at the +entrance to the citadel, where a guard allowed +us to enter. I was then left with a Lieutenant +Schram, the intelligence officer, who gave +me coffee and cigars and plied me with +questions. He was very anxious to discover +all he could about our tanks, and possessed +many supposed models, mostly not in the +least like them. He emphasised the opinion +that, of course we should not get Bapaume, +at the same time allowing he thought there +might be a moving battle in the spring. +From his conversation I gathered that they +were very familiar with formation and movements +of most of our Colonial units. The +<i>tête-à-tête</i> at an end, I was taken to my +quarters, a bare whitewashed room, containing +one French flying officer, two British +lieutenants, if I remember rightly, both in +the D.L.I., having been taken near Bapaume, +and also a Canadian sergeant-major. It is +unnecessary to say how pleased I was to see +them. Some one had acquired a portion of an +old magazine, which was much sought after, +it being the only means of passing the time.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</a></span> +Our sleeping accommodation consisted of +two old straw mattresses, one on the floor +and the other on a shelf above.</p> + +<p>Being tired we slept soundly, but in the +morning we were horrified to find we had not +been alone, but that quite a varied menagerie +had shared our couches with us. Why the +blankets did not run away in the night I +cannot think. The Huns promised to have +lots of things done but never did anything, +in fact, they lie as easily as they breathe, +even when there is nothing to be gained +by it.</p> + +<p>A comparatively nice N.C.O. was in charge +of us, called Nelson! We afterwards learnt +that his father had been English, and that his +own knowledge of England appeared to be +confined to an Oxford restaurant. One day +when our lunch, consisting of black and +watery soup, was brought up he sympathetically +remarked that it was a pity we could +not have chicken and ham. I wonder what +he would have done had some one enticingly +rattled a shilling on a plate?</p> + +<p>During the day we were allowed to walk +round the barrack square for about three +hours with eighty British and a hundred and +fifty French soldiers, some of whom were +daily detailed to work in the town. I noticed +that the Germans were inclined to treat our +soldiers the worst, frequently shouting<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</a></span> +threats at them in their guttural language. +In the evenings I sometimes managed to get +downstairs with the men, and in this way was +able to join in some impromptu sing-songs. +Sanitary arrangements were very bad and +disinfectants unknown. We were allowed to +buy a little extra bread and some turnip jam +at exorbitant prices, which helped us considerably, +as breakfast consisted only of +luke-warm acorn coffee, lunch of a weird +soup containing sauerkraut or barley, supper +of soup or tea alternate days. We amused +ourselves by carving our names on the table, +or by drawing regimental crests or pictures of +Hun aeroplanes descending in flames, in +out of the way corners. On being told that +toothbrushes were out of stock (I do not +think they ever were in), I manufactured a +home-made one on boy scout lines. It +consisted of a small bundle of twigs and +splinters tied together (like a young besom), +and though it did its work well, the morning +sweep was decidedly painful.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</a></span></p> + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III</h2> + +<h4>ADVENTURE NO. 1</h4> + + +<p><span class="smcap"><big>A</big>fter</span> remaining there a week we were +told that we should leave the next morning +for Germany, which we should grow to like +very much! During our stay, except for a +few exciting intervals when British machines +passed over the town, we had plenty of time +for meditation, and usually when darkness +fell could see by the gun flashes that the +evening strafe was in progress. This always +reminded me of an argument which had once +taken place in our squadron mess, late one +evening before turning in, during which I had +expressed the opinion that should any one +with infantry experience be forced to land +the wrong side just before dark, provided +he could avoid Huns, it might be just possible +for him to return the next night through the +trenches. Now I felt it was up to me to +prove it should such an opportunity present +itself.</p> + +<p>Cambrai citadel is both solid and imposing, +and must have proved itself a formidable<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span> +fortress. Crowning a slight eminence, it +overlooks most of the town. On the three +sides are ramparts, varying from about +twenty to sixty feet in height, while on a +fourth it is now bounded by barbed wire and +high railings, with only a slight drop on the +other side. At the main entrance the road +crosses the old moat and passes under a +massive archway which adjoins the guardroom. +All the approaches to the outer walls +are guarded by quantities of barbed wire and +numerous sentries.</p> + +<p>After a thorough search I at last discovered +a small round hole in the wall of an outbuilding +near the roof, through which I +decided it would be possible to squeeze, in +the dusk, unobserved by the sentry. The +new German coat I had received on the way +had been again in its turn exchanged for an +old French one. This I took to the men’s +quarters and, finally, after hunting the whole +place, found an old German coat hanging up. +After bargaining for some time I made my +fourth exchange, and returned successful. +Later in the afternoon an English N.C.O. +told me that he had heard of my search and +presented me with an old German fatigue +cap which had been unearthed somewhere by +his pals.</p> + +<p>Now having everything ready I determined +to try my luck about six o’clock that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span> +evening before being shut up for the night. +After learning some new German words +likely to be of use, such as “wire entanglements,” +“dug-outs,” etc., I returned to my +room and waited. My plan was to follow +the gun flashes, which in all probability would +lead me to the Bapaume area, where I +expected to find some wire or wooden posts, +which I should carry with me as I approached +the lines, and endeavour to avoid suspicion +by mingling with working parties as an +engineer. If thus far successful I hoped to +repair the German wire entanglements, +which in this district were much damaged by +our shell fire, and eventually slip away and +get into touch with our patrols.</p> + +<p>At a quarter to six a German flying officer +entered our room and invited me to dinner +at their Cambrai headquarters, assuring me +that there would be plenty to eat and drink. +(I expect after skilfully mixed drinks they +hoped to loosen my tongue. When a Hun +lays himself out to be pleasant it is almost +certain that in some way he expects to benefit +by it.) If you wish to realise how tempting +this offer was, live on a watery starvation diet +for eight days and then be given the opportunity +of a good meal. However, when I +excused myself on the plea of being a little +unwell, “Mein freund” was quite non-plussed. +While he was still trying to extract<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span> +information, unsuccessfully, from the others, +I left the room after pocketing a slice of +bread.</p> + +<p>Once in the outhouse I chose my time and, +climbing up to the hole in the wall, squeezed +myself through with difficulty, for it was +only just large enough. When the sentry’s +back was turned I dropped to the ground on +the other side, about ten feet below, making +considerable noise. I was now past the line +of barbed wire, but there still remained the +ramparts to negotiate. Never having been +able to see over this point from our quarters +we had no means of ascertaining the drop to +the ground below. The corner of the ramparts +I was making for was under forty yards +away, but it took me about three-quarters of +an hour to get there, crawling on crackling +dry leaves under the shadow of the wall. +The slightest noise would probably have +attracted the sentry’s attention and caused +him to switch on the electric light, which +they all carry slung round their necks. Oh! +what a noise those leaves made! Just before +I got to the wall I heard rather a commotion +outside the guardroom, and although expecting +to get at least a night’s start before +my absence was discovered, concluded that +I had already been missed. (Afterwards I +found that this was indeed the case, as the +German flying officer on leaving had told the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span> +commandant that I was unwell; a doctor +was then sent up, but I could not be found.) +Getting up, I ran to the wall and looked over. +In the dusk I faintly distinguished some +bushes below. The glance was not reassuring, +but “the die was cast,” and over I +went. I shall always remember that horrible +sensation of falling. It took longer than I +expected to reach the ground. Instantaneously +there flashed through my brain a +formula I had learnt at school, <i>i.e.</i>, that an +object falling increases its velocity thirty-two +feet per second. I now realised for the first +time how true it was. The drop was somewhere +between twenty and thirty feet. Just +near the ground my fall was broken by my +being suspended for the fraction of a second +on some field telephone wires, which broke +and deposited me in the centre of a laurel +bush, which split in half with a crash. It is +not so much the fall but the sudden stop +which does the damage. My breath being +knocked out of me and seeing several +floating stars of great brilliance, I vaguely +wondered if I were dead, but I was considerably +relieved to find that this was not the +case. No bones broken, only some bruises. +As I was getting to my feet I heard some one +coming down a gravel path which passed +beside me. Crouching down, I saw it was a +civilian, who proceeded to light a cigar and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span> +passed on. I followed suit by lighting my +one and only cigarette, and after cutting a +stick, entered a darkened street, externally a +perfectly good Hun.</p> + +<p>But even German soldiers are subject to +restrictions and I might be asked questions. +Consequently, my one idea was to get out of +the town as quickly as possible. I met +two French women, to whom I explained my +position, and asked the nearest way into the +country. They were frightened and unwilling +to talk at first, but when I opened my coat +and showed them the British uniform underneath, +they pointed to a road which I followed. +Soon the town was left behind and I was +making for the gun-flashes and crossing a +turnip field. Swinging along at a good pace +the turnip-tops whipped my boots and made +quite a noise. Suddenly a challenge rang +out from a small railway bridge. “<i>Halt! +Wer da!</i>” (On these occasions it seems as +if one’s heart has been put to the wrong use, +it being really fashioned to be a pendulum +for a grandfather clock.) The next second +an electric light was switched on, but I had +already fallen among the turnips, endeavouring +to make a noise like one (a turnip). +Then ensued an interesting silence fraught +with many possibilities. Did the turnip’s +voice deceive the Hun? At any rate the +light was soon turned off, much to my relief;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span> +then quietly I slipped away. After about an +hour’s walking across country I came to +what I supposed to be a stream, showing up +in the moonlight, with a few bushes growing +along the side. Walking parallel to it for a +few yards and not seeing a bridge, I thought +it might be quite shallow, so tested it with a +stick. Imagine my pleasant surprise when I +found that it was not water at all, but a +narrow white concrete path, evidently newly +made. I noticed that nearly all roads +running parallel to the front had a very deep +trench dug on the east (German) side. Presumably, +these were later used considerably when +we were engaged in shelling the roads. Soon +I came to the Cambrai Canal, which had to +be crossed, and as it was the middle of +November it gave me the shivers even to +look at the dark water. After walking some +distance down the tow-path, I encountered +a Hun. Though not feeling at all bold I +said, “<i>G’nacht</i>,” which I felt sounded +feeble, though I knew it to be the correct +thing in some parts of Germany. To this he +replied, “<i>Abend</i>” (evening). (Quite a valuable +lesson in the usual custom among +soldiers.)</p> + +<p>Skirting a few houses and a timber yard +I approached a large well-built iron railway +bridge spanning the canal. Climbing over +some barbed wire I cautiously mounted the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span> +embankment. Looking along the bridge I +saw there were two lines separated by some +arched iron girders. From recent experience +I knew that this must be strongly guarded, +but reasoned that if I closely followed a +train I should in all probability find the line +free for a few seconds. Presently a freight +train came rumbling along, and I rushed after +it in a whirl of air, in my haste almost being +knocked down by the end carriages. As the +bridge was rather long and the train going +fast, in a very short time I was being left +stranded. When I was nearing the other side +I stopped an instant to listen. It was just +as well I did. Not more than three yards +away, on the other side of the ironwork, a +man spoke in German and was immediately +answered by another, who turned on his +light and commenced walking towards the +end of the bridge I was making for, to return +to his old beat on my line. There was no +time to lose, so rushing back on tip-toe and +down the embankment I fell over the barbed +wire at the bottom, which painfully impressed +on me its disapproval of my conduct.</p> + +<p>After following the canal for a few hundred +yards there seemed no alternative but to +swim across, so in I went, greatcoat and all. +It was awfully cold. At first my clothes and +fleeced-lined flying boots held the air and +supported me, so that I lay on the surface of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span> +the water as if bathing in the Dead Sea, +feeling very ridiculous. But only too soon +everything filled up and I felt like a stone. +Swimming as silently as possible, I had almost +reached the opposite bank, feeling very tired, +when I saw something glisten just in front +which looked very like a bayonet, and a +man’s voice shouted “<i>Hier</i>.” Picture the +situation: a dark but starry November +night, Hun sentry guarding barges, and a +poor wretch floundering about in the water, +then you will not be surprised that my heart +after jumping into my mouth, worked overtime +again! The Hun thought I was a dog; +I must be one without delay if I wished to +preserve a whole skin, so after a spluttering +growl I turned back with new energy, +swimming like a dog and whining softly. +After again calling to me several times he +threw a few things in my direction, which +fortunately went wide. I then swam round +a barge and with a great effort pulled myself +out of the water, rewarding the Hun, who +was now calling a friend, with a final bark. +I ran across a field with the water pouring +from me. I did not think one could be so +cold, an icicle was warm in comparison! +With numb fingers I wrung some of the water +out of my clothes, and with chattering teeth +considered the situation. Here I was, still on +the wrong side—the only thing left to try<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span> +was a village bridge. Again following the +tow-path I neared some lights, which proved +to be a hospital, and found myself in an +apparently unoccupied station-yard, among +a number of large heaps. On raising a +corner of a tarpaulin which covered the +nearest I recognised the familiar wicker +crates, which contained something heavy. +It was an ammunition dump! I soon found +the name of the station on the deserted platform—Mannièrs.</p> + +<p>As I was leaving the dump, thinking of a +possible future, and what a lovely explosion +one well-directed bomb would make, I heard +some one coming towards me. At once hopping +off the road I crouched against one of the +shell heaps where the darkness was more +dense, my weight causing the wicker to creak. +But the seemingly deaf individual passed by +and I breathed again. Entering the main +village street at a good pace, whistling a +German tune, I was accosted by two Huns +carrying a heavy basket on a stick. One +inquired of me the way to some headquarters. +I dared not stop, so turning my head, +growled out a sullen “<i>Ich weiss nicht</i>” (I +don’t know). They seemed grieved at my +bad manners, but were soon left behind. +Although it was very late a number of troops +were still singing uproariously in the various +estaminets which I passed. On turning a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span> +corner I saw the village bridge and on it a +sentry box. While I stood in the dark shadow +of a house a small party of Germans, carrying +saddlery, overtook me. Tacking myself on +casually behind some of them we all passed +over the bridge quite happily, and feeling in +a cheeky mood I wished the sentry “good +evening.”</p> + +<p>Once more I was passing swiftly over the +country, devoutly hoping there would not +be any more canals. Several hours passed +uneventfully. Some of the concrete paths +leading in the right direction afforded +excellent walking. They were mostly new +and appeared to be only laid on the mud +without any foundation. On a small rise +I came upon a trench system under construction +(probably the now famous Hindenburg +line), which I examined. The few dug-outs +I saw were incomplete, the trenches rather +wet and shallow and not yet sandbagged. +After crossing two lines of more or less continuous +trenches I inspected the wire entanglements, +wooden posts (charred, so as +not to show up in aerial photographs) and +iron corkscrews which were already in position, +but only a little fine and barbed wire +as yet, which was quite easy to get through. +Although the firing had died down it continued +sufficiently to enable me to keep +my direction. Just as I was leaving these<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span> +trenches behind my progress was arrested by +a sudden jerk, and I found myself lying face +downwards full length in the mud. A carefully +laid wire had tripped its first “Engländer”! +I was now plastered with mud +from head to foot, and getting up in a very +bad temper determined that at least that +portion of wire should not interfere with +another Britisher. After a short struggle I +succeeded in tearing it up and went on my +way somewhat appeased.</p> + +<p>The front was now quite quiet, and after +many falls, footsore and tired, I came to a +large wood (the Bois de Logeost) a little +before dawn. In this I hoped to find cover +for the day, but it was full of transport, and +many dim lights proclaimed the presence of +huts. I had been walking parallel to it for +some distance when a British aeroplane +dropped some bombs too close to be pleasant, +causing quite a stir in the wood, shortly +followed by an anti-aircraft gun opening fire +not far away. I have never felt so small in +my life, and while tramping on in a dejected +manner, in imagination I was flying once +again over the lines, the occupied territory +lying below me like a map: but in spite of the +tranquillity of the scene (for in this pleasant +dream not a gun was in action) I became +conscious of a disturbing element somewhere, +something was out of place. To what was it<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span> +due? Then all at once I realised that it was +all connected with an infinitesimal object +which wandered aimlessly about among the +German batteries, and yet attracted every +one’s attention. Vaguely I wondered what it +could be? Then the dream slowly faded, and +as reality took its place I knew that I was that +atom! When things were quiet again I distinctly +heard plonk, plonk, plonk, the sound +made by hand grenades, rising from the +lower ground in front, this was soon followed +by the fainter cracking of a machine gun +and a brilliant Verey light, which I concluded +was from three to four miles away. +All at once, just beside me, there was a +blinding flash, immediately followed by a +deafening roar and the screaming hiss of a +shell, the latter lasting several seconds, then +slowly dying away into the night with a sigh. +One of the German heavies had fired from a +neighbouring clump of trees. Had my skin +been any looser I should certainly have +jumped out of it. Very soon I heard the +distant explosion of the bursting shell—Cr—ump, +and then dashed off in the +opposite direction.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span></p> + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV</h2> + +<h4>RETAKEN</h4> + + +<p><span class="smcap"><big>T</big>he</span> country was very bare and the lines +so close that there were no hay or straw stacks +about. The stars were beginning to fade +from the sky, so hastily retracing my steps +for about a mile, in search of cover, I almost +fell over a tiny straw heap in the middle of a +field. It was close to a village, but as no +tracks passed anywhere near it I decided that +this should be my hiding place for the day. +After eating the remains of the black bread, +now a sloppy mass in my pocket, I emptied +the water which still remained in my flying +boots and placed them in a side of the heap +to dry, just below the surface. Wrapping my +slightly drier overcoat round my feet for +warmth, I wormed my way into the centre, +and pulled the straw after me. The bottom of +the heap was wet and contained mice, which +squeaked when my teeth stopped chattering +for a few seconds. I tried meowing, but they +were not taken in for long! Sleep was out of +the question, and there was nothing else to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span> +do but watch the cold grey fingers of light +creeping through the wet straw. From my +knowledge of the front, I gathered that I +had arrived north of my objective, where +the Huns were expecting our next attack, and +the trenches were strongly held. Had I a +sporting chance or were the odds against me +too great? If the latter was the case and it +was impossible, I prayed that I might be +recaptured before making the attempt the +next night.</p> + +<p>The minutes passed like hours, but at last +the sun rose, evidently very much against its +will. About ten o’clock next morning I +faintly heard the thud of horse’s hoofs +approaching at a canter from the direction of +the village. At first I thought nothing of it, +but as these grew rapidly louder and louder, +my uneasiness increased and I lay perfectly +still under the straw. The horse came +straight to my heap, and stopped dead at the +German word of command, “R-r-r-r-r” +(whoa!). Soon the rider uttered an exclamation +and, leaning over, drew out a flying boot, +to my dismay, but as this was wet, muddy and +old looking he soon threw it down again. In the +meantime the horse kept sniffing and nibbling +at the straw which thinly covered my face, +and I felt inclined to repeat to myself an old +nursery rhyme: “Fe, fi, fo, fum, I smell +the blood of an Englishman!” As the brute<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span> +continued blowing the straw from my face, +I tried to make him desist by returning the +compliment by blowing back at him. He +jumped and threw up his head, but now his +curiosity being thoroughly aroused returned +to his explorations with renewed vigour, +partly uncovering me. I did not move, but +knew that the game was up when the rider +drew his breath in sharply. Looking up I +saw surprise written on every feature of the +bearded Hun N.C.O. He was a thick-set man +with a revolver holster at his belt. I had no +chance of resistance, as the country was quite +open and my boots were off, so sitting up I +greeted him with a “<i>Gutten Morgen</i>.” He +saw that I was an English “<i>Flieger</i>” (airman), +but firmly refused to believe that I was +an officer. He told me I was near Achiet-le-Petit, +and then motioned me to go with him +to the village, which I did. (An account of +the foregoing episode appeared in the German +papers later.)</p> + +<p>We went straight to the village headquarters, +where there were several officers spotlessly +dressed in blue or field-grey, against which +my tramp-like appearance formed a strange +contrast. They were quite decent, with one +exception, a sour-looking captain, and were +rather amused than otherwise, even allowing +a Frenchwoman to make me some coffee. +When I remarked on the wonderful way in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span> +which the Germans had traced me from +Cambrai, they laughed and said my discovery +was purely accidental, the N.C.O. having +been detailed to find some straw for the +transport. I was sent back to Cambrai in a +wagon with an armed guard of three, exclusive +of the driver and the mounted N.C.O. +I was very annoyed on being told that the +latter would receive the Iron Cross, and tried +to impress on them that my discovery was +entirely due to the horse, who deserved a +bran mash. It was bitterly cold and, on +passing through every village, I was made to +remove my coat to show the inhabitants that +I was a prisoner. I was quite pleased when +we arrived at our destination.</p> + +<p>The commandant received me with a +growl, and I was taken to the guardroom, +where the same Hun N.C.O. casually +informed me that I was to be shot. In an +unconvincing way I told myself this was +nonsense. The next move was not at all +reassuring. I was marched through the back +door into a tiny courtyard, accompanied by +the sergeant of the guard and several privates +armed with rifles! I am glad to say that the +bluff was soon over, and I was put into a half +dark stone cell. In a short time I was fished +out to see Lieutenant Schram, who told me +that I was the first to escape from there, but +that I should never get another opportunity.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span> +He went on to say that when my disappearance +had been discovered the previous evening, +it was thought that I had closely followed the +flying officer who had asked me to dinner when +he left through the main gate, until the +broken wires were found. Men and trained +dogs had then endeavoured to trace me, but +that, unfortunately, they had all gone the +wrong way!</p> + +<p>When I was taken back at the end of the +interview, a sergeant-major and a corporal +thought they would have some fun at my +expense. They opened my cell door and then +led me to a comparatively comfortable room +close by, and asked me which I preferred. +However, I upset their calculations by +entering my original cell and sitting down. +As the result of an argument which ensued +I was put into the better room, where I fell +asleep. This comfort was only short-lived, +and soon, by order of the commandant, I was +put into the original cell again. It snowed all +the next evening, and when the sergeant +brought me my watery supper, I asked if he +would stand my boots by the guardroom fire +that night as the fleece held such a quantity +of water. He seemed surprised at my request, +but said that he would ask. He soon returned +and said that it could not be done. +It was four days before I felt at all warm, my +clothes drying on me all the time. I have<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span> +since been told that Lieutenant Schram, +while speaking of me later to other captured +officers, asserted that he dried all my clothes +for me. Yet this same gentleman during his +first interrogation asked me why we English +called them uncultured!</p> + +<p>On the afternoon of the fourth day I was +ordered to get ready to proceed to Germany, +as enough prisoners had been captured at the +Beaumont Hamel show to make up a large +draft. At the main entrance I found a group +of about twenty officers, composed of eight +or ten Zouaves and the remainder British. +Then off we went to the station in high +spirits, for it is not often that one gets a +chance of a tour in Germany, <i>via</i> France and +Belgium, free of charge!<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span></p> + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V</h2> + +<h4>OSNABRÜCK</h4> + + +<p><span class="smcap"><big>O</big>ur</span> guards had mostly been selected from +different regiments, on account of their being +due for leave in Germany. The officer in +charge travelled separately. He had recently +been wounded, and had seen rather more of +the British than he cared; in consequence he +was almost human! Not yet being dry and +now having no overcoat, I felt decidedly cold. +We arrived late at St. Quentin and settled +down for a long wait, but our good spirits +were infectious and, besides, some of our +number had with them a surplus of turnip +jam, and we were allowed to sing. This we +did with a vengeance, and it was indeed curious +to hear the desolate waiting-room echoing +the popular strains of: “Pack up your +troubles in your old kit bag, and smile, smile, +smile.” This impromptu concert delighted +the French, who joined in as best they could. +Soon we had quite a little audience of solitary +Huns, who peeped through the open door +and listened to the “Mad English,” open-mouthed.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span> +At last the express steamed in +from the south-east and in quite an exhausted +condition we were graciously shown +in to second-class compartments in a way +which clearly said “Second class is much too +good for you.”</p> + +<p>After a tedious journey, during which we +received something to eat, we arrived at +Cologne about eleven o’clock the next +morning. The station contained almost +every variety of Hun. These people represented +the cowards who in 1914 had flung +stones at and otherwise insulted those brave +men of our old regular army, who stopped at +this station, packed in cattle trucks like +animals, mostly wounded and dying. Nearly +two years of war have passed since then, +bringing with them suffering and a certain +refining influence which had not altogether +been without its effect. Now, though most +of them stared rudely, few showed signs of +open hostility. Following our officer down +some steps and winding subways, we were +approaching a large restaurant, when a +rather senior Hun officer ran after us, cursing +us in German for not saluting him when we +had passed him on the platform! One of the +British replied, “<i>Nix verstand</i>” (<i>No compris</i>). +Whereupon he went away thoroughly +disgusted.</p> + +<p>One of our party, a major of the 9th<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span> +Zouaves, who spoke German very well, +asked if we might have some refreshments, +to which the officer acquiesced. We entered +a large and almost unoccupied room separated +from the main dining-hall by a glass +screen, and took up our positions at a table +by the window. Immediately outside +towered the famous cathedral, shutting out +most of the sky, the spires and countless +pinnacles showing up to great advantage in +the sunshine. Soon a waiter appeared with +a menu containing a list of weird dishes, the +most popular of which was a very thin slice +of sausage reposing on a very large slice of +black bread. This cost one mark (but perhaps +they saw us coming!). Great excitement +was caused when some one found it was +possible to obtain goose, but as our very +limited supply of money was almost exhausted +this had to be ruled out. The fish +salad when it arrived was <i>peculiarly</i> nasty. +It was almost raw and had an overpowering +flavour of mud! Beer did not seem to be +allowed, but a tip soon settled that, and we +all received large glasses of light lager. The +people in the hall were a funny-looking crowd +but quite amusing to watch, mostly drinking +quantities of beer and regarding us with +sullen curiosity through the glass screen. +The majority of the men were ugly and +square-headed, with closely-cropped hair,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span> +reminding one of a group of convicts. Some +of the girls, however, gave us encouraging +smiles.</p> + +<p>When the bills were being settled up, +there strode in an angry German major, +complete with helmet and sword, who +entered into a violent conversation with our +unfortunate officer, who stood at the salute +most of the time. After making a noise like +a dog fight he departed with a final gesticulation +in our direction. We did not know +what the row was about, but suppose that +the officer in charge had been thus strafed in +public, either for bringing us there or allowing +us to have beer. At any rate, we were hurried +out to await our train on the platform. A +small circle soon formed round us, largely +made up of sailors, whom we concluded +must be on indefinite leave. As our train +was steaming up a civilian gave vent to his +feelings by fixing his evil eyes upon us and +at the same time moving his lips with a +deadly purpose, cursing us inaudibly. I +should never have thought a face could +express such condensed hatred. He must +have been conversing with his Satanic +Master. However, as we only smiled sweetly +in return, he cannot have felt much satisfaction. +Before getting into our train we spent +our last few <i>pfennigs</i> buying sweets at an +automatic slot machine. The acquired<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span> +sweets were wrapped in a paper covering, +on which different notices were printed, the +majority were to this effect: “Remember +the shameful <i>Baralong</i> outrage, in punishment +for which our airships shall devastate +the Eastern Counties of England and destroy +London.” We showed this to our guards, +who firmly believed that it would shortly +come to pass, and could not understand our +amusement. A few minutes out from +Cologne, as we went rushing over a long iron +bridge, we celebrated our crossing the Rhine +by winding up our watches and singing the +popular song: “When we’ve wound up the +watch on the Rhine.”</p> + +<p>In the late afternoon the train passed +through Essen, the blast furnaces casting a +lurid light on the surrounding country. +Travelling northwards we ran into snow, +which, when we alighted was quite deep. +This was our destination, Osnabrück. At +first it looked as if we should have to walk +to the camp, but the German officer was, +luckily, able to hire two brakes, and away we +went. Osnabrück is an old town with a +population of about 60,000. We drove past +numbers of children and dogs revelling in the +first winter sports, utterly regardless of +their country’s serious condition. On our +arrival an officer and several N.C.O.’s took +all particulars and descriptions. It was only<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span> +then that I discovered, to my astonishment, +that my eyes were blue. Next we found a +hot shower-bath in store for us, during which +procedure all our clothes were taken away on +the excuse that they were to be disinfected. +We enjoyed the bath very much and were +longing for a clean change, but were disgusted +to find that this was not forthcoming, +and that we had to put on the same torn and +muddy clothes once more, which the Huns had +only removed to search. We were then locked +in a room for ten days and told that we +were in quarantine, no account being taken +of the three weeks or a month that some of +us had already spent in the German lines. +The whole thing was a farce. We could +then buy a change of underclothing, and +daily consumed prodigious quantities of +Dutch chocolate, also procurable from the +canteen (which I afterwards bought in +Holland for one-tenth of the price). Some +of the British who had been in the camp for +some time managed to get books and a +little food in to us. A great deal of our time +was occupied in making out orders for things +we wanted from home, edibles taking by far +the most important part. Every evening +after supper we always drank the King’s +health in tea. Though the quality of the +beverage was weak, our loyalty had never +been stronger. When extra dull our home-made<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</a></span> +band played some rousing selection; +my special instrument required much skill, +and consisted of the dustbin lid and a poker. +The climax was reached one day when the +sentry entered with a paper from the canteen, +announcing that the British claimed to have +shot down two Zeppelins in flames over +London.</p> + +<p>Eventually the tenth day passed and we +were free to go in with the others, who at +once made us welcome. Owing to the +monotony of camp life it is very difficult to +write a consecutive account of the daily +routine, which would be of any interest to +the reader. I shall therefore only outline +certain points under various headings, which +I venture to hope may not prove a source of +boredom, judging from the numerous questions +contained in letters of enquiry directed +to me.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Accommodation.</span>—The main three-storey +building was a converted German artillery +barracks, with the gravelled courtyards used +for exercising divided by a disused riding-school. +The prisoners consisted of about +seventy-five French, living on the ground +floor, and eighty-five British, mostly R.F.C., +taken at the Somme, living on the second +floor, and from one hundred and fifty to two +hundred Russians on the third. The rooms +each contained from four to ten beds, according<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span> +to the size, which we usually stacked two +deep so that they should take up as little +space as possible. With the aid of wall +paper, deck chairs, tablecloths and the like, +obtainable at the canteen, together with +pictures from home, some of the rooms +looked very cosy indeed. Each one contained +a stove, which at first we were able +to keep well supplied, as it was possible to +buy coal in addition to the ration, though +latterly there was a considerable shortage. +Mattresses were either spring or made of old +straw, and sometimes contained little creepy-crawlies. +My record evening catch numbered +twenty-five, and this little collection afforded +some exciting races. By the way, I might +add that if one puts a match to them they +go off “pop.” The Germans rendered +slight assistance, but the Keating’s contained +in our parcels soon got them under +way. The sanitary conditions were not good, +but I must admit to having seen a little +disinfectant. Part of the time we were +allowed a common room of our own, but +latterly had to share one with the Russians. +Washing was sent to the town weekly. A +medical orderly was on the premises during +the day, and a doctor came two or three +times a week. Before leaving we were +inoculated against smallpox, typhoid and +cholera. This was a most obnoxious proceeding<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span> +which took place every six or seven +days, until the doctor had jabbed us all six +times in the chest with his confounded needle. +French and Russian orderlies were provided, +each detailed to look after one or two +rooms.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Recreation.</span>—At first it was possible to +play football, but that was soon stopped. +Rackets, boxing and a sort of cricket were +played in the riding-school; once or twice a +week we organised a concert or a dance, +theatrical costumes being hired from the +town on parole. The Russians had a really +first-class mandoline and balalaika band, +with which they played many of their +waltzes and curiously attractive folk-songs. +During these concerts a certain Englishman +solemnly sang some new Russian songs, +learnt by heart, of which he did not understand +a word. A young Russian used to +make up into a delightful girl, who, with a +partner, danced a cake-walk, accompanied +by the blare of their new brass band. Mandolines +were soon in vogue and most rooms +could boast of several. As we were mostly +beginners the resulting noise is best left to +the imagination. Whist drives, bridge tournaments, +etc., helped to pass the time, and a +good many of us improved the shining hour +by learning French, Russian or German in +exchange for lessons in our own language.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span></p> + +<p>The winter brought with it many snow +fights, and a successful slide which I started, +though popular, resulted in many bumps and +bruises. The bottom of the slide led into +some barbed wire—which was decidedly +dangerous. One fatal day I finished the +course with three Russians and a fat Australian +on the top of me, unintentionally +making a first-class broom; first I passed +over a sharp stone, and then came to a stop +on the barbed wire fence. (Some of the marks +caused by this episode remain with me to +this day.) We had one or two nice walks +weekly, on parole, escorted by a German +officer. One day, during a long walk through +some pine woods, we had reached the top of a +hill when we came upon a large slab of rock, +about four feet thick, resting on two smaller +ones, with a broad crack right through it +near the centre. The German officer told us +a legend about this, which affirms that at +this spot somewhere about the eighth +century Emperor Charlemagne met some +heathen chieftain, who having already heard +of his feats of strength promised to become a +Christian should he be able to split this rock. +The emperor took up a sledge hammer and +with one tremendous blow broke the rock in +two. (He must have been <i>some</i> man!)</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Treatment.</span>—When I first arrived the +commandant, who was a major, was quite<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span> +popular, granting all reasonable requests +and not bothering us the whole time, consequently +we did our best to avoid trouble; +but we were in Hunland, therefore this state +of affairs could not last long. The commandant +was soon replaced by a colonel +with a white beard and a benevolent aspect, +though in reality he was inclined to be +vicious and most unreasonable. He was soon +followed by two junior officers, Lieutenants +Briggs and Rosenthal. The former was an +officer of the Reserve, one of the nicest +Germans I have ever met, and I can almost +safely say a gentleman. He did all that he +could to avoid friction and make things run +smoothly. Rosenthal was a Regular officer +and a typical Hun, who was sent round the +various camps to make things generally uncomfortable +for the inmates, in which +capacity he was a great success. He made +promises but very rarely fulfilled any, smiling +to your face and at the same time arranging +to have you punished. He crept along the +passages in thick carpet shoes after lights out, +spying on our movements, and was twice +discovered listening at a keyhole to the +conversation. After having been there a +month I spent a fortnight in solitary confinement +for my Cambrai escape, at which I +cannot complain, and came out on Christmas +Day. Later on, while at this camp, I carried<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</a></span> +out two sentences, each of three days, for +slight offences.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Parcels and Money.</span>—We received parcels +of food and clothing from six to eight +weeks after first writing for them. For the +most part these came regularly, only a few +being lost. This was a good thing for us, the +camp authorities often providing for a meal +only some raw fish and garlic or uneatable +gherkins and dry black bread! Trunks, +suit cases, and other heavy articles came by +the American Express and were longer on +their way. Parcels of food were opened, and +the tins taken intact to one’s individual +locker, where it could be obtained most +mornings at a given hour. As required the +tins were then opened by the Huns and the +contents placed in jars or dishes, which one +must provide before it can be taken away. +Sometimes whole rooms decided to mess +together, sharing all their parcels, but more +often two or three friends arranged their own +little mess.</p> + +<p>Letters at first came quickly, but were +often delayed by the German censors at this +camp, who, I believe, dealt with almost all +British communications to prisoners in +Germany. Money is obtained by signing a +cheque, which is cashed in a week or two by +the American Express. Even after America’s +entry into the war money could still be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span> +obtained through this company (which is, I +believe, German owned). German daily +papers are procurable at most camps, and +usually contain a more or less intact British +official communique, which is translated by +some German scholar and posted up. A map +of the front is usually kept by the prisoners +and corrected from time to time. Christmas +was celebrated by every one and the canteen +<i>Weisswein</i> soon bought up. The Germans +put an illuminated Christmas tree in the +dining-hall, but unfortunately counteracted +their display of good feeling by decorating the +large portraits of the Kaiser and Hindenburg, +who stared down at us from the walls and +quite spoilt our already nasty food. On New +Year’s Night we collected on the stairs, and +joining hands with a few French and Russians, +sang “Auld Lang Syne,” and scampered +back to bed before the wily Huns appeared on +the scene.</p> + +<p>One day when drawing our parcels we +received some little cardboard packets of +compressed dates as usual, but this time a +small white strip of paper was pasted on the +outside of each bearing the words, “Produce +of Mesopotamia under British occupation.” +This must have been pleasant reading for the +Huns. At last, one morning we were informed +that in three days’ time we were to +proceed to an “All British” camp at<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span> +Clausthal. Before our departure our Allies +gave two farewell concerts in our honour, +which were a great success, for when we left +they knew that they were losing most of the +“life” of the camp.</p> + +<p>Living on our floor with a room to himself +was a French captain of extremely doubtful +character; he was a heavily built, bearded +man of middle age whom nobody liked. I was +told that in civil life he was a professional +agitator! Now he confined his energies to +making trouble between the different nationalities. +He was always hanging about where +he wasn’t wanted, poking his nose into other +people’s business, and what was even more +suspicious, he appeared to be on the best of +terms with the Germans. He wore a long +row of medals, which were inclined to change +from day to day. Some senior French +officers inquired if he had the right to wear +them, but he refused to recognise their +authority. Some Britishers had also been +caught in a mysterious way just before +attempting to escape. The last night before +our departure we thought we would at least +show him that he was not popular. Over a +dozen of us burst into his room, armed to the +teeth, and holding him on to his bed covered +him from head to foot with treacle, jam, +coffee grounds, ashes and water, at the same +time doing him no bodily injury. I expect he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</a></span> +thought his plight more serious than it really +was, for the whole place echoed with his +shouts for help. Unfortunately for him the +French on the floor above, being greatly +pleased at the proceedings, only turned over +and went to sleep again. When, after a few +seconds, we bolted to our rooms he rushed +down to the orderly’s quarters, exclaiming, +“I am dying—I am covered with blood!” +This sounded terrible, but when a match +was struck revealing nothing but treacle and +jam they could scarcely conceal their merriment. +Later on the Huns arrived and +succeeded in obtaining most of our names, +but even they thought the affair quite a +good joke. The next morning most of the +French collected quietly near the gate to +give us a “send off,” but the commandant, +after screaming and being very rude to every +one had them locked in their rooms. He +turned his back on us when we left, only +Lieutenant Briggs having the decency to +salute.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</a></span></p> + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI</h2> + +<h4>CLAUSTHAL</h4> + + +<p><span class="smcap"><big>I</big>t</span> was just like house moving. The heavy +luggage was sent in advance, but we preferred +to carry our dearest belongings. +Many of us must have resembled fully-equipped +pedlars or super-caddis-worms +carrying their houses on their backs, but in +our case these were not composed of sticks or +dead leaves, but provisions, gramophones, +mandolines, pots, kettles, etc., tied together +with string, the rattle of which appeared to +amuse some of the civil population. Some +time after leaving Osnabrück the train +stopped at an out-of-the-way station near +Hildesheim, close to a group of men working +on the line. At once a solitary khaki-clad +figure detached itself from the rest and came +towards us at the run. It turned out to be a +British Tommy bubbling over with pleasure +at seeing some of his own race to speak to at +last, after having Russians and Huns for his +companions for many months. We gave +him a summary of the latest news and all +kinds of tinned foods. The other Russian<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span> +prisoners soon followed him, looking half +starved, and clamoured for bread, which +we had just time to give them when a bad +tempered Hun drove them back to their +work.</p> + +<p>Towards evening we passed through +Hameln? (better known to us as “Hamelin”), +but saw no signs of the Pied Piper. +Now there was a man who was not brought +into the world for nothing, but used his +genius to the destruction of small Huns! +The higher the train climbed into the Hartz +Mountains the deeper became the snow. +From the dimly-lighted carriages we could +sometimes see the dark outline of high +wooded hills between the snow flurries. A +little before midnight we stopped with a jerk +and were told to “<i>Aus</i>.” As I followed the +others into a restaurant winter garden affair, +five minutes after our arrival, I was delighted +to hear several small gramophones already +playing “Bric-a-brac” and other selections +from musical comedies, each insisting that its +was the only tune worth listening to. Owing +to the conditions escape was out of the question; +the Germans did not therefore worry +much—in fact, coming up in the train a +rather nice N.C.O. at last yielded to my +entreaties and sang a verse of the Hymn +of Hate, accompanying himself on my +mandoline.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span></p> + +<p>After standing two hours in a queue at the +bar I managed to procure some quite good +wine which made us feel almost at home. +For the rest of that night it was almost +possible to imagine oneself free, but snowed +up. The next morning, on hearing that the +camp was about two miles away, we inquired +if some of the larger suit cases might be left +behind as the walking was so heavy, to be +brought up later, at an extra charge, by the +station sleigh, which came up to the camp +every day. But we might have known that +it would only be a waste of breath asking the +Huns to help us in any way. (Later, when +some very senior British officers arrived, +bound for this camp, they received identically +the same treatment.) After an uphill +struggle we reached the camp, and were kept +standing quite unnecessarily for three-quarters +of an hour in a snowstorm before +being admitted to the dining-hall. On +entering I was lucky enough to run straight +into an Australian flight commander, who +had often taken me up in my observing days +at my first squadron, then at a village behind +Ypres.</p> + +<p>The camp is well situated, being almost +surrounded by pine forests, which cover most +of the Hartz Mountains. If the day is at all +clear a high and rather rounded hill is visible +to the eastward, conspicuous for its bleakness,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span> +standing well above the dark intervening +fir-clad hills. This is the Brocken, the +highest mountain in Northern Germany, on +the summit of which Goethe’s Faust was +evolved. It is difficult to realise that it is, +roughly, 5,000 feet above sea level, or +the camp 2,000. The ascent in this part +from the foot hills being gradual, the surrounding +country is not so imposing as +one would expect. Outside the camp is a +small picturesque lake, which was frozen +over most of the time. On a clear evening it +was fascinating to watch the superb soaring +of the buzzards. It seemed as if their +telescopic eyes could make out the wings on +some of our tunics, for with a jeering cry +they would commence gliding in a vast sweeping +circle with scarcely a movement of +their wings, every feather under perfect control, +until at length they disappeared into +the endless blue. We still have a lot to learn, +but talk of the “homing instinct,” if only a +few aeroplanes had been handy I know which +would have made the quickest non-stop +flight to “Blighty.”</p> + +<p>The next day a number of Belgian officers +left to take up their abode in the quarters +vacated by us in Osnabrück, many of them +resplendent in their tasselled caps, and a few +wearing clanking swords which they had +been allowed to retain in recognition of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</a></span> +gallant way they had defended some of the +Liège and Antwerp forts. With them went +two Belgian officers, who, curiously enough, +could not speak their lingo. This was not +surprising, however, as their real names were +Captain Nicholl, R.F.C., and Lieutenant +Reid, R.N. It appeared they intended to +jump the train before reaching their destination +and have a try for the Dutch border. +German trains often go slowly and stop, but +as luck would have it this one, as we afterwards +heard, refused to do anything of the +sort. Whether Captain Nicholl succeeded in +getting off I do not know, but Lieutenant +Reid, seeing discovery imminent, jumped +through the carriage window and broke his +ankles. They were both taken to Osnabrück +and Nicholl was sent back under arrest. +After three weeks Lieutenant Reid returned, +lame, but quite cheery. As he was under +arrest, however, we could not learn much of +their treatment, though it was common +knowledge that he had left hospital <i>very</i> +soon, and was made to walk up from the +station as best he could. His sentence was +lengthened by some days on the charge of +answering his wrong name at a roll call on +arrival at Osnabrück, but as he was quite +unable to stand this was obviously a fabrication.</p> + +<p>When we had been there about ten days a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</a></span> +lot more British officers arrived from Friedburg, +where they had received quite good +treatment. Many of the prisoners at this +camp had been taken at Mons, La Cateau +and Ypres, and were consequently a little out +of date. They could hardly realise what a +“Somme barrage” was like, and were +therefore known as the “Bow and Arrow” +men! On the journey to Clausthal two of +them managed to jump from the train and +got clear away. About this time five Italian +officers were warned to leave the next day. +The preceding night, after supper, Colonel +Bond (K.O.Y.L.I.), after a short speech, +proposed the toast “<i>Viva Italia</i>,” which we +drank in canteen <i>Weisswein</i>, or imitation +port, to which a senior Italian officer enthusiastically +replied with a “<i>Viva Inghilterra</i>.” +After their departure the camp +contained British only, the remaining +number of officers being a little over three +hundred.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Accommodation.</span>—The principal building, +in which about half of us lived, was a +<i>Kurhaus</i>, or small hydro, in peace time, +with a large dining-hall at one end. The +smallest bedrooms were occupied by one or +two senior officers, while the remainder held +about half a dozen. A shower-bath was on +the premises. The rest of us were quartered +in three temporary wooden barracks, where<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span> +most of the rooms were rather over-crowded, +holding from six to eight fellows.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Recreation.</span>—At a portion of the grounds +was a fairly steep incline and on this we made +a short toboggan run, banking the snow up +steeply at the turn to avoid going through +the barbed wire. In many instances it must +have been amusing to watch a small sleigh +being steered by a novice, with fat individuals +sitting on the top of him, trying to +avoid the young trees, usually without any +success. Unfortunately for me I had a nasty +knack of always being in the worst crashes. +It is impossible to find a more effective way +of destroying boots than continually steering +with one’s feet. Other people displayed their +extensive knowledge of winter sports by +ski-ing, or rather lying on their backs, unintentionally +waving their skis in the air. This +soon had to be abandoned, however, as the +weather soon became uncertain, often changing +from a hard frost to a violent thaw every +two or three days.</p> + +<p>A naval officer in my barrack received a +miniature billiard-table, which became immensely +popular. Cards, roulette, ping-pong +and chess greatly assisted in passing the time. +We also had quite a good camp library, the +books mostly having been received from +home. I often heard it remarked that life +there was one long queue, and it was not far<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</a></span> +wrong. Often one passed the morning +waiting one’s turn for the “tin room,” or +newly arrived parcels, while soon after lunch +it was customary to see the more patient +individuals already lining up chairs and +settling down to their books, to wait for hot +water which was sold at tea time. All this +may sound most enjoyable, but I will +now endeavour to explain a little of the +wonderful system then in vogue at this +camp, the only object of which seemed to +be to remind you in an objectionable manner +that you were a prisoner on every possible +occasion.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Treatment.</span>—When we first arrived the +commandant was not so bad, but after +several visits from corps headquarters at +Hanover, he resigned his post, it is said, on +the grounds that he could not treat British +officers like common criminals, as he was +supposed to. I think this is highly probable, +though I cannot vouch for the truth of the +assertion, it being only hearsay. He was +replaced by a fat and rather harmless dug-out +captain, who proved to be only a pompous +figurehead. The camp was entirely run by +the second in command, Lieutenant Wolfe. +In England persons of this type are so rarely +met with that our language does not contain +the necessary words to describe them adequately. +In Germany they are comparatively<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</a></span> +common, therefore, collectively they +may be put down as belonging to the “super-swine +class”! Wolfe was arrogance personified. +He possessed a closely-cropped +bullet head, and a round, somewhat bloated +pale face, near the centre of which gleamed +two small, cold, calculating blue eyes; the +whole effect so strongly resembled a white +pig that among ourselves he was usually +known as “pig face.” He belonged to a +reserve Hanoverian regiment, and was a +schoolmaster by profession. It is small +wonder that children under such authority +never learn to know the true meaning of the +word “kultur.” Somehow he knew about +the treacling affair at our last camp, for after +getting our names from Osnabrück, he +strained every nerve to get us court-martialled +and punished. Two or three times a +week we criminals had to assemble outside his +room at an appointed hour. After a long +wait “My Lord” strolled in, usually an +hour late, walking very slowly, chewing a +cigar. At first he only produced a small +packet of papers, on most of which our +individual statements were written, and asked +absurd questions through an interpreter. +But as time went on the case assumed larger +proportions, and the bundle of nonsense +increased to an enormous size. At almost +every visit we had to sign some new document<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</a></span> +certifying that we understood the +latest communication on the subject from +headquarters. After much hard work “pig +face” achieved his object, and we were +warned to attend a court-martial at Hanover. +However, this is worthy of a separate +chapter.</p> + +<p>One day an impossible staff captain arrived +from Hanover to inspect the camp. He was +a large, arrogant bully, who brought with +him two detectives for the purpose of searching +our rooms and kit for forbidden articles. +We will not waste time discussing his manners; +he had none. The detectives seemed +quite decent, and therefore cannot have been +properly dehumanised by the powers that be. +In German camps it is forbidden to sit or lie +on one’s bed during the day, unless one has +reported sick at roll call. This captain +suddenly entered a room in our barrack and +surprised a Scotsman lying on his bed reading +a book. Seeing that the culprit had his +clothes on, he screamed out such a stream of +unintelligible curses and threats, that had a +similar noise taken place at the Zoo, I am +sure the keepers would have rushed out +to stop the monkey fight. The Scotsman +waited until this torrent had somewhat +abated, then slowly getting to his feet, he +drawled out in a bewildered way, “And +how’s your faither!” It is doubtful whether<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</a></span> +the startled captain understood this kind +inquiry or not, but he rushed out of the room +and, grabbing a sentry’s bayonet, returned +and stuck it in the boards at his feet. Ours +was the next room he favoured. Without the +semblance of a knock he burst in, and as +nothing of importance had been found +during the search, swaggered up and down +in a most offensive manner with his nose in +the air. In a few seconds he came to a stop +beside me and shouted that he wished me to +stand to attention, half dressed as I was +(having just been searched). This was just +about the limit, so pretending not to understand +what he meant I turned round and +busied myself with my clothing, at the same +time humming softly to myself the air of +“Pack up your troubles,” to relieve my +feelings and stifle a desire to give him one +under the jaw. On a word of command +two scared sentries appeared, having been +ordered to take me to the guardroom immediately. +The usually harmless commandant +was so frightened that he rolled his eyes +and screamed after me, when exhaustion +put an end to the captain’s song. It was +pitiable to see two such men possessing not +an atom of self-control between them, but +it was not so amusing as one might think. +It certainly looked as if I should be murdered +without delay. I was put into a room<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[61]</a></span> +adjoining that occupied by the main guard, +where I remained for three hours. During +this period I got into conversation with some +of the soldiers and was surprised at the bitter +way they spoke of Lieutenant Wolfe, so +much so that if he returned to the front +I should be inclined to think that the quarter +where his greatest danger lay was not in +front but behind.</p> + +<p>When I had the room to myself I spent the +time exploring for useful articles. My oft-interrupted +search resulted in the discovery +of a heap of things in the far corner. At +length an officer arrived and informed me +that I should only receive three days’ +“<i>stuben</i>”—arrest (solitary confinement). +After which I was released. On re-entering +the camp I did my best to look innocent, +though, as luck would have it, I was really +the richer by a couple of maps, a compass +and some candles! One of the orderlies in +the camp was a cobbler, but though the Huns +frequently assured us they would provide +him with the necessary tools, it took two +months for their promise to materialise. +During this period my already patched boots +threatened to give out altogether. I wrote +a note to the commandant, explaining that I +was daily expecting boots from England, but +as these appeared to have been delayed, +asked that I might be allowed to order some<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[62]</a></span> +canvas shoes at the canteen in the meantime. +The next day the interpreter handed +me the answer: “Order leather from +England, and have the boots resoled.” I +could not help smiling, and casually remarked +that it was worse than useless. Whereupon +he snapped, “What, you say that the commandant’s +note is useless? All right, I will +you report.”</p> + +<p>In due course the usual notice was posted +up to the effect “That the English Ober-Lieutenant +Gerald Knight would for gross +insolence the next three days in arrest +spend.” Usually, roll call took place outside +the main building, and as it generally meant +standing in water or melting snow, was not +particularly pleasant. Wolfe very often +managed to take these parades, and did not +miss this excellent opportunity for showing +his authority. After arriving late he would +stroll up and down the line, hands in pockets, +looking as dignified as possible, always wasting +time. “<i>Appel</i>,” when properly conducted, +never lasted more than ten minutes or a +quarter of an hour. On one occasion, Wolfe, +who was well protected against the cold, +kept us standing in a blizzard for an hour +and a half, during which time he counted us +five or six times, obviously for his own +amusement. It was bad enough to have to +stand there oneself, but it was much more<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</a></span> +annoying to watch our senior officers, +majors, colonels, and a major-general, +awaiting the pleasure of a conceited German +lieutenant. Almost every day some new +order was issued, for the most part affecting +little things, for example—stating that in +future no food would be allowed in the rooms. +A few days later it was not allowed in the +cupboards standing in the passages. Soon +it was only allowed in the dining-hall, where +the accommodation was quite inadequate. +One day two fellows were quietly walking +down a path near the wire, when a sentry +raised his rifle and threatened to shoot them +if they did not at once go further from the +wire! They refused to move, and told the +sentry that they had a perfect right there. +Whereupon the man at last lowered his rifle. +On a complaint being made, Lieutenant +Wolfe, knowing that few people were about, +ingeniously squashed the case by refusing to +take the matter up unless six witnesses were +produced. There was a second lieutenant, +junior to Wolfe (commonly known as the +Worm!), who arrived after receiving promotion +from the ranks. He was rather a miserable +sort of person, inclined to follow Wolfe’s +example in most things. He was for ever on +the prowl and it never occurred to him to +knock before entering a room. Once he +came into our room and, assisted by two<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[64]</a></span> +guards, removed the mirror, shaving tackle, +hair brushes, etc., from the window, placing +them on the wash-hand stand in the darkest +corner of the room. After this performance +he drew himself up sedately and exclaimed, +“That is the way we do things in Germany!” +These little incidents are most annoying at +any time, but especially so when one is +wearing boots possessing good kicking +qualities.</p> + +<p>It was not until May that the snow finally +disappeared and we were treated to a spell +of warm weather, during which every one did +their best to get sunburnt, and set to work +on the new tennis court we had permission to +make.</p> + +<p>Lizards and frogs appeared from nowhere +and endeavoured to inform us that spring was +approaching. It is curious the way camp +life again makes one childish and easily +amused. For instance, it was quite a common +occurrence to see a small crowd of fellows +looking excitedly at something. On closer +investigation it in most cases turned out to +be a toad or a worm. As it became dry underfoot +we were able to go out for walks on +parole with a German officer. The stout +commandant usually took us, and not only +did he make himself quite agreeable, but also +chose some very pretty paths among the +various pine woods. One afternoon two<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[65]</a></span> +fellows succeeded in cutting the outside +wire in broad daylight and getting into the +woods unobserved. Seeing his opportunity +a tall Canadian, named Colquhoun, hastily +gathered up his valuables and dived through +the inviting gap in the wire (which had been +cleverly cut behind some young fir trees +and up beside a post). He was just disappearing +into the woods at record speed (the +sentry’s back being still turned) when he +was seen by some children playing on a +hillock a little way off. They at once made a +noise, and several of them rushed down to +tell the sentry. That man, however, was +much too grand to listen to “kids” talking +nonsense, so drove them off with many +threats and violent gestures. When the +escape was discovered, green-uniformed +soldiers of Jaeger regiments and mounted +foresters scoured the woods for nearly two +days without any success. Shortly after a +notice was posted up stating that when the +escaped officers were recaptured, they would +in all probability be tried by court-martial +for breaking their parole in looking for hiding +places when out for walks; this, needless to +say, was all nonsense, the officers in question +being miles away by that time.</p> + +<p>This notice could not be regarded in any +other light than that of an insult to British +officers in general, causing much resentment.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[66]</a></span> +All future walks were voluntarily given up, +and at evening “<i>appel</i>” all parole cards, +without exception, were returned to the +Huns by mutual consent, to avoid any +insinuations of this sort in the future. After +being out for about a fortnight the outlaws +were all recaptured and taken to Ströhen, +where I afterwards met them. The first two +put up a very good show, being recaptured +in an exhausted condition by a road guard, +twenty odd kilometres from the frontier, +much to their disgust. My friend, the +Canadian, fought a good fight against an +unkind fate. While washing in a stream one +night he was taken by a man with a revolver +looking for an escaped Russian prisoner. +He was then put into prison at a men’s camp, +where he succeeded in obtaining some wire-cutters +from other Britishers. Forcing his +way through the skylight into a dark and +rainy night, he dropped to earth, cut the +wire and was again free. The drop previous +to cutting the wire had, however, damaged +his compass, which stuck and led him south +instead of west. Three days later he was +taken near a bridge over a river by men and +trained dogs, and transferred to a town +prison. There I believe he received quite +decent food, for which he was very thankful. +During the late afternoon some children +came to annoy him by shouting rude remarks<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[67]</a></span> +from the passage. Even these little wretches +were of some use, for at their departure they +touched something on the outside of his +door which jingled, and turned out to be a +bunch of keys, which he was able to get +possession of by pulling them through the +sliding panel used by the guard for spying +on the prisoner. When it was dark the adventurer +produced the keys and by dint of +much labour succeeded in opening his own +cell and walking out.</p> + +<p>At the back of one of the nearer buildings +he discovered a bicycle, which he appropriated +without a second thought. Having +discovered his whereabouts he struck north +to get into his original line, and was unfortunately +discovered by some N.C.O.’s the +next day in almost a starving condition +repairing his bicycle in a shed. After such +an attempt as this it is indeed hard to return +to serve one’s sentence at a camp prison or +fortress, knowing full well that, although +having done one’s utmost, even the slightest +official recognition is out of the question. +After the second escape the Hun in charge of +the men’s camp ’phoned to Clausthal, stating +that the officer had been recaptured. Wolfe +hearing the joyous news started out to bring +back the truant as a lesson to others. “But +when he got there the cupboard was bare,” so +he returned to the “Hartz-Gebirge” empty-handed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[68]</a></span> +and disconsolate. The only really +decent German at the camp appeared to be +an “<i>aspirant</i>,” or first class warrant officer, +who treated us quite fairly when opportunity +offered; however, his superiors saw to it that +this was not often.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Parcels.</span>—These arrived fairly well, but +were periodically hoarded up by the Huns +for a week or ten days, where we could not +get them without any previous warning. +When drawing food all the tins had to be left +behind until wanted for immediate consumption. +It was therefore very difficult to lay +in a supply against such emergencies. +During these periods most messes determined, +if possible, to have a meal of sorts at +tea-time. Gradually, as the provisions got +lower and lower, the menu read somewhat +as follows: Tea (no milk or sugar); very +limited black bread, thinly spread with soup +essence, or <i>café au lait</i> (when the dripping, +lard or potted meat had finally vanished). +The meal itself was rather nauseating, but +afterwards it was most gratifying to be able +to say that you had had tea! When this +playful little “strafe” was removed by an +order from Hanover the accumulated parcels +nearly caused the death of the Germans +working in the distributing room. Letters +were very slow in arriving. Once a general, +while inspecting the camp, entered the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[69]</a></span> +parcel room, where he saw an English +captain assisting with the sorting of the +parcels. On finding that he spoke German +well the general advised him to devote his +spare time to the further study of that +language, which he said would be very useful +to him later. The captain was notorious for +saying exactly what he thought, and be +hanged to the consequences. His reply must +have been more than the German bargained +for: “Sir, I do not intend to waste my +time learning a dead language!” It is +probable that the general had had previous +dealings with the British, and therefore +possessed a sense of humour so rare to the +Teuton, for he passed on without awarding +the expected punishment.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[70]</a></span></p> + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a>CHAPTER VII</h2> + +<h4>COURT-MARTIALLED! AND PROUD OF IT, TOO!</h4> + + +<p><span class="smcap"><big>I</big>t</span> is not usual to boast of the fact that one +has been court-martialled, but I would not +have missed this experience for anything. +Early in the morning of May 15th, 1917, +we twelve gaol-birds, after being carefully +searched, left for the station escorted by eight +guards. During the march I began softly humming +a tune, but was at once silenced by an +angry sentry, who told me that no noise of +any sort was allowed. Turning to the N.C.O. +I remarked that although he appeared to be +in charge of the party he had not objected +to my behaviour, and added that this seemed +almost as if the private was exceeding his +duty. This appealed to the dignity of his +position, and although he evidently did not +like me, he told the sentry off. On reaching +the station we had an unpleasant surprise, +for there, awaiting us on the platform, was +our old friend, Wolfe.</p> + +<p>In the early afternoon we got out of the +train at a small station and were told that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[71]</a></span> +we should have to wait some hours for the +connection. The senior member of our party +inquired whether it was possible to get anything +to eat, as it was already very late for +the midday meal. Wolfe said he would try +and led us into the restaurant, where a +waiter inquired if we would have white or +green beans. These dishes sounded so +tempting that we ordered mixed. When the +result was served (beans stewed with gravy +and a little potato), it certainly greatly +exceeded our expectations, being really +appetising. When this was finished a resourceful +member of the party produced +some cards, and poker became the order of +the day. The game was still in progress +when one of the others called our attention +to the Red Cross collecting box on the table. +In trying to decipher the appeal for subscriptions +for the wounded, he had made a +great discovery. Actually beside the red +cross in a small circle made by a rubber +stamp were the words, “<i>Gott strafe +England</i>!”</p> + +<p>Naturally, this display of childishness +amused us greatly, creating a general laugh. +This frivolity in the face of a court-martial +was more than Wolfe could stand, so after +one withering glance in our direction he +turned his back on us and stalked majestically +from the room. Luckily I had in my<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[72]</a></span> +possession a good supply of tin canteen +money (which was valueless outside the +camp); this was at once transferred to the +box as quickly as possible. It isn’t often +that an Englishman has the pleasure of +subscribing to his own special hate box! +I am simply longing to know if the money +was eventually returned to the camp for its +equivalent value. Should this book in the +near future be read in Germany, as I expect +it will, would some kind Hun take the +trouble to satisfy my curiosity? “Royal Air +Force, England,” will always find me.</p> + +<p>About six o’clock that evening we reached +Hanover and were marched off through some +of the main streets to an unknown destination. +The town is all right; it is the people +that spoil it. Proceeding down some broad +streets we passed some very fine buildings, +statues and fountains. Once a well-dressed +woman unintentionally crossed our path, +with the result that a sentry roughly threw +her aside without a word of apology. Passing +through a small park we halted before a low, +dirty-looking stone building, with every +window strongly barred.</p> + +<p>Presently Lieutenant Wolfe emerged with +a smile of welcome and bade us enter. In a +small courtyard a German N.C.O., with a +loud rasping voice, ordered the prison guard +to take us to our quarters. After much<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[73]</a></span> +jangling of keys we were separated, to our +amazement, and each one of the party +locked in a cell by himself. Near the ceiling +was one small window about two feet square. +On examination this exit proved to be +guarded with fine wire netting and thick +iron bars firmly embedded in cement. As +usual, there was a special spy-hole in the +door which had to be covered on the inside. +Attached to each end of the bed were two +strong shackles, evidently intended to fasten +the occupant down if necessary. We afterwards +learnt that this was the garrison prison, +it being considerably worse than the civil +one. It does not seem surprising that they +are able to maintain their iron discipline, if +they resort to these methods. I think the +reader will agree that this is hardly a fit +place to lodge officers who, as yet, were only +awaiting their trial. Several times I faintly +heard the whirring of aeroplanes outside, +but only managed to see one by pulling +myself up to the window. We relieved the +monotony a little by whistling to each other +in the Morse code what we thought of the +Huns for putting us there. The thickness of +the walls, however, soon put a stop to this. +During the night I was awakened by several +thuds, followed by a crash, which came from +somewhere overhead. This puzzled me at the +time, but the next day I found the noise had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[74]</a></span> +been caused by one of our party rat-hunting +with the aid of a boot which had landed on +a tin basin instead of the rat.</p> + +<p>The next morning the man with a voice like +a nutmeg grater released us from our cells, +and after a few preliminaries we were marched +off across the square to a large building, +which we entered about ten o’clock. Then +ensued a long but interesting wait, during +which we watched all sorts and conditions of +Huns passing up and down the main staircase. +Amongst them we saw several colonels, +a general and a very smart monocled major, +whose helmet was rather the shape of a fireman’s, +showing that he was in some crack +cavalry regiment—dragoons, I think. They +mostly wore pale blue-grey overcoats, and +their buttons, sword-hilts and golden eagles +on their helmets glittered exquisitely. The +general appearance was smart enough, but +everything seemed a trifle overdone, giving +one the impression that they had just stepped +out of a bandbox. Had a British officer been +standing beside these Germans, wearing his +sword, the contrast would have been a +strange one, for while looking just as smart +the uniform would have had the appearance +of being infinitely more serviceable. There +passed quite a number of Hun privates with +downcast eyes, having just received their +long sentences. An interpreter having<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[75]</a></span> +nothing to do, tried hard to prove to us that +the U-boats would very soon bring England +to her knees, but gave up the attempt on +receiving an invitation to the camp to watch +the daily arrival of the over-laden parcel +cart.</p> + +<p>Eventually we were ushered into the court, +bareheaded, trying very hard to look meek. +The opening questions and formalities took +up a lot of time, and it really was a terrible +strain trying not to laugh when the interpreter +solemnly explained to a German +captain that one of our party belonged to the +<i>Middlesex</i> Regiment. Before getting to +business our individual conduct sheets were +read out, mine being about as black as it +could be. At our request two French majors +from Osnabrück were present. Both spoke +well on our behalf, explaining that this could +only be a quarrel between the French and +British in any case, but that they were +delighted at what had occurred, and most +certainly did not wish to prosecute. Everything +went in our favour, and, when the +treacling was described, even the presiding +Hun general laughed. The public prosecutor, +as usual, asked for the maximum punishment, +600 marks fine or 100 days fortress. Whereupon +the court rose and left the room, +looking justice itself. On their return it was +announced that the junior three of our party,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[76]</a></span> +who had not actually entered the Frenchman’s +room, were let off with a caution, and +that all the rest were each fined five hundred +marks, or fifty days in a fortress. This +showed how they wanted our money; of +course the whole thing had been arranged +beforehand. On inquiring what the money +would go to support we were told that it +would probably be the war loan. A few +minutes later, after leaving in a rebellious +mood, we were lucky enough to meet the +two Frenchmen, from whom we learnt that +they too had spent the night in cells in the +same prison. Later on I was given to understand +that before a subsequent court-martial +two British officers spent the night on a sort +of mattress in a corner of the guardroom.</p> + +<p>The return journey was accomplished +without incident, except for an attempt on +our part to speak to a captured guardsman, +who was loading trucks, which was promptly +squashed by Wolfe snapping out “<i>Das +geht nicht</i>.” Nevertheless, a tin or two of +food found its way out of the window.</p> + +<p>The weather at Clausthal, after a brief +interval of snowstorms, became beautifully +warm, and the prospect of spending the +summer in the Hartz Mountains was almost +alluring. About this time General Friedrichs +(in charge of prisoners of war) made a speech +in the Reichstag, in the course of which he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[77]</a></span> +stated that the English treated their prisoners +better than any other nation (or so the translation +read), and went on to say that in +return English prisoners must receive good +treatment, so that at the conclusion of hostilities +they would take back good remembrances +of Germany to their own country. In my +case things certainly did change (I expect as +a result of the speech)—for the worse. A week +later thirty-five officers, including myself, +were sent to Ströhen, a camp which will +certainly be remembered long after peace is +declared, but I doubt if the memory will be a +pleasant one.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[78]</a></span></p> + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a>CHAPTER VIII</h2> + +<h4>STRÖHEN</h4> + + +<p><span class="smcap"><big>P</big>revious</span> to our departure Wolfe personally +searched our belongings. Although a long +journey lay in front of us, he only allowed +each individual to carry two small tins of +food. In reply to our protests he said that, +as things were always well arranged in +Germany, our luggage would therefore arrive +at the same time as ourselves. This was, of +course, absolutely untrue, but we had to +submit. During the great search Wolfe, +seeing that I was wearing a belt made of +plaited string (Yes, Mr. Wolfe, the belt in +question was made of blind cord cut from +the <i>kurhaus</i> windows!), and noting that it +was something unusual, ordered me to leave +it behind. Taking it off, I politely handed it +to him, and expressed my hope that he would +keep it as a souvenir! With a charming +smile he replied, “Three days <i>stuben</i> arrest,” +which I acknowledged with a bow.</p> + +<p>Outside the camp, on our way to the +station we looked back and saw the roll call<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[79]</a></span> +was in progress. Thereupon we gave three +cheers for the many friends we were leaving +behind us, in spite of the fact that Wolfe and +the commandant were on parade. We +travelled second class and at one station were +even allowed to buy beer; our guards were +quite reasonable, and things in general went +off pleasantly. We stayed some time at an +out-of-the-way station east of Osnabrück, +where quite a crowd of children collected. +They scrambled excitedly for the sweets and +cigarettes which we threw them. Arriving +at a little station called Ströhen, which seemed +to be on a large moor, we got out and started +for the camp, the German officer bringing +up the rear in a victoria. After ten minutes’ +walking down a lonely road we made out a +group of low wooden huts surrounded by +high arc lamps and wire, on a desolate +moorland. Surely this could not be our +destination, the good camp we had been led to +expect.</p> + +<p>But after inquiring our guards told us it +was, although they were nearly as much surprised +at its appearance as we were. At all +events we were determined to hide our +feelings and look cheery. Quickening our +pace we approached the camp singing the +almost forgotten song, “Tipperary,” were +marched through the gates, and halted in +front of a small group of German officers, in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[80]</a></span> +the centre of the camp. We at once distinguished +the commandant, a major, with +a first class iron cross hanging from his +collar. He was rather short and stout with +a square face; his grey whiskers terminated +in a small double-pointed beard; this completed +his “Hunnish” appearance! With +his hands behind his back he welcomed us +with a sullen stare, all the while puffing +stolidly at his cigar. Had the Huns rehearsed +this scene for a week they could not +have given us a more heathen reception. No +one even made a show at politeness by a nod +or a salute. A stout and ugly sergeant-major +(named Muller), wearing a gaudy blue and +red uniform and sword, bawled at us to +dress by the right, as if he were addressing a +squad of recruits. He very nearly exploded +when we ignored his insolent words of command. +A rather common little interpreter +commenced calling the roll, beginning with a +captain, but only shouting his surname, to +which there was no response. When his +voice gradually rose to a shriek the Englishman +stepped out and said, “I suppose you +mean Captain so-and-so.” The interpreter +explained matters to the commandant, who +must have realised that they were in the +wrong, for in future we were addressed by our +proper rank. (Victory No. 1.) We were +each given a disc, on which was stamped our<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[81]</a></span> +camp number (mine is now residing at home), +and shown into our rooms. Late that night +about two hundred fellows arrived from +Crefeld, and Muller, finding he could not +intimidate them, made such a noise that he +was “choked off” by the commandant. +We learnt that this place had been built as +a Russian reprisal camp, but that lately +Roumanian officers had been confined there. +We were the first British these people had +ever had to deal with. Hence their very bad +manners!</p> + +<p>Now in a camp of this sort it is very necessary +to stand up for one’s rights when treated +unfairly, otherwise the Germans soon forget +that you have any rights; at the same time, +if the treatment is fair, one does one’s best +to avoid friction. The best instance of a +result of the former treatment occurred the +next afternoon. When some of the Crefeld +party, who had been allowed to bring provisions +with them, found that it was not +possible to obtain hot water for making tea, +some inventive person at once started a little +fire of sticks outside my room. Almost +immediately a N.C.O. leading half a dozen +armed men appeared on the scene and told +the offender in a dreadful voice to put the +fire out at once. Instead of complying the +culprit dodged into a barrack and out of a +window on the opposite side and disappeared.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[82]</a></span> +When the Huns were able to comprehend the +audacity of this move they had to put the +fire out themselves. Half an hour later a +sentry, seeing three fires burning in the same +place, strolled over and quietly informed those +concerned that fires were not allowed, and +that unless they were put out he would have +to make a report to the commandant. The +result was that they were at once extinguished +with the aid of sand. Our baggage +did not arrive for nearly a week; then, instead +of being given out, it was locked up for +another five days before we received it all. +During this time we had to live on the German +food as best we could.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Accommodation.</span>—Our quarters consisted +of three long and two smaller badly made +huts, divided into rooms containing, mostly, +two or six officers. The mattresses were +mostly dirty and hard, being stuffed with +paper and cardboard, which formed sharp +edges and lumps. The first week about ten +of us found “creepy crawlies,” and shortly +before our departure I succeeded in attracting +some while in the camp hospital! The Huns +provided us with the German equivalent for +“Keating’s” after much agitation, after +making us pay for it. The doctor said that +the newly captured prisoners must have +brought the creatures into the camp. That +may have been true in a few cases, but even<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[83]</a></span> +so they are to blame for not making adequate +arrangements to prevent it. We each received +a tin basin, but the washing was all +done at three pumps outside. All the drinking +water was derived from this source, and had a +strong and disagreeable taste. A few feet +away from each pump was a stagnant pool +into which the waste water flowed. I think +it is reasonable to suppose that a good proportion +of it, after filtering through the sand, +was pumped up again. In spite of these +trifles we were told that the water had been +analysed and passed by the medical authorities. +I suppose both the colour and flavour +were only due to the presence of iron, in +which case I have no doubt it was an excellent +tonic. I should have liked to have +seen the doctor’s face had he been made to +swallow a glassful. I am thinking of forming +a company for the purpose of building +a hydro on the site of the old camp, so +that every one may have an opportunity of +enjoying perfect health by taking the Ströhen +waters. I hope the reader will assist me by +buying shares in this excellent concern. +(A large cemetery will, of course, be necessary, +but grave-digging should not prove to +be expensive, the soil being very light!)</p> + +<p>The safest and most comfortable place in +the camp was the small hospital, which was +under the care of a very decent corporal in a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[84]</a></span> +Brandenburg regiment. The dining and +common rooms were in one long barrack, +divided into two sections. At one end of the +latter was a canteen of sorts, which ultimately +improved considerably. The sanitary +arrangements were most primitive, the +breezes constantly reminding one of their +inefficiency. For the first month the weather +was glorious, and during the evening stroll +round it was maddening to watch the red +sun slowly sinking behind the distant woods +to the westward, showing us the way to +Holland and freedom. The journey by train +would have been accomplished in a few hours +under ordinary circumstances. It was almost +incredible to think, though it was only too +true, that a few strands of wire and some +grey-clad sentries could keep us confined in +this desert-like camp, containing neither +grass nor trees, isolated from all the pleasures +of summer. Whenever there was a wind we +enjoyed a whirling sandstorm. Often I have +seen it so thick as to temporarily obscure the +further camp buildings. If we had only been +allowed camels and facilities for exercising, +we should soon have looked upon a journey +across the Sahara as mere child’s play. After +a victory (real or imaginary), or an anniversary, +it was with very rebellious feelings that +we watched the German flag fluttering in +the breezes. I did not mind the coloured one<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[85]</a></span> +quite so much, but it was almost more than +I could stand to see the pale yellow flag, +framing the treacherous scraggy black eagle, +flying over my head. In one part of the camp +there was just room for a game of tennis. +Several classes were formed for learning +languages, and indulging in “physical jerks” +(culture), though I’m sorry to say I much +preferred watching and jeering with the ever +increasing majority.</p> + +<p>Occasionally sports days were organised, +which went off in style, the chief items being +short races, jumping, cock-fighting, also a +competition which necessitated each individual +eating a sticky bun dangling from a +tightly stretched string without using his +hands. This may not sound much of a feat, +but when one realises that the bun consists +of a chunk of stale black bread exuding +coarse treacle, the difficulty will be better +understood. Several canaries had been +brought along from the former camp. In +one instance a man in the Flying Corps, +possessing a sitting bird, carried her so carefully +that she never left the eggs and eventually +reared her young at Ströhen.</p> + +<p>Latterly chip carving became the fashion, +as it was then possible to obtain the necessary +articles from a German firm through the +canteen. Concerts were frequently held, +and as the camp contained very considerable<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[86]</a></span> +talent, we had some really first class performances, +after being allowed to hire a +piano from the nearest town. One day a new +lot of orderlies arrived and took up their +quarters in a barrack separated from our +part of the camp by some wire. Among +their number was a private called Cheeseman, +a born comedian, who used to get up sing-songs +and sketches; the star turn, however, +was a selection from his orchestra, which he +used to conduct with a broomstick from +an inverted bucket. The instruments were +two mandolines, one banjo, one mandola, a +tin whistle, an accordion, a rattle, a comb, +and a lump of iron. Somehow the performers +played in tune, but they always sent us into +fits of laughter, and even amused the watching +Huns. Although Cheeseman often disappeared +into cells for several days, he was +never really squashed and always reappeared +with a new joke. I was lucky enough to +receive a good assortment of flower seeds +from home, including sunflowers, sweet +peas, nasturtiums, etc.; these I immediately +planted in a tiny museum-like garden, +and tended carefully, in the hope that +some day the plants would assume large +enough proportions to enable me to believe +temporarily on special occasions that I was +actually amid the flowers of good old England. +In my case the deception was fortunately<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[87]</a></span> +not necessary, as I was destined to enjoy +the real thing, though unfortunately in hospital.</p> + +<p><span class="smcap">Treatment.</span>—The first roll calls, though +unnecessarily long, were quite entertaining. +They were conducted by a guards lieutenant +with a pronounced limp, who went by the +name of “Cork-leg.” Even when speaking of +a matter of no importance his voice would +become louder and louder until it threatened +to reach a shrill scream. On one occasion +when the interpreter was not present, some +unoffending person asked the Hun a question +in English. Cork-leg replied, with a dreadful +roar, that we must understand that the +language of the camp was German, and +German only. Things were going a little too +far, so every time the gentleman gave expression +to his thoughts in too vehement a manner +most of us whispered a long-drawn “Hush.” +The parade being in square formation, when +he turned suddenly to arrest the offender, he +found those facing him wearing an air of +injured innocence, while those in his rear +continued the good work. This had the +desired effect, and although it meant “<i>stuben</i> +arrest” for several fellows, the officer soon +realised what an ass he was making of himself +and became almost normal, with the result +that things went smoothly for a while.</p> + +<p>Soon after our arrival, a fortnight, to be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[88]</a></span> +correct, the newly captured infantry officers, +numbering about fifty, were ordered to give +up their steel helmets at a given roll call. +This naturally went against the grain. The +owners mostly destroyed the rubber padding +and hid the helmets, resolving that at least +they should not benefit the Hun. At the +appointed time eight instead of fifty were +surrendered to the officer on duty. On the +morning of the twelfth of June a number of +German soldiers set to work with poles and +hooks to drag the pools for submerged helmets. +By and by they succeeded in picking +out quite a number of those steel fish, every +additional one landed calling forth a subdued +cheer from the onlookers. In the afternoon, +having nothing to do but kill time, I strolled +out of a barrack, my hands in my pockets, +with no immediate objective in view. Outside +a few Germans were still fishing for +helmets, while half a dozen Britishers were +lazily watching operations. After joining +them for a minute or two I turned to walk +over to another building. True, there were +some sentries with fixed bayonets lounging +about, but that was nothing unusual, for +they might well be in charge of the orderlies +who were working near by. I had not gone +ten yards when a tall, unshaven <i>Landsturmer</i> +swung round and barred my way. +He told me with a snarl that I was not<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[89]</a></span> +allowed there and motioned me back with +his hand. I told him that I was not aware +of any new order and only wished to go to +the neighbouring building. Whereupon he +repeated his words in a still more offensive +tone, and brought his rifle to the ready. +(Even a German sentry is supposed to be +reasonably polite when addressing an officer +prisoner for the first time, but this man was +purposely rude.) I replied that if he addressed +me as a British officer and not as a +dog I should obey him at once, otherwise I +should remain where I was. After a few +more unintelligible threats he advanced, +brandishing his weapon, at which I turned +sideways to call to a German N.C.O. and +protest against such treatment. The kindly +sentry aimed a smashing blow at my left +foot, which I was luckily able to partially +deflect by a slight movement of my knee. +Things were certainly quite disturbing, for +the next instant he stuck the bayonet +almost through my right thigh. The proceeding +was not particularly pleasant, feeling +very like a sharp burn, but I was almost too +surprised to realise fully what had happened, +so consequently remained standing where I +was. Vaguely I realised that the sentry had +withdrawn his bayonet for another thrust, +this time evidently intended to enter my +body. Glancing down I saw that my trouser<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[90]</a></span> +leg was saturated and streaming with blood, +which was even welling out of my shoe +on to the ground, showing that an artery +had been severed. Not being particularly +partial to bayonet thrusts, I decided that I +could now abandon my argument without +loss of prestige. I succeeded in hobbling +a few yards to the rear, at the same time +holding the artery above the wound in +an endeavour to check the flow of blood. +This, however, did not prove very successful, +the sand continuing to turn red behind +me. Just as I was in the act of falling, +a number of our fellows, seeing what had +happened, rushed up and carried me hastily +into the camp hospital, where a tourniquet +was applied and the doctor sent for. The +time was then a quarter-past three, and the +doctor did not arrive till after seven o’clock. +I rather fancy if an accident of that sort had +occurred in an English prison camp containing +over four hundred German officers, +it would not be necessary to wait almost +four hours before the arrival of a qualified +doctor.</p> + +<p>At the best of times a very tight tourniquet +is distinctly uncomfortable. The medical +orderly thinking that I should lose consciousness +and seeing the commandant enter +the room, explained the circumstances and +asked if he might give me a little brandy.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[91]</a></span> +After due consideration and much chewing +at the ragged end of his eternal cigar, he +replied that as water would be given to a +wounded German soldier, it was good enough +for me. Though I pretended not to hear, +these remarks impressed me considerably. +The N.C.O. looked after me very well, and +early next morning took me to the station in +an ambulance on my way to Hanover +Hospital. Two private soldiers acted as +stretcher-bearers, with the N.C.O. in charge. +When the train arrived it was found that the +stretcher was too broad to go into a carriage, +so I travelled in the luggage van, among +trunks, bicycles and baskets of fish. The +Germans were quite jolly and sang a few +songs, while I, in a half dead condition, +endeavoured to accompany them on my +beloved mandoline. At Hanover I was +dumped down at a Red Cross centre below +the station to await the ambulance. Soon +quite a pretty nurse (for a wonder) came up +and inquired if I was English. I could not +resist replying in German: “Yes, sister, I +am one of those <i>Schweinhund Englanders</i>!” +To my surprise she seemed quite embarrassed, +and hastily answered me that they did not +say that <i>now</i>. (Emphasis on the <i>now</i>.) In +the conveyance I lay beside a wounded +German private, also bound for hospital. +When my curiosity had broken the ice, he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[92]</a></span> +told me that he had just returned from the +Messines Ridge, where he had acquired a +great respect for British artillery and mines +(though he himself was a sapper). The +Hanover hospitals which usually take in +prisoners are Nos. 1 and 7; to my relief I +was taken to No. 1, which is recognised as +the best. I received practically the same +treatment as the German patients, and +occupied a room with three other British +officers. Some of the food we received was +quite good, a little fresh milk and butter, +and one or two whitish rolls of bread, and, of +course, the usual doubtful soups. Immediately +outside the window was a large +flowering acacia tree, looking delightfully +shady and cool after Ströhen desert. Another +luxury we sometimes enjoyed was strawberries, +which the German orderly bought in +large quantities, afterwards selling them to +some of the doctors and nurses as well as +ourselves. At frequent intervals a band +outside played a very ordinary uninteresting +dead march, announcing each time a German +(usually a patient) had gone “West.” Soon +after my arrival I saw a Zeppelin flying very +low over the town. I was delighted and +remarked to a Bosch that it was the first +Zeppelin I had ever seen. He was quite +indignant and told me that I ought to know +that it was a Schutte-Lanz, a new type of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[93]</a></span> +airship. My education must have been +sadly neglected!</p> + +<p>Bayonet wounds are, for several reasons, +liable to become septic; mine, however, +healed up remarkably quickly, saving me +endless bother. In a fortnight I started back +to the camp, accompanied by a N.C.O. and a +private, who helped me slowly along. We +went by train, without causing much interest. +This was a good thing, for it is very hard to +look dignified when feeling like nothing on +earth, and looking as white as a sheet. Many +of the small boys were dressed up as soldiers +in one way or another, and I twice saw a +small ragamuffin band with tins for kettle-drums. +Just wouldn’t there be a fine scrap +if a similar band of London children had +suddenly rounded the corner! Personally, I +would back the cockney spirit against any +other. This was my second visit to Hanover, +and on no occasion had I seen a motor other +than the one ambulance car, though I heard +two in the distance. Owing to the scarcity +of rubber I was surprised at the number of +bicycles present in the streets, but closer +inspection proved that that difficulty had been +overcome by a clever invention, by which +the shock is lessened by an outer wooden +rim held in position by strong springs, +which are compressed as they take the +weight. During the train journey my escort,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[94]</a></span> +as usual, drew my attention to the splendid +way in which the Germans treated their +prisoners by allowing them to travel second +class. They simply would not believe that +German officers in England always travelled +first. The private, who owned a cigar factory +in Hanover, became quite chatty and seemed +very anxious to know if I thought the trade +relationships between England and Germany +would be the same as ever after the war. +He was very surprised and, indeed, quite +distressed when I told him that I thought +there would be a considerable change—it +seemed that the idea had never occurred to +him before.</p> + +<p>I was not sorry when the camp was +reached and I entered the little camp hospital +to remain there for another two weeks. +Several fellows having escaped from the +camp temporarily, the commandant got the +sack. Many speculations concerning his +probable successor were indulged in, and I +think the general opinion of the camp was +that the newcomer might be better, though +he could not be worse. We soon discovered +our mistake. His first appearance was not +exactly promising. Two fellows while walking +round the camp suddenly heard a stream of +abuse violently directed at them, and looking +up, they saw the commandant coming towards +them through a gate in the wire, fairly<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[95]</a></span> +bursting with rage. His unreasonable complaint +was that he had not been saluted +while entering his office outside the wire! +The offenders were at once packed off to +cells for two or three days. The next day a +few Britishers arrived from another camp, +and while they were waiting outside to be +admitted, a small and orderly crowd collected +on the inside to see if they could recognise +any one, or exchange a few remarks. Being +unable to walk much I watched the proceedings +from the window of my room and +was able to see everything that took place. +Without any warning the mad commandant +rushed out of a building and up to the wire, +where he screamed at the little gathering +like a madman, making violent motions to +show that they were to go back. It is perfectly +legitimate to stand in a group as long +as every one behaves and no one touches the +neutral zone wire. One must stand somewhere. +In this case he had absolutely no +right to order a move. The interpreter, who +happened to be near, walked up and said +that the commandant desired us to go away, +whereupon the officers began to disperse, +wishing to humour him. I was startled to +see two soldiers come through the gate with +fixed bayonets in a quick business-like way, +to drive the fellows back faster, evidently by +the commandant’s express orders. The<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[96]</a></span> +younger of the two guards went straight up +to an unoffending medical student, a Lieutenant +Downes (S. Staffs.), who was then +turning round, and pricked him in the +stomach with his bayonet. To prevent the +steady pressure making the slight wound +worse, Downes seized the end of the rifle and, +jerking the point out, swung it to the right, +and then turning round walked quickly back. +The sentry, after running past several other +officers, overtook him and, to my horror, +stuck the bayonet into his back. After continuing +his walk for a few steps Downes +collapsed and was at once carried into +hospital, the next day being taken to Hanover. +The wound was very serious, however; we +received a message from the hospital a few +days later stating that the bayonet had +penetrated into one lung, but that he was +getting on well and would probably soon +recover.</p> + +<p>The same sentry, in his eagerness to obey +orders, tried to bayonet a Captain Woodhouse, +but as his prey jumped back just in +time, only succeeded in cutting the skin. +By this time a large crowd had collected, +which the sentries continued slowly forcing +back, although they were then fifty yards +from the wire. As the news spread the crowd +became larger, but remained ominously +quiet, the two Germans not seeming to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[97]</a></span> +realise the danger of their position. It is the +worst feeling I know to watch a cowardly +display of this sort and yet be able to do +absolutely nothing. It only needed a spark +to set everything in a blaze, which must +have ended in the guard being turned out +for machine-gun practice. Meanwhile, the +news reached some Britishers who were half-way +through a concert. By mutual consent +it was at once broken up by the singing of +the National Anthem. Every one outside at +once stood to attention and heartily joined in +the last few bars. It was the most impressive +scene one could possibly imagine. I am sure +that no one who had witnessed it would in +after years, without feeling murder in his +heart, watch a man belonging to the mongrel +breed, which is not infrequently seen sitting +down while everybody else is standing for +the National Anthem, only being forced +grudgingly to his feet by public opinion, even +then not removing his hat unless it is knocked +off. I am convinced that if Ramsay Macdonald +and a few of his colleagues could have +spent a week in a bad German prison camp +they would be only too willing to instruct +their misguided followers in singing “God +Save the King,” in the spirit and way in +which it should be and was sung at Ströhen +on July 15th, 1917. The situation was +saved.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[98]</a></span></p> + +<p>Our senior officer took advantage of the +pause at the end while we were still under +control, standing at attention, and told us +to separate at once, as he would do everything +that was possible. At this Israel +departed every man to his own tent. The +major asked for an immediate interview with +the commandant, but the German captain +who had entered replied that that was +unfortunately impossible as that officer had +gone out at lunch time and would not return +till late. It was a most “kolossal” lie, but +I do not think that the captain should be +saddled with it, as he was, doubtless, acting +under instructions. Most of those present, +including myself, would have sworn on oath +that we had seen the commandant a few +minutes before and that he had caused all +the trouble. But then what is one to do? +Of course the usual complaints went (or +rather were supposed to go) to higher authority +(ambassadors and the like), but no +satisfaction was obtained. It seems not +unlikely that they all found their way into +the office waste-paper basket by the most +direct route.</p> + +<p>Again, a few days later about a dozen +fellows were watching a party of Germans, +under a <i>Feldwebel</i> Pohlman, digging up an +old tunnel which had fallen in near the +wire. Everything was quiet and Pohlman<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[99]</a></span> +was even talking naturally with one of our +number, when I noticed him turn and speak +a few words to the sergeant of the guard, +who turned and entered the guardroom, +evidently in a hurry. Knowing that this +Pohlman, in spite of his oily manner and +smug appearance, was a Hun in every sense +of the word, I kept my weather eye open, +warned the others and strolled off. A few +seconds later four of the worst sentries in the +place, having entered the camp unobserved, +came running round the corner of a shed, +their bayonets drawn back for thrusting, +obviously having received orders that the +next victim had to be finished off, the object, +I suppose, being either to teach us a lesson +or cause a mutiny. Some one shouted a +warning to three fellows who were standing +talking to each other unconscious of their +danger, but before they had time to realise +their predicament the sentries were on them. +The Huns singled out a Captain Wilson +(R.F.C.), and before he could get away, +surrounded him, while one villainous-looking +little Hun lunged straight at him. By a +quick movement Wilson avoided the thrust +and succeeded in breaking away, the bayonet +passing through his clothes. The guard continued +to press every one back into the centre +of the camp, very serious trouble again only +just being avoided.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[100]</a></span></p> + +<p>Another incident of this sort happened a +few days later, when to our surprise some +strong sherry arrived at the canteen, and +was soon bought up by the thirsty prisoners. +I think there was another object in view, +as well as a desire to make money. Towards +evening some Englishmen were sitting near +the wire, close to where the sentry who had +assaulted Downes was stationed. One of the +fellows, feeling a little cheerful, amused himself +by alluding to the bravery of the act. +At the worst this was only a case calling for +a little solitary confinement. I suppose the +sentry passed the word along to the guardroom, +for soon three sentries passed through +the camp, metaphorically whetting their +bayonets, going towards the scene of the +disturbance. Before reaching it they unslung +their rifles and fixed their bayonets, +doubled round the corner of the building, +expecting to surprise the unfortunate +Englander. But to their disgust they only +found empty chairs and returned very +dejected.</p> + +<p>After this episode we had a dance in the +dining-room, several fellows making up into +the most charming girls, and did our best to +forget our unpleasant surroundings. At ten +o’clock, when we had gone to our barracks, +according to the rules, Pohlman conducted +an armed party of half a dozen Huns with<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[101]</a></span> +fixed bayonets round the huts and every +part of the camp, but failed to find the +excuse he was longing for. Now what about +the Cambrai officer’s question, “Why do +you call us Huns?” <i>Why, indeed?</i></p> + +<p>The German captain nearly always took +roll call. Though fairly harmless, he was +quite mad. He seldom brought an interpreter +on parade and made long speeches +and read orders to us, all in German, the +great majority, of course, not understanding +a single word! One day we heard the new +commandant was coming on parade for the +first time that evening, so therefore looked +forward to some fun. When the time for the +roll call arrived we were inspected as usual, +and were standing waiting, when the little +captain suddenly drew himself up to his +full height, and screamed out: “<i>Augen +Rechts—Augen Links—Gerade Aus</i>.” As +we were standing in three sides of a square it +was an order to make every one face the commandant +with a martial air. The net result +of this “Double Dutch” was that everyone +broke into an amused smile, which increased +almost to hysterics when we caught sight of +the recipient of this honour. The commandant +was a tall, doddery, antediluvian +Prussian colonel, with long grey moustaches, +the very image of the Monkey Brand advertisement, +only perhaps not quite so good<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[102]</a></span> +looking. Why he did not fall over his trailing +scabbard in every step remains a mystery to +this day.</p> + +<p>There was another curious little trick the +captain sometimes indulged in. In the +middle of delivering a tirade he would +suddenly point to heaven with a dramatic +gesture, as if to prove the truth of a recent +statement by invoking the Kaiser’s God. +Perhaps some day he will learn that the +popular spirit of Germany lives not above but +very far below.</p> + +<p>Soon after our arrival the prison was +enlarged, as it always has to be when the +camp becomes British. Fellows were often +sent there for an offence about which they +had never heard, without being able to say +one word in self defence. In about two months +I believe nearly half the camp had been in +“clink.” Until latterly it was forbidden to +open windows at night, but being English +we took the law into our own hands and +continued opening the windows, refusing to +be deprived of fresh air in the stifling heat. +This naturally resulted in more prison, which +at first relieved and then increased the +monotony. Though it is hardly credible, +our colonel had to carry out a sentence of +three days “<i>stuben</i> arrest” for losing his +poker! About this time an Australian was +put into prison for a trivial offence which<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[103]</a></span> +had been committed by some one else, and +did not even receive his sentence for three +whole weeks!</p> + +<p>While in “jug” in this camp we were not +allowed parcels, writing materials, books or +smokes. We complained about this to a +general who inspected the camp later; he +expressed surprise at this state of affairs and +had things partially rectified. For about two +months all cigars and cigarettes received in +parcels were stopped, the only reason +given being that in some cases they had +contained poison for destroying cattle. Not +only were chances of destroying cattle +exceedingly small, but we offered to smoke +any cigarette they chose to give us from our +parcels to prove the falsity of the charge.</p> + +<p>By an agreement between the Governments +those serving terms of imprisonment +for offences committed before the 4th of +August, 1917, were released, a great number +of the gaol-birds being sent to Ströhen. +Residing in prison was a captain who made +a hobby of being court-martialled. Under +this new ruling he was taken out of cells for +a few days, only to be put back to await trial +for the trumped-up charge of having poison +tablets on his person when recaptured after +his last escape. I believe the only tablets he +carried were either for purifying water, or +Horlick’s malted milk. Every one recaptured<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[104]</a></span> +when trying to escape in the late winter +of 1916 or the following spring received a +sentence of five months’ imprisonment, a +fortnight the original punishment, and the +remainder as a supposed reprisal for the +sentence given to escaping Germans in +England.</p> + +<p>The food given us was very bad indeed, +though the list must have looked quite nice +on paper. Apart from the eternal and loathsome +gherkins, of which no mention was +made, it asserted that we received fish twice +a week! The Tuesday fish was of a dried +variety, and had such a delicious smell when +cooked that it was impossible to enter the +dining-room when it was on the prowl! +While that on Friday consisted of heaps of +old mussels containing quantities of sand +and young pebbles, known amongst ourselves +as those —— barnacles, scraped +from the ships at Kiel. The whole time +I was there I never once had an opportunity +of buying any fresh fruit, though it +was summer time and we could have paid +good prices. The only result of my bayoneting +episode was that the sentry was congratulated, +and I was warned for a court-martial! +When a staff captain arrived from +Hanover to collect the evidence for the +approaching trials, quite a cheery little +crowd of accused officers were awaiting him.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[105]</a></span> +Several of them were to appear on two or +three charges, and three R.F.C. officers were +to be tried for dropping leaflets in the +German lines. I believe it came to nothing +in the end, as there was not enough evidence +to convict them. Captain Scholtz and +Lieutenant Wookey do not seem to have +been so lucky. When my turn came, several +German witnesses were produced who swore +that after being struck on the foot with the +butt, I had jumped forward to seize the rifle, +asserting that the sentry had only acted in +self-defence. (Such a truthful race!) When +the captain was taking down my statement, +we frequently got off the subject altogether. +All of a sudden he would assert that the +English had started the war and ask me the +reason for their doing so. Thoroughly roused, +I would reply that it was nonsense and he +must know it. Then ensued an amusing but +fiery argument about the neutrality of +Belgium, the use of native troops, and +frightfulness in general. His plea was that +poor little unoffending Germany was only +standing up for herself against a set of blood-thirsty +enemies who wished to crush her. +Needless to say, I did not feel much like +sympathising. When we finally got back to +business, all particulars were taken as a +matter of form, my slaughterer’s name and +address being taken down. Before my<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[106]</a></span> +departure I managed to get a glimpse of it +when the captain was out of the room. I do +not suffer from loss of memory!</p> + +<p>The all-absorbing problem of camp life is +escaping. Up to this time half a dozen +fellows had succeeded in getting away from +the camp, but were afterwards recaptured. +I will endeavour to give an outline of the +several attempts and the difficulties to be +overcome, which must of necessity be very +curtailed, this book not being originally +written for the benefit of the “Bosch.” The +most usual way is to cut the wire, but where +sentries are numerous the undertaking is both +difficult and dangerous. It is most natural to +try stunts of the sort under cover of darkness. +At this camp, however, the paraffin arc +lamps were particularly brilliant, and when +star-gazing on several occasions I have seen +rats and mice scuttle across the white sand +some distance away. Though storms often +raged during the day, the wind almost +invariably blew itself out towards night, +leaving a dead calm, broken only by the +tramp of sentries or the distant rattling hum +of a nightjar. It is a brave man who, having +determined this mode of exit, leaves his hut +when others are sleeping, and vanishes. +Presently, if he gets safely across the intervening +ground, the faint yet feverish snipping +of wire-cutters is heard, each time being<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[107]</a></span> +followed perhaps by a slight “ping” as the +strained wire separates. The ensuing silence +is almost heart-breaking, for in contrast +something else may at any instant be increasing +its tension, a sentry’s trigger-finger. +One stormy night, when in hospital, I had +reason to believe that an officer would make +an attempt in that part of the camp at a +given hour, so had an excellent chance of +watching operations, which was not wasted. +I went to the window and settled down for a +long wait. Outside it was still raining, the +sentries being in their boxes. A little before +the time I caught sight of a dark figure +which clambered out of the orderlies’ hut and +crawled into the neutral zone up to the +outside wire, which he lay parallel to and +commenced to cut. To my surprise, another +figure joined him from the hut and lay there +waiting; this was an orderly who had +decided to join at the last instant. In about +one and a half minutes a large enough gap +had been cut, and the adventurers crawled +through it, and were preparing to make a +dash into the darkness when a sentry spotted +them and stepped out of his box. Having +burned their boats, off they went. The +sentry ran a few steps, then, stopping +abruptly, raised his rifle and fired. It was +an anxious moment for the onlookers; the +fugitives already knew the result, while, as<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[108]</a></span> +yet, we did not. However, to our relief, the +ghost-like figures continued their flight until +they were swallowed up in the darkness, and +the reflection of the artificial light on their +wet rain-coats became too weak to give away +their position. In their anxiety to leave the +camp behind they tended to separate, but +both fell headlong into a deep ditch, where +they met again. In their first dash one of +them dropped most of the provisions, which +the Germans discovered and brought back +to the camp in triumph. Six days afterwards +they were recaptured, thirty kilometres from +the border. Two officers cut the wire in +broad daylight, when the nearest sentry was +busy opening a gate admitting some orderlies. +They left the camp by way of a ditch without +being seen, crawling as they had never +crawled before, their heads showing above +the level of the fields, like two wobbling +cabbages going for a hurried evening stroll. +Their success was short-lived, for, only an +hour afterwards, they were spotted and +chased by some farmers, being finally brought +to a stop by a man with a shot-gun. Another +couple left the camp by the following ingenious +method. A captain, who spoke German like +a native, dressed up in the clothes of a Hun +private (somehow acquired). Some of the +essential things were missing, and had been +manufactured in secret, such as a cap and a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[109]</a></span> +painted wooden bayonet, with a lovely +coloured tassel. When everything was +ready, about ten o’clock one morning, a +perfectly good German private marched an +R.F.C. lieutenant, disguised as an orderly, +who carried two buckets (containing their +kit), up to a gate in the wire, which he rattled +to signify that it must be unlocked immediately. +The sentry came along, unlocked the +gate, and let him out. They proceeded to +the road, which they followed for a short +distance. That afternoon, while crossing a +wild bit of country, they had the misfortune +to be recaptured by a shooting party, being +first completely surrounded by the beaters. +Two other officers got out separately in an +ingenious way, the first being recaptured +crossing a bridge over the Ems, quite near +Holland; the second lost direction, and was +retaken four days after, having got thoroughly +lost. One unlucky person was collared just +outside the wire, dressed as an orderly, and +was taken straight to prison to enjoy a period +of perfect rest!</p> + +<p>I worked in several tunnels at different +times, fitted with air pumps and perhaps +even electric light—who knows? Digging +oneself out is, at the best of times, a slow and +difficult proposition, which is almost invariably +discovered sooner or later. The +humorous side of tunnelling is so pronounced<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[110]</a></span> +that, could “Bairnsfather” view one such +episode, our bookstalls would shortly be +surrounded by eager crowds, clamouring +for the first edition of “Fragments from +Germany,” depicting mud-bespattered “Old +Bills” crawling for their very lives down +narrow tunnels, closely pursued by the wily +Hun!</p> + +<p>About this time I made my second attempt +to escape, and succeeded in getting outside +the wire for the time being, early one afternoon +during bathing hours, only to discover +that my proposed hiding-place was occupied +by Germans. After sitting solemnly beside +my kit for an hour, expecting discovery every +second, I was lucky enough to return, unmolested, +with a party of bathers. During +this period of anxious waiting I was surprised +to find that the thought of losing my carefully +prepared outfit was considerably more distressing +than the actual prospect of imprisonment.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[111]</a></span></p> + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX"></a>CHAPTER IX</h2> + +<h4>“AN OUTLAW ONCE AGAIN”</h4> + + +<p><span class="smcap"><big>W</big>hen</span> a sufficient number of officers had +collected for baths at a little gate, a sentry +allowed them to pass through it and along +a short, wired path, or bird-cage (as we called +it), and thence into the bath-room. This +room was situated about ten yards outside +the wire, in the middle of a wooden barrack, +running parallel to, and about fifteen yards +away from, the wire. It is subdivided to +form a dressing-room and a place for the +shower baths, every exit being strongly +barred, and a sentry stationed at the door. +After a minute inspection of every nook and +cranny, I found that it was just possible, by +standing upright, to squeeze into an alcove, +about eleven inches deep and a foot wide, in +an angle formed by a wall and the brickwork +of a chimney which projected into the +room.</p> + +<p>Though in full view of the door, it was +partially hidden behind an empty stove. I +reasoned that, should a well-made dummy<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[112]</a></span> +wall obscure the aperture, it would take a +very observant sentry to detect anything +amiss. As a last resource, even should it +be noticed, it might pass as something to do +with the heating of the adjacent room. +After weighing up the chances of success for +several days, I decided that it was worth +trying. When the measurements had been +taken, behind the Bosch’s back, I set to work +to manufacture the false wall.</p> + +<p>Most of my friends ridiculed the idea, +calling my pet wall a doll’s house and other +insulting names, and bestowing on me much +superfluous sympathy and pity. They argued +that it had not been done before, and +was, therefore, impossible, doing their level +best to stop me embarking on such a mad +enterprise. At first they almost succeeded +in their object, but, knowing that most +ordinary people remain in a camp indefinitely, +working on more orthodox lines, I determined +that I would put it to the test, if only to +prove them wrong, or land myself in prison. +One infantry officer, who had previously been +through a course of camouflage, gave me his +moral support, which counted for a good +deal.</p> + +<p>The wall was made of cardboard sewn +tightly on to a light wooden frame, the whole +being made in three sections, which, when +fitted together, reached the height of about<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[113]</a></span> +eight feet six inches. The top section was +fitted with a leather hinge, which allowed the +upper half of it to slope back at an angle of +forty-five degrees, so that the hiding-place +should not appear to be hollow. When at +last the doll’s house was finished, it defied +all efforts to whiten it, and seemed to have a +rooted objection to being made to resemble +the dirty whitewash of the bath-room. I +tried melting old whitewash (scraped off the +walls) with gum and hot water, but it either +fell off when dry or showed the wet cardboard +plainly through. Chloride of lime proved +equally useless. Only a little white paint +was procurable, but this was altogether too +smooth and shiny. One day, when the three +sections were drying outside on the sand, +a German <i>feldwebel</i> (sergeant-major—commonly +known as a “fieldwobble”) came +along, and inquired if I was making a model +aeroplane. When I replied that his surmise +was correct, he asked me, with a slow smile, +if I intended flying away when the machine +was completed. The wicked old creature +departed, highly amused at my answer, +“Yes, I hope so.” Certainly many a true +word is spoken in jest!</p> + +<p>After a week’s experimenting with useless +colouring mixtures, I was almost in despair, +when the desired effect was produced by +coating the cardboard with a thick cornflour<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[114]</a></span> +paste, finally toning it down with a mixture +of cobwebs and mud.</p> + +<p>Though on three separate occasions I had +everything ready for the final test, it was not +before August 16th that conditions were at +last favourable enough to risk my welfare +for the next few weeks. A little before five +o’clock I entered the bath-room, accompanied +by several assistants. Our journey thither +was rather amusing, though the slightest +accident would have meant much “<i>stuben</i> +arrest.” It is not easy to walk naturally +when carrying a young wall out of sight under +one’s coat, which is doing its best to give the +show away by shedding bits of plaster which +fall to the ground and leave a trail, reminding +one strongly of a paper chase.</p> + +<p>However, the sentries noticed nothing +unusual. As soon as the Hun’s back was +turned I slipped the sections together and +squeezed into the alcove, into which I was +securely fastened by a friend, who whispered +that everything looked O.K., and asked me +to be sure and write to him when I got to +England. Whether this was meant or not +I do not know, but at any rate it was just the +encouragement I needed. It was an anxious +moment when everybody left the room with +a final “Good luck,” and I heard the sentry +approaching to make sure that nobody had +been left behind. Previously I had determined<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[115]</a></span> +not to watch the Hun, as my gaze +might render him more liable to look in my +direction. Now, under the stress of circumstances, +this seemed a physical impossibility, +and all good resolutions went to the winds. +I glued one eye to the spy-hole and saw a +German standing only a few feet away, with +his back to me, puffing solemnly at a long +pipe, a rifle slung over his shoulder. Almost +immediately, as if in answer to my concentrated +gaze, he turned and looked straight in +my direction. I promptly shrivelled up to +nothing, and developed acute suspended +animation. I simply dared not breath, and +felt as if my thoughts were becoming audible. +My relief was indescribable when he turned +away, and left in an ordinary manner. +Though one crisis was over, the strain had +been such that it took me several minutes to +“defossilise” and grasp the fact that, somewhere +in the dim distance, the chances of +success were increasing.</p> + +<p>A few minutes later a N.C.O. came in, +and searched about for soap. As he was +pocketing some small bits left behind, my +wall threatened to fall outwards, but I +managed to hold it steady until he went +away. A five-and-a-half hour wait lay in +front of me, and, my prison being dark, +stifling and hot, the time passed intolerably +slowly. After waiting patiently for what I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[116]</a></span> +judged to be anything from half to three-quarters +of an hour, I would glance at my +watch, only to discover that, in reality, four or +five minutes had passed. My primary success +was evidently well known inside the camp, +for most of the fellows taking their evening +stroll cast anxious veiled glances in my +direction, from the wrong side of the wire.</p> + +<p>It was with both pleasure and anxiety that +I watched the darkness slowly closing in, +though I felt inclined to disbelieve that +“Time and tide wait for no man.” Half-past +ten did eventually arrive, and with it the now +unwelcome time for action. Slowly, and with +infinite caution, I stepped out into the room, +and replaced the wall to give some one else +a chance later on. Most of my kit was in +the stove, and, as there were no fire-irons +about, considerable noise was made lifting +the iron top and extracting the contents with +my fingers. Everything was now squashed +into a sort of pack, and I approached the +window on tip-toe. Within the camp all was +quiet, but there, just outside, passing and +repassing on his beat, often not ten yards +away, was a particularly young and active +German sentry, stepping quietly, with an +elastic tread. He held his rifle in his hands, +and gazed intently into the camp, as if +expecting some shooting practice. When he +reached the end of his short beat, I opened<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[117]</a></span> +the door with many misgivings, and crept +along a passage to the back of the hut. +Entering the empty wash-room, I saw that +my information had been correct, the windows +were not barred. In an adjoining room +several Huns were settling down for the night, +their light showing under the door.</p> + +<p>I had almost reached the nearest window +when, with a most appalling crash, I overturned +an empty bucket in the dark. Listening +an instant, I heard surprised voices and +waited for no further developments, but, coat, +pack and all, jumped through the half-open +window and fell into a ditch below. Struggling +up and tripping over another wire, I +landed in another ditch. After leaving this +my way lay beyond the shadow of the hut +across a cultivated patch of moor, planted +with potatoes, which was illuminated by the +arc lamps. I covered this in record time, +everything rattling and seeming to make a +most deafening noise, as though all the devils +in Hell were after me with red-hot pitchforks, +expecting to hear a bullet whistle by +every moment. However, nothing happened, +and when several hundred yards away, +I halted for about ten minutes to listen for +the bugle sounding the alarm. It would +have been some satisfaction to know that the +camp was buzzing like a bee-hive, and all on +my account! But, owing to the clever way<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[118]</a></span> +in which my room mates worked it, my +absence was not noticed, and so this pleasure +was denied me.</p> + +<p>I shouldered my heavy pack and started +out over the heather in the direction indicated +by the stars. The greatest obstacles were +the peat bogs, into which I often sank knee-deep, +and had to crawl out. After about +two hours rough walking, I was lying among +the heather resting, when I was startled by +a slight noise like the rattle of a chain. +Looking up quickly as the moon came out +from behind a cloud, I saw a dark shape, +which seemed to move considerably closer +and a little to the left, as I watched. A +general survey of my position was not +reassuring, for, in the light, I could distinctly +see half-a-dozen more dark forms situated +on my front and sides at regular intervals, +mostly in a crouching position. Instantly I +thought that somehow I had been traced by +dogs, and that these were sentries. Knowing +the gentle way in which the inmates of this +camp were treated, I must confess that I was +very scared. I had not even a stick; besides, +one could wish for a more congenial meeting-place +to accost gentlemen of this sort than a +lonely moor at midnight. Behind me was a +long cutting, filled with dark water, from +which peat had been taken; into this I +cautiously slid up to my shoulders, and waited<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[119]</a></span> +developments. Nothing happened, and, as +I became colder and colder, I began to think +that, after all, I had been mistaken. Was it +possible that they were only heaps of peat? +At last I summoned up enough courage to +crawl out and approach one of the mysterious +forms. Still nothing happened, and my +confidence increased considerably. I had +only gone a few yards when I saw that it +was actually only a heap of peat with a large +piece lying near the top which protruded +sideways, this having formed the supposed +sentry’s head. Even then I did not feel quite +convinced until I administered a hard kick +and there was no retaliation.</p> + +<p>During the night I passed several villages, +and once found myself among a lot of small +apple trees, which I shook violently. Down +tumbled some unripe fruit. It did not take +long to fill my pockets and clear off at full +speed. Towards morning I lost sight of the +camp lights, and, entering a small fir plantation, +arranged a good hiding-place and soon +fell asleep. In less than an hour I awoke in +a soaking condition, and sat up with a start, +the only result being that the movement +shook the fir branches over my head, and a +shower-bath ensued. The next day I enjoyed +five thunderstorms! No sooner had +one passed over than another came up. My +home-made tent, a large sheet of green oilsilk,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[120]</a></span> +smuggled from home, kept off a good +deal of the rain, but, nevertheless, I had a +good opportunity of studying the condition +of a half-drowned rat. In spite of the wet +and the presence of some large wood-ants, +I rather enjoyed the sour apples, the first I +had tasted that summer. Once during the +afternoon a red squirrel came jumping over +the fir needles, and looked up impudently +into my face. The sight of so much ugliness +almost overcame him, but he managed to +scamper off at a good speed. I tried hard to +attract this, my only friend, by pretending +to be Hiawatha, and calling him an +“<i>Adjidaumo</i>,” but this only hurried his +retreat.</p> + +<p>My food consisted mostly of chocolate and +biscuits, though, for the first three days, I +did not feel at all hungry. Water was very +scarce, but I received more than my share a +few days later. The third night, leaving the +moon behind, I climbed over a barbed wire +fence, and found myself among a lot of large +and boney black-and-white Holstein cattle. +Murmuring soft German words of endearment, +I approached the nearest cow in the +hope of obtaining some milk. However, +these good creatures, thinking it a most +unusual milking hour, were not having any, +and showed their disapproval of my conduct +by careering madly round the field, making<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[121]</a></span> +a fiendish noise, which caused the author of +the disturbance to take to his heels for fear +of discovery. A little later I changed my +tactics. After stealing several luscious +apples, I presented them to another walking +milk-tank. The creature had a softer heart, +and succumbed to the temptation. Everything +went according to plan, for, while she +munched the apple contentedly, I proceeded +to fill a large tin mug several times over. I +tramped for ten nights, and only missed my +milk three times. Another night, passing in +front of a farm-house, I came upon a full +milk-can standing by a gate; the contents not +only filled my water bottle, but even satisfied +me.</p> + +<p>One morning, after an unusually long +march, I flopped down and went to sleep in +an overgrown ditch, surrounded by gorse and +broom. The sun was just rising when I +awoke with the idea that I was lying on a bed +of pins. The idea grew to a firm conviction +when an involuntary movement of mine +considerably increased my discomfort. As +I lay trying to solve the problem in a semi-conscious +condition, the solution ran across +my face; it seemed to have a great many +legs. As my fingers closed round it I +received another violent pin-prick, but held +on manfully and, with an effort, forced myself +to look at my prey. It was a gigantic angry<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[122]</a></span> +wood-ant, which hung on to my finger for all +it was worth. Considering the two things +which terrify me most are ants and centipedes, +perhaps the reader will understand my +perturbed state of mind when I found myself +lying beside a large ants’ nest, being slowly +devoured by its inhabitants, like a fat green +caterpillar. As if propelled by a rocket I +sprang up, and ran up and down the short +ditch at full speed. When fatigue had +brought me to a stop I was delighted to find +that they had mostly been shaken off out of +my clothes. It was impossible to find a +resting place free from ants, the whole place +was infested with them. In my efforts to +avoid them I climbed to the top of a thick +pine tree, but even there my little friends +were parading along the branches. The +day proved to be so hot and thundery that, +before twelve o’clock, the milk in my bottle +turned solid and had to be eaten like junket. +It was with great satisfaction that I watched +the darkness setting in, for, under its protection, +I was enabled to leave the unholy +spot and continue my nightly travels.</p> + +<p>One of the things which had troubled me +considerably when planning my escape was +how to reset my watch should it go wrong. +As it was, the village clocks kept me well +informed by striking the hour with much +vigour. The next day, as I lay hidden at<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[123]</a></span> +the edge of a very young plantation, a party +of labourers with scythes assembled not far +away. After leaving their coats and, presumably, +their provisions behind, they proceeded +to cut the grass along the edge of +the plantation and in a neighbouring field. +As I lay “doggo” I formulated many plans +for stealing their food to replenish my store, +but finally decided that the risk was too +great. Only once did I think that I had +been discovered, for, as I was passing my time +in a wood by carving a souvenir stick, something +burst close beside me, making quite a +commotion and breaking many twigs. Just +before the branches closed I caught sight of +a fluffy white tail. After all it was only a +frightened deer.</p> + +<p>Late on the sixth night I was walking fast +along the side of a road which led through a +forest when, stopping an instant to listen, +I heard a low voice shout about forty yards +in front. Then some one approached with a +previously concealed lantern. Instantly I +jumped over the ditch, hoping to get away +under the trees unnoticed. Unfortunately, +I landed on some dry twigs, which crackled +at every step and betrayed my presence. +Remembering the deer incident, I emitted +a loud, coughing bark, such as those animals +make, and crashed through the undergrowth, +making as much noise as possible. To my<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[124]</a></span> +relief I saw that the man with the lantern +turned back to his post to rejoin his companion—presumably +the ruse succeeded. +It was just as well I was not caught here, for +now I have reason to believe that I was close +to an important aerodrome, and that this was +a guard—possibly against espionage.</p> + +<p>The distance covered was, roughly, a +hundred and sixty miles, and, during the +whole period, only once did I recognise the +name of a small town on a milestone, which +told me I was going in the right direction. +The fact of having no one to talk to for so +many days, combined with the uncertainty +of it all, had the most depressing influence. +While waiting for the long days to pass, +killing countless mosquitoes, I frequently +wondered if the stars could be purposely +leading me in the wrong direction, or if peace +had been declared, and I was on an unnecessarily +tiring walking tour. As I was approaching +a busy railway, I frequently +heard thuds and crashes, or, if the wind was +steady, a faint roar, which, I afterwards +found, was caused by the continued traffic +and shunting of trucks. This troubled me +quite a lot, for it sounded exactly like an +intermittent bombardment, and not infrequently +increased in volume, until I am +convinced an old soldier would have sworn +it was a distant barrage. I pictured my<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[125]</a></span> +arrival at the frontier only to learn that +Holland had decided to be in the fashion, and +was therefore running a little war on her +own, on the popular Bolshevik excuse of +upholding the cause of democracy. The +only thing left for me to do would have been +to have turned about and, after many trials +and hardships, succeed in getting into +Switzerland, where Fate, with a smile on her +face, would probably have arranged to have +me shot by accident while on my way +through Zurich, during the subsequent riots.</p> + +<p>Our “<i>moutons</i>” in the meantime, have +been straying badly; it is, therefore, our +duty to leave dreams to take care of themselves, +and return to the subject without more +ado. When I had been on the loose for a +week the country became very flat and +sodden—water was everywhere. Most of +the roads were banked up to guard against +flood, while all ditches were transformed into +small canals. Trees became scarcer and, +consequently, the daily problem of finding +effectual cover increased in difficulty. Nearly +all the seventh night I followed a tow-path +at the side of an important canal, which led +in a northerly direction. Innumerable movable +bridges, traversing the lesser waterways +which flowed into the big canal, had to be +crossed. This procedure was more alarming +than one might suppose, as the frail bridges<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[126]</a></span> +shook at the slightest touch, and also advertised +my crossing to the inmates of the usual +adjoining lodge by magnifying every little +sound. Most of the way, moored at the +water’s edge, were barges laden with peat, +containing all sorts of dogs; in fact, in several +instances they seemed to be veritable floating +dogs’ homes. These creatures barked as if +paid to, and were usually sympathetically +answered by dogs some distance in advance, +thus inadvertently proclaiming the news of +my arrival. Once two men came out of a +cottage twenty yards ahead, and, stopping +in the path, turned round and watched me +approaching. That time I really thought +the game was up. It was absolutely essential +to maintain a bold exterior, despite the fact +that my breathing apparatus almost ceased +to work. Slouching quickly along, I whistled +a bar or two of “Püppchen.” Curiously +enough my presence at that time of night +created no suspicion, for I passed them without +being spoken to. Before taking a road +leading to the west, I sat down and dissolved +my last Oxo cube in a mug of cold, greenish +canal water. The meal is prepared as +follows: First suck your middle finger until +it tastes clean, then stir the Oxo until it is +dissolved (this usually takes about half an +hour). Before drinking the concoction it is +necessary to remove any dead fishes that may<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[127]</a></span> +be floating on the surface, and also make +certain that none of the Oxo is wasted by +remaining underneath the finger nails.</p> + +<p>At intervals I was very gratified to see that +the sky, to the north and north-east, was +illuminated by distant searchlights. As +several naval bases lay in that direction, it +is reasonable to suppose that the Huns were +expecting a visit from our airmen. After +following the road for over an hour, I procured +some excellent apples at a wayside +farm-house, and beat a hasty retreat. As +time wore on and the milk carts began rumbling +on their rounds, I quickened my pace and +commenced a desperate search for cover. +Leaving the road, I headed across the fields, +and after jumping, or falling into, several +flooded ditches, came to an overgrown marsh. +A few yards from <i>terra firma</i> was a large +sallow bush, growing on a tiny island. After +getting thoroughly wet, I succeeded in crawling +on to this and screening my headquarters +from prying eyes with green rushes. As it +became lighter, I heard occasional voices and +peculiar creakings, the cause of which I +could not interpret, and might well render +my position unsafe. The anxiety was increased +when a large, dark shadow loomed +out of the fog and threatened to completely +swallow my little island. All at once the +curling white mist drifted away, and everything<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[128]</a></span> +was explained in an instant. The +terrifying shadow resolved itself into the great +red-brown sail of a passing barge. I was +lying close beside the tow-path of a canal. +Just as the sun had risen over the trees and +the mists were beginning to disperse and float +upwards, another noise attracted my attention, +which developed into a deep throbbing +roar. Looking up, I saw three large +“Zepps,” flying low, and rolling slightly in +the stiff morning breeze, returning to their +lair after a strenuous night out. As they +passed over the school-children in a neighbouring +village cheered excitedly.</p> + +<p>Except for the usual mosquito bites and +inability to sleep, the day passed uneventfully. +When darkness fell and all was quiet +again, I once more saddled up and started out, +this time earnestly hoping, yet fearing, to +reach the river Ems, which had to be swum +whatever happened. About midnight I came +to something concrete at last—a long-expected +railway. After a short reconnaissance, +I crossed this, and made my way over +the fields towards the all-important river, +which flowed parallel to the frontier and +about twenty kilos away from it. Every +few yards I came to a dyke, which always +had to be passed through if the direction +was to be kept. It was an odious experience, +for, no sooner did I emerge dripping from<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[129]</a></span> +one than it was time to enter the next. +About three o’clock, after milking several +cows and swimming a few small canals, I +passed through some open flood-gates, built +in a grass ridge made to keep the water from +encroaching on the low-lying farms, and came +upon a most disheartening sight. Beyond +several hundred yards of dangerous marsh +flowed the river, looking very white in the +deceptive light of early morning. The wavelets +formed by the steady wind and the +current were making a faint, but disconcerting, +noise. Though it was only just possible +to discern the opposite bank, there seemed to +be a similar line of marshy ground between +it and the water’s edge. I determined to see +if it was possible to get through the marsh +with any degree of safety, but gave up the +idea when some of the old decayed reeds on +which I was standing suddenly gave way and +let me through into the water up to my +waist. No matter how good a swimmer, a +reedy swamp is more than one can contend +with, therefore I gave up the idea. Crawling +out and walking a little way along the bank, +something loomed up in front of me out of +the darkness, which turned out to be a long +iron bridge. Looking cautiously along it, +I saw a couple of dim lights burning near the +other side. What an easy way over; how +I should have loved to stroll across; but it<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[130]</a></span> +could not be, for a German guard was waiting +there to receive me with open arms. Reluctantly +I turned away and struck inland, +intending to travel parallel to the river for +some distance and then try my luck at +another place. Shortly afterwards, when +tramping along on the grass at the side of a +road in search of a hiding-place, I heard footsteps +approaching. At either side of the road +grew a row of young trees, but, unfortunately, +the trunks were not large enough to hide +behind. The conditions were such as to +render discovery inevitable should a hasty +retirement be effected. For several precious +seconds I stood paralysed with indecision, +seeing my danger, yet unable to avoid it; +meanwhile it seemed that cruel fate was carelessly +deciding my destiny, weighing freedom +against captivity in a balance, which my indecision +was slowly causing to turn against +me. For a brief period my brain refused to +work, except vaguely to bring to my notice +a few lines from “Eldorado,” which affirm +that there exists a loophole of escape in every +difficult situation. This seemed to affect +my present critical position, though it in +no wise suggested a course of action.</p> + +<p>As I looked at the dyke which ran along at +the side of the raised road, calculating that +the noise made by a passage through it would +only lead to detection, I clearly remembered<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[131]</a></span> +an incident in “Lorna Doone,” in which +John Ridd, when a boy, had completely +avoided discovery by his enemy (Carver +Doone) by submerging himself in a stream +and breathing through a straw. Without +waiting to remove the pack, I followed his +example by throwing myself on my face and +crawling backwards on to the tangled reeds, +which parted with a squelch and let me +through into the stagnant water. The dyke +proved to be deeper than I expected. My +feet barely touched the bottom, so that I was +literally clutching a straw to keep myself up. +As the footsteps passed I kept my face and +head under the surface, and trusted to +Providence. When all the sounds died away, +it took me some time struggling with mud, +weeds and water, before I could extricate +myself from that confounded ditch. I do +not make a good water-rat; I would therefore +suggest to the German authorities that they +should train water spaniels, and not police +dogs, for pursuit of prisoners in the future.</p> + +<p>I had only been walking for a little while +when the distant rumble of a milk-cart +reminded me that it was past time to hibernate. +Then began the usual desperate search +for cover. It became lighter and lighter, +and, just as the mist was about to rise, I saw +the faint outline of a clump of trees several +hundred yards away. Plunging through<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[132]</a></span> +more dykes I arrived at the trees, only to +find that they were growing in a small garden +and orchard which surrounded a large farm-house. +As no one appeared to be stirring, +and the discovery of an immediate hiding-place +was essential, I commenced explorations. +The privet hedge surrounding this +oasis proved to be very thin and there were +no convenient little bushes. I had just +borrowed a good supply of apples from mine +host, and had almost decided to seek shelter +in an outhouse as a last resource, when I came +upon a fair-sized heap of sticks, over which a +hop plant sprawled, forming a straggly green +covering. There being no better place, I +decided that the hop would have to serve +as my headquarters for that day. I was +just moving some of the sticks when something +caused me to remember the lateness +of the hour. From a pigsty a few yards +away came expectant squeals. The occupants +doubtless imagined that I was arriving +with their breakfast. As I was getting ready +to crawl into the sticks, I caught sight of a +little patch of washing close by, lying spread +on the grass at the corner of a small green +lawn. When the good lady came for her +washing she would, in all probability, discover +me, which would never do, as it would +lead to all kinds of little unpleasantnesses. +In a very short space of time I had moved<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[133]</a></span> +the white handkerchiefs and collars to +another corner of the lawn, not far away, +and returned to the heap. I was beginning +to tunnel into the sticks, when I heard a +man’s voice, followed by the clatter of milk +cans. Diving into the small hole already +made, I wriggled for all I was worth towards +the centre, dragging the pack after me. It +sounds quite simple; all you have to do is to +wriggle; but, in reality, it is surprisingly +difficult. When I tried to force an entrance +every dead bough in the heap seemed to +break with an ear-splitting crash, while all +the smaller twigs crackled in chorus. The +most peaceable sticks developed sharp spikes, +which stuck into me. Even when I had +removed a particularly objectionable one +barring the way, another would shoot out +and grasp my pack, causing an additional +delay. Eventually, in a scratched and weary +condition, I got under the centre of the heap, +where I lay feeling none too secure. Although +I was forced to keep still for fear of +attracting attention, I managed to nibble the +stolen apples and take stock of my surroundings. +The light shone through the pale +green hop leaves, revealing many hairy +caterpillars, incessantly gorging. Inside the +heap lived innumerable spiders and other +horrors. These believed in making their +presence felt when I did not deign to notice<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[134]</a></span> +them. It was a very uncomfortable procedure, +drying slowly in a cold wind. Once, +when the leaves blew on one side, I caught a +glimpse of a pear tree swaying overhead, +and a dark, forbidding sky in the background. +That day I enjoyed two heavy thunderstorms. +At first the leaves kept off most of +the rain, but it soon battered down with such +violence that the former became limp and +hung down, leaving me almost exposed. +Everything became saturated. A steady +stream of water poured off the sticks and ran +down my neck, while the insects eagerly +sought shelter in my clothing. When the +first storm was over, and I lay shivering in +the bright interval, two children came out +of the house and played about in the garden, +running several times round and round my +heap. It was such a strain lying absolutely +still that I almost welcomed the second +thunderstorm, though it completely soaked +everything that the first one had overlooked. +Never in my life have I passed such an +uncomfortable day. But, in the end, discomfort +is preferable to actual danger in an +adventure of this sort. At least so I thought +in those days. As it is beyond me to +convey to the reader any adequate idea of +the unwillingness of the minutes to resolve +themselves into hours, I will not attempt the +impossible. Towards evening some one fired<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[135]</a></span> +a shot-gun just beyond the privet hedge. +Naturally the explosion caused me to jump, +but that was nothing to the fright I experienced +when it struck me that it might be a +small boy out rat shooting, as vermin always +run to a conveniently close heap of sticks +for shelter. However, the person did not +come my way, and in any case it is probable +he was only after wild duck, which frequent +most of the dykes. At last, when I could +stand it no longer, I scrambled out into the +dusk, guiltily ignoring the fact that I was +running an unnecessary risk by starting on +the war-path an hour too soon.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[136]</a></span></p> + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X"></a>CHAPTER X</h2> + +<h4>THE EMS</h4> + + +<p><span class="smcap"><big>T</big>here</span> was no one about, so, after enjoying +a good stretch, I pushed through the privet, +jumped a narrow dyke, and started out over +the low-lying fields towards the high grassy +barrier which advertised the approach to the +dreaded river. It was almost dark when I +came to another portion of the winding, +snake-like barrier, which curved out as if to +meet me. Approaching it, I found that a +thick and apparently endless prickly May +hedge grew along the base. Getting through +it proved to be such a painful proceeding that +it seems probable that as soon as the hedge +saw an Englishman coming towards it, it +sharpened its claws and resolved to defend +the way to the frontier to the last thorn. +Of course I may be wrong in my surmise, +but I well remember that, when I began +extracting thorns afterwards, it was like +plucking a pin-cushion. Crawling on hands +and knees up the slippery grassy slope, I soon +arrived at the top and, scrambling to my feet,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[137]</a></span> +looked eagerly towards the unknown West. +The grassy barrier rose to an even height of +about thirty feet above the low-lying country. +On one side, the nearer dykes dividing the +fields showed up a dull white in the semi-darkness; +while on the other, beyond a +narrow fringe of swaying reed-grass, ran the +broad dark river. Although a steady wind +was blowing, it was not quite as strong as on +the previous night, the noise of the ripples +breaking on the shore not being so pronounced. +As I had not been dry for several +days, the prospect of a prolonged bathe was +not at all alluring. The longer I looked +towards the opposite bank the more distant +it appeared to be, and the greater became the +width and volume of the river, until it seemed +to be quite impassable. Hesitation meant +failure, so, running down to the water’s edge, +I began to undress quickly. All at once it +struck me that it would be foolish to wrap +all my earthly belongings in one bundle, for, +should it come to grief on the way over, I +should have a decidedly cool time of it +after my arrival at the other bank of the +river.</p> + +<p>Besides, it would be most undignified to be +compelled to walk up to a German sentry and +address him thus: “Please, sir, I am suffering +from loss of memory and seem to have +mislaid my clothes; would you be good<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[138]</a></span> +enough to supply me with a few, as fig trees +do not abound in these parts?”</p> + +<p>Therefore, spreading my sodden waterproof +on the ground, I deposited in it my +tunic, shoes and now half-empty pack. +Stuffing all the vacant space tightly with +grass, I secured the corners by binding them +together with my braces and bits of torn +handkerchief. To complete the operation, +I fastened my souvenir walking-stick (which, +though large and clumsy, was exceedingly +precious) to the bottom of the bundle in order +to improve its floating capacities. Passing +through the thin edging of reed-grass, I +stepped into the shallow water and felt my +feet sink into the deep mud, which gurgled +hungrily and sent little lines of bubbles up +to the surface. In a few strides I was out +of my depth and amid the swirling eddies, +which sought to drag me off down stream.</p> + +<p>Fortunately the water was warm and the +bundle floated well. Considering the fact +that I had already been tramping for eight +days on short rations, it is not surprising that +I found swimming against a steady wind to +be very tiring. I kept the bundle well ahead +by giving it a good push every few strokes, +when I overtook it. After swimming for +several minutes, I unconsciously changed +my direction a little, at the same time giving +the bundle another push ahead. At this<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[139]</a></span> +part the river curved slightly, and the result +was that the wind caught my worldly belongings +and whirled them off down stream. +Signalling to the engine-room for full speed +ahead, I dashed off in pursuit, soon overtaking +the runaway bundle. By this time, +being very out of breath, I hung on to it, +and was delighted to find that it would +practically support me. I had been swimming +for some little time and it seemed +probable that my objective would not be far +away, so, looking up at the stars and noting +where the west lay, I raised myself in the +water and looked for the opposite bank. +Curiously enough, it seemed almost as far +distant as it had been at first. Instinctively +I looked back, and there, only a little way +behind me, was the shore I had just left. +I must admit that the sight was not encouraging. +Well—hanging on to a waterlogged +bundle and swallowing tadpoles +would not help matters, so I settled down +to business, swimming steadily on my side, +but often changing the stroke, and heading +a little up-stream to counteract the force of +the current.</p> + +<p>Ever so gradually the water became +calmer and the shore more clearly defined, +until I could see a fringe of weeds similar to +the one I had left. Vaguely I wondered if +it would be really worth the extra effort<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[140]</a></span> +required to actually reach it. It seemed so +easy to give up. Just as I felt my remaining +strength slipping away at each stroke I +touched some soft warm mud. Mud as a +rule does not have a stimulating effect on one, +but then the very touch of it put new life +into me. Dragging my bundle, I made a +final effort to get ashore, but fell in the +shallow water, where I lay utterly exhausted, +hardly conscious of my surroundings, my +head sinking gradually lower and lower. It +must have been the objectionable taste of the +muddy water which brought me to my senses +sufficiently to enable me to leave the river +for a more congenial resting place, namely, +some grass at the edge of a field. When at +last I got up, feeling very cold, and untied +the bundle I found that everything was +absolutely soaking. Assuredly there are +many more enjoyable pastimes than putting +on wet clothes in a cold wind in the dark.</p> + +<p>When everything was ready for the night’s +tramp, I discovered that my cap was missing, +and after a short fruitless search, decided to +leave it behind. Tired, shivering, and hatless, +I started off into the West, reckoning that +now the frontier could not be much more +than a night’s march away. No sooner had +I crossed the little stubble field than I came +to a ridge, beyond which the ground dropped +several feet in a steep slope. As I moved<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[141]</a></span> +down this incline towards what appeared to +be a hedge, the ground became quite wet. +Suspiciously I looked ahead into the darkness +towards what seemed to be only an +expanse of lower ground. Near the hedge +the water rose over my ankles, but I forged +on, determined to know the worst. I was +not long in suspense, for the hedge in front +rustled (a thing that well-trained hedges do +not do), and I knew that it was another long +line of high reed-grass. Fearfully I parted +this with my hands, and there, in front, lay +a rippling sheet of water, fully as wide as the +river I had just crossed. With a thump my +heart went down into my boots, and the little +devil of despair whispered that I must be +near the mouth of the river, on an island, +a prisoner of my own making. (In truth, this +was very nearly the case, for, as I feared, I +was very far north, this accounting for the +volume and width of the river.) This stretch +of water was totally unexpected. Had I +been fresh and known my whereabouts, it +would have formed a formidable enough +obstacle; as it was, I had already done more +than my share of bathing for that night, and +knew that I was in a totally unfit condition +to attempt another long-distance swim.</p> + +<p>Obviously the first thing to be done was +to make certain that I was indeed on an +island, so I proceeded to take stock of my<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[142]</a></span> +surroundings. I noticed that, except for the +rough patches on the water which caught the +wind, the surface was comparatively smooth, +and there was no sign of a current. Walking +a few yards to the right, I saw that the line +of the old river and this strip of unknown +water converged, leaving little hope in that +direction. I therefore turned about, and +started off to my left front. Evidence that +the cereal crop had been carted quite recently +was plentiful, for there was short, +fresh stubble, cart tracks, and the impression +of horses’ hoofs. This pointed to the encouraging +fact that I was not on an island, +horses and carts not usually being transported +by barge or aeroplane. I had not +followed the tracks for more than fifty yards +when they turned straight towards the +water. The next minute I barely stifled a +yell of delight, for there, staring me in the +face, was a sort of pontoon bridge, stretching +away into the darkness. On closer inspection, +I found it to be composed of bundles +of brushwood which were held together in +some mysterious manner, and appeared to +lie on the water. The surface of the bridge +was in very bad repair and, as some of the +top bundles of sticks were missing or pointing +upwards at an angle, progress was very slow; +but, sometimes walking, sometimes crawling, +I got along at quite a good pace. Once it<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[143]</a></span> +seemed that I should have to swim a short +distance, but I found it to be unnecessary, as +only the top layer of the bundles was missing. +Nearing the other side, I made out a factory +building of some sort, with a high chimney, +a little way from the end of the bridge, and +heard the occasional bark of a watch-dog. +Try as I would, I could not move an inch +without causing a number of sticks to crackle +loudly—it was almost as bad as crawling +under the heap of sticks the morning before. +Fortunately the wind must have drowned +any noise made, or carried the sound away, +for, though the dog continued to bark intermittently, +it cannot have been aware of my +presence.</p> + +<p>Skirting the factory, I went across country, +avoiding roads and houses like poison. The +land was very low and flat and the dykes +very numerous, sometimes whole fields being +practically inundated. The only things that +tended to relieve the monotony were the +solitary gaunt willow trees, most of them +mere shells of their former selves, which +stood out from the misty darkness, black and +threatening, like grim sentinels.</p> + +<p>Everywhere was water, water, water. +Every few seconds I was up to my waist in +it. Often I tried to jump a narrow dyke and +misjudged the distance, or got a bad “take +off,” owing to the softness of the ground;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[144]</a></span> +this usually resulted in my falling with a +splash into the middle. I think the most +aggravating thing of all was to make a really +good jump and land on the other side, just +beyond the water-line, on all fours, only to +find that I had not enough impetus to remain +there, as the ground was sloping. Sometimes +I was able to save myself by jabbing my stick +into the ground, though, more often than +not, this was impracticable, and my hands +could find nothing firmer to catch hold of +than a few tufts of grass, which almost +invariably gave way, causing me to do a +graceful but involuntary backward dive +into the dyke. As constant exercise of this +sort is very tiring and the weight of water +contained in one’s clothes greatly hinders +freedom of action, my progress was necessarily +rather slower than usual. A little after +midnight the ground became harder, and I +soon found myself once more on a moor, +wandering along a narrow sandy track, +among deep heather and broom bushes. +Just as I was getting a little drier and it +seemed as if the watery nightmare was over, +I ran into a series of peat bogs, many of them +more dangerous than those I had encountered +my first night out.</p> + +<p>I found the best way to cross a narrow strip +of marsh was to make a rush to the firm +ground, as these tactics did not allow enough<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[145]</a></span> +time for my feet to sink in very far. Once +the little track I was cautiously following +ended abruptly at the edge of a particularly +watery-looking bog, which not only barred +my way in front, but also curved round on +both flanks. In order to avoid this <i>cul-de-sac</i> +it would have been necessary to make a wide +detour, the accomplishment of which would +have involved the wasting of much valuable +time. Selecting a point where this strip of +marshy ground appeared to be the narrowest, +I retreated a few steps, gathered myself +together, and, after a short run, attempted +to take the bog by surprise and get across +before it was quite ready to receive me. +Wallowing towards the other side, I felt my +feet sinking deeply into the decayed peaty +moss, which gurgled expectantly. I was +almost over when suddenly, in a second, I +sank almost to my waist. Immediately +throwing myself on my face, I scrambled +forward, and digging my stick into the firm +ground in front, pulled for all I was worth. +I was almost free when my poor stick broke +off with a resounding crack, leaving the top +half in my hands. This I again drove into +the firm ground, and with a final effort, drew +myself out. After a short rest, during which +I mourned the loss of my beloved stick, I +went on my way determined not to risk a +passage over any deceitful bogs in the future<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[146]</a></span> +unless it was absolutely unavoidable. Very +soon the heather became scarcer, and once +again I was among dykes and flat, misty, +green fields.</p> + +<p>For the next two or three hours I ploughed +along towards the west, climbing over +barbed-wire fences and wading through +dykes, unless I was lucky enough to find a +plank or small bridge spanning the latter. +Scarcely perceptibly the darkness of the +eastern sky changed to a dull cold grey and +the landscape became clearer, revealing the +bare motionless arms of several windmills +stretching out into the clearer air, some +distance away, in different directions. I +roughly judged that I could not be far from +the frontier. I might even have crossed it! +Though I did my best to suppress undue +optimism, this last rather improbable idea +persisted in occupying my thoughts. It is +true I had seen nothing recently on the way +to arouse suspicion, but, owing to the marshy +nature of the country, the guards might well +be few and far between. The spirit of +approaching dawn lent a faint tinge of +colour to the lonely sweeps of white mist +drifting slowly above the flat dark fields, and, +settling down over the dykes, it commenced +to unravel and piece together the ghostly +confusion of dim blurred shadows and +grossly exaggerated reflections crowding on<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[147]</a></span> +the smooth, oily surface of the water, until +they began to assume a definite shape. I +could almost imagine that I was gazing at +one of Tingue’s early-morning landscapes, so +unmistakably Dutch was the scene. Having +got thus far no speculations of any sort could +be indulged in, the price of uncertainty being +too great. A distant village clock chimed +four, each beat vibrating clearly in the still +air. The crisis was at hand. Having successfully +evaded capture during the eight +preceding nights and days, the very thought +of failure was unbearable, and compelled me +to face the eternal problem of seeking +adequate cover for the day at an earlier hour +than usual. I therefore commenced a search +without delay, experiencing the while, I am +convinced, most of the alarming sensations +felt by many fat, juicy worms who, having +lost their burrows, are endeavouring to avoid +contact with all marauding “early birds.” +The first glance revealed not so much as a +bush or hollow willow tree in the immediate +vicinity, but in a few minutes I made out a +number of heaps of some sort away to the +right, through the semi-darkness, so went to +make a closer inspection, only to find that +two rather broader dykes than usual sought +to bar the way. When on the march a +prolonged wetting is naturally most unpleasant, +though the continued motion tends<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[148]</a></span> +to dry one’s clothes somewhat by shaking +out much of the water. However, there +being no alternative, I plunged into the first +dyke, which proved to be quite deep, making +it again necessary to swim a few strokes. I +discovered a plank across the second one, and, +passing over, found myself in a stubble field +among a number of corn stooks. There being +no better cover, I realised that I must hide +in one of these little stacks, and chance my +luck. The problem was to ascertain which +part of the field was least likely to be overrun +by people and dogs. A short inspection +showed it to be very long and narrow, while +several indications went to prove that the +last of the crop had been cut near my original +point of entry into the field; this was, therefore, +the most desirable part to stay in, as +it would naturally be the last to be carried. +When people walk through a field they are +most liable to wander along near the edges, +or go through near the middle; consequently +I chose a stook situated between the two, and +about thirty yards distant from the end of the +field. These heaps were rather too small +to form a safe hiding-place, while an unusually +large one would, in all probability, +attract attention. It is reasonable to suppose +that, should a general enlargement be +effected embracing a number of stooks in +one area, the result would be hardly noticeable.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[149]</a></span> +Removing my pack and coat, I set to +work transporting two oat sheaves from each +of the stooks in the next row for a length of +about fifty yards, and adding them to the +row in which my nest was planned to be. +To avoid suspicion, I made the now depleted +stooks up to their usual strength by again +borrowing the same number of sheaves from +each of the heaps in the row still further +beyond. After repeating this strenuous +operation a number of times the desired +effect was produced, most of the heaps in +my corner of the field now being considerably +larger than the rest. Surely it was a good +omen that my fat sheaves had devoured many +of their leaner brethren, even though the +number was not restricted to seven, as in +Pharaoh’s dream. The value of making +oneself as comfortable as possible under +adverse conditions cannot be over-estimated, +for it not only stimulates the instinct of self-preservation, +but renders one in the best +condition to face the task ahead. Exposure +and fatigue gradually wear down one’s +powers of resistance and bring with them the +feeling that nothing matters. This is to be +avoided more than anything, for it introduces +the personal element into all reasonings, +often forcing a decision against one’s better +judgment. Having chosen my special heap, +I arranged it in such a way as to leave me<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[150]</a></span> +as much room for movement as possible in +the centre. As I exchanged the wetter +sheaves for comparatively dry ones, the +prospect of once again being warm was +delightful and caused me to work with a will. +Everything was almost completed, and I was +just strewing a little dry straw on the ground +between the sheaves, to serve as a mattress, +when suddenly a man’s voice hailed me, in +unmistakable German, from a distance of +about fifty yards: “<i>Was machen sie da</i>?” +(“What are you doing there?”). Any +doubts as to which country I was in were +rudely dispelled. For a moment I was completely +at a loss for an answer, then, bending +down, I seized the loose sheaf (which was to +have acted as a door to my palace) and placed +it against the others, and, turning round, +replied in low German, “I am only replacing +these, which have fallen down.”</p> + +<p>Two workmen were standing just beyond +the dyke, having evidently approached by an +unobserved track, and were now gazing +suspiciously at me. There being no more +prostrate sheaves, I could not very well +throw some down and then pick them up +again, for the action would not have been at +all convincing. I therefore had to content +myself with smoothing the side of the stook +in a business-like way, trusting that the +uncertain light would not disclose the insanity<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[151]</a></span> +of my actions. In a few seconds I +moved to another stook, and was commencing +to stroke the sheaves, when the same voices +demanded, in a peremptory manner, to know +what I was really doing. It was a case of +bluff, so, busying myself with the heap, I +snapped out, “Ach! go away, I have a lot +to do.” From the murmur that reached me +it was obvious that this abrupt answer was +puzzling them considerably. My position +was still extremely unsafe, for border folk are +usually of a very suspicious nature, which +is intensified by the activities of war. At the +best of times my excuse would have been +feeble enough. Ordinary people don’t +usually rise at four a.m. for the purpose of +walking round a soaking field stroking +sheaves of corn. Besides, it was not unlikely +that I was talking to the owner of the +field. Whether they saw the brass buttons +on my service jacket, or merely felt that I +was wanted, I do not know, but they walked +quickly towards the plank spanning the dyke +which divided their field from mine. Directly +they reached it one of them shouted something +that I could not understand and was +immediately answered by a third person, +away in the mist. Once across the plank the +men, after jabbering excitedly, came towards +me at a quick run. Needless to say, it is +extremely dangerous to be chased in bare<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[152]</a></span> +country of this sort just when the day is +breaking and the fields rapidly filling with +workers, for once the alarm is raised the result +is almost certain to mean capture. This +time, however, it was not a matter of choice; +my hand had been forced, compelling me +reluctantly to play my last card. Picking +up my pack and coat, I ran as only once +before in my varied career—the night when +I almost felt the pitchforks belonging to the +little devils which chased me away from +Ströhen camp. After running about a +hundred yards, trusting to the mist and uncertain +light to partially screen my movements, +I turned aside and dived headlong +into a stook, pulling the straw after me. In +a few seconds my pursuers drew level and, to +my intense satisfaction, passed on, breathing +heavily. This is the last I saw of these two +eager sons of the Fatherland. For all I +know, they may be still following the excellent +example afforded by “Charlie’s Aunt.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[153]</a></span>”</p> + + + +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI"></a>CHAPTER XI</h2> + +<h4>HOLLAND</h4> + + +<p><span class="smcap"><big>I</big> was</span> now in a small wet stook, very cold +and hungry. It being too light to risk a +return journey to my carefully prepared nest, +I had to take things as they were, and fell to +wondering what it must feel like to be in a +nice warm bed. The day proved to be one +long nightmare. By careful observation I +saw that a number of girls were working on +the same crop, luckily at the other end of the +field. They appeared only to be gleaning, +but as it was quite likely this was preparatory +to the carting, I resolved to keep a very sharp +look-out to avoid being transfixed by a pitchfork +and hoisted on to a cart. About breakfast-time +a peculiar noise came from somewhere +quite close, so, parting the corn +carefully, I peered out in that direction. +There, to my horror, were three men scything +the rushes along a ditch which passed a few +feet from me. The heap was a small one, +and, therefore, to avoid detection, I endeavoured +to put the best part of it between<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[154]</a></span> +myself and them when they were working the +closest to me. The completion of this +operation naturally left me a little exposed +on what I supposed to be my safe side. The +men had almost passed, when I happened to +look away from the ditch and saw a farmer +standing beside the very next heap to mine, +surveying the crop, his hands in his pockets. +Somehow or other I wriggled back unobserved, +and lay shivering with a combination +of cold and fear. After half-an-hour’s +wait, I again looked out cautiously, and was +relieved to find the man gone, though there +seemed to be even more people in the neighbourhood +than before. To add to my +discomfort the breeze increased to quite a +strong, piercing wind, which whistled in and +out among the corn-sheaves until I felt very +like an ice-cream in a refrigerator. Even +then there were more trials to come, for, not +only did the grain pour itself into my clothes, +eyes and ears, but also mixed with the crop +was a large proportion of barley or bearded +wheat, which took a truly fiendish delight +in slowly but relentlessly making its way up +my sleeves or down my back. In this +predicament it seemed almost unthinkable +that I should ever have been so foolish in my +schooldays as to pick barley heads and +deliberately put them a little way up my coat-sleeves, +the barbs downwards, expressly for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[155]</a></span> +the pleasure of feeling them crawling up my +arms. Most of us do curious things in our +youth!</p> + +<p>Suffice it to say that, in spite of all convictions +to the contrary, I was still in the +heap, unmolested, when the afternoon resolved +itself into evening and the labourers +left for their homes. A little before nine +o’clock, after a short but drenching shower, I +could stand it no longer, so crawled out, damp +and cold, but still almost glad to be alive. +Looking towards the west in the fading light, +I saw a large shape moving slowly from left +to right through the country, roughly a +couple of miles away. It could only be a +sail. With a sinking feeling I realised that +in front lay at least one more canal which +must be crossed. (This canal, I afterwards +discovered, was actually in Holland.) Although +I did not feel desperately hungry, +I somehow felt that I was getting near the +end of my tether; my food, also, was +dwindling and could not last more than two +days at the outside, for I was already half-way +through my emergency ration, a tin of +Quaker oats. Strange to say, porridge is +nothing like as nice eaten raw.</p> + +<p>As soon as it was dark I started out, +resolved not only to be extremely cautious, +but, at the same time, to get as far as possible +before the next day overtook me, time now<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[156]</a></span> +threatening to form one of my most formidable +adversaries. Travelling across country, +I soon came upon a long road bordered by +trees, so hid in the edge of some beans to +make sure that all was clear before venturing +across it. Almost immediately I heard +voices not far distant, and presently a man +on a bicycle rode past. When everything +was quiet again I managed to step across +the road unobserved, feeling sure that +another danger point was past. The night +being cold it may be imagined that I was +scarcely overjoyed at finding it necessary +to wade or swim through another short +series of dykes; this was, however, the case. +Drawing near to the dreaded canal, I noticed +that on either flank, some distance away, +were clusters of rather brilliant lights. +Presumably this pointed to the fact that these +lights were placed at points of special importance, +such as strongly guarded bridges, +in which case it seemed probable that the +canal might form part of the boundary line. +In order to avoid the slightest rustle which +might attract attention, I rolled my raincoat +and secured it over one shoulder, “bandolier +fashion.” I next covered the brass buttons +of my tunic with mud, to prevent their +reflecting the rays of a possible flashlight, and, +after smearing some dirt on my face and +hands, moved forward once more, prepared,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[157]</a></span> +in case of discovery, to make a dash towards +the west regardless of the consequences.</p> + +<p>In a few minutes I saw, by the even line +of the higher ground in front, that I had +almost reached the raised canal, and was just +preparing to mount the short, grassy slope +when I came upon a hard-worn narrow track +running along near the edge of a rather wide +dyke, which separated me from the embankment. +The dyke being in the lee of the wind +it seemed advisable to ascertain whether it +was possible to cross by any plank or bridge +which might be in the vicinity in preference +to going through it, for, though one may be +able to get into a dyke quietly enough, the +getting out is a very different matter when +the sides are steep and one’s clothes full of +water. Walking along this path very warily +for about twenty yards, I was lucky enough +to discover a plank leading across (for except +for the faint silhouette of the top of the +embankment against the sky, practically +everything was hidden by the darkness). +Though the plank bent threateningly I +succeeded in crossing it, and crawled to the +top of the rise. A glance revealed a broad, +reed-fringed canal, reflecting little dancing +lights on its wind-swept surface—the stars +which had the audacity to peep out from +between the clouds. I could hear the +splashings of a water-rat actually swimming<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[158]</a></span> +at that time of night for the fun of it! +Quickly crossing the tow-path and parting +the reeds, I followed its example, and, not +waiting to remove pack, clothing or shoes, +swam towards the opposite bank as silently +as possible. It can only have been a few +yards across, but I remember feeling almost +as tired as if I had swum the Channel. This +was the tenth night of my escapade, and the +strain was certainly beginning to tell. As I +was leaving the canal behind some wild duck +rose from a dyke close by me, with much +flapping of wings. If their desire was to +frighten me they certainly achieved their +object.</p> + +<p>When, after an hour or more, I continued +plodding along without seeing anything +unusual, I could not help again wondering if +I was still in German territory. My curiosity +increased when two motor cycles with +powerful headlights went by on what appeared +to be a main road. I had not seen +anything like that for weeks, so resolved +to go along the road myself in the hope +of seeing some other strange sights. +Immediately on arriving there I had to take +cover in a corner of an orchard to avoid +another light, which was rapidly overtaking +me. From this point of vantage I was soon +able to see that the light was on a bicycle, +and the rider not a tin soldier, complete with<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[159]</a></span> +helmet and curling moustache, but a peaceably +dressed young woman. Encouraged by +the promising trend of events, I stole some +apples and made my way, munching and +shivering, towards a little group of houses, +hoping to discover some writing which might +prove which country I was in. Eventually +I found a letter-box and feverishly endeavoured +to decipher, in the semi-darkness, +a long word printed in black letters on a white +background. With a sinking heart I slowly +made out the letters B—R—I—E. Was it +necessary to read any further? Surely this +was proof positive that I was still under the +gentle sway of the Kaiser! What else could +the remainder be but “fkasten,” completing +the German word for letter-box. With +almost a feeling of resignation, I continued +to wrest the remaining letters from the darkness. +The expected F was a very peculiar +shape. No, it was a V, after all! With +every letter my hopes rose as I spelt out the +remaining E N B U S. I do not profess to +be a German scholar, but I do know that the +word “BRIEVENBUS” does not adorn their +letter-boxes in the ordinary course of events. +Feeling vaguely happy, but still haunted by +the first syllable of the word, I made my way +further into the village. At first all seemed +quiet, but presently I heard a couple talking +near the entrance of a house. Creeping up<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[160]</a></span> +as close as I dared in the deep shadow of the +building, I strained my ears almost to dislocation +to catch a few words of the conversation. +The language they were speaking +struck me as peculiarly ugly, and did not +seem to lend itself readily to the uses to which +they were undoubtedly putting it. The +fact that they were not speaking ordinary +German did not necessarily mean that the +language was Dutch, for it might have been +some border dialect. However, I could +restrain myself no longer, so, walking up to +the man, I addressed him thus in German, +with as much nonchalance as I could command: +“Can you tell me if I am in Germany +or Holland?” He did not seem to grasp +the question at once, which in itself was a +good sign, though it lengthened my breathless +suspense. I believe I would willingly have +murdered him if, by doing so, I could have +had the answer an instant sooner, for so much +depended on it. All at once he straightened +himself up and, in a surprised voice, replied, +“Holland!”</p> + +<p>I should never have believed that one +simple word could have meant so much. The +news so completely overwhelmed me that, for +a few seconds, I failed to grasp its import. +Then, springing forward, I seized and shook +his hand so violently that it almost threatened +to fall off, at the same time showering<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[161]</a></span> +explanations at him in a hundred and one +different languages, in the hope that he would +understand one of them. Needless to say, at +first the unfortunate Dutchman was rather +perturbed at being so cordially greeted by +some one he must have thought to be a +dangerous lunatic at large, though I consider +that he stood the ordeal very well. I think +the girl was the first to really grasp the +situation, for, to my surprise, she congratulated +me in broken German, and insisted on +shaking hands, too. In spite of the good +news I was still wet, cold and hungry, and +the prospect of again sleeping in a warm bed +was very alluring. I therefore inquired the +way to the nearest hotel, and was told to +make for a larger village, some three kilometres +distant. I asked if there was any +possibility of my taking a wrong turn leading +back into Hunland, and being assured there +was none if I followed the main road, started +off in the best of spirits. It was just like +walking on air. My dreams of freedom had +at last come true. Though it was after one +o’clock, I encountered several people and +each time inquired the way, thus making +assurance doubly sure. I can hardly attempt +to describe the strange exultant feelings +which surged through me as I marched along, +conscious of having left “Brother Bosch” +behind.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[162]</a></span></p> + +<p>Eventually, singing a marching song, I +rounded a corner and found myself in a village +street, almost opposite a house in front of +which hung a sign, just distinguishable in the +darkness: “Hotel Van Dijk.” Regardless +of the fact that I did not possess a cent, I +proceeded to knock loudly on the front door. +After a few minutes my efforts were rewarded +by hearing an upstairs window open, and +being told in Dutch to go away. However, +my mind being made up, I persisted in making +more noise than ever. Seeing his protestations +were in vain, and evidently scenting +something unusual, I understood “mein +Host” to say that he would come down. +My knowledge of the laws of internment of +a neutral country being very limited, it +behoved me to act with extreme caution if +I wished to follow in the footsteps of brother +escapers, whom I knew had preceded me to +England.</p> + +<p>Though I had committed no act of war, +such as crossing the frontier carrying arms, +I did not feel very sure of my ground. Therefore +when the elderly innkeeper, holding a +flickering candle, shot back the bolts, he +found me wearing only a khaki shirt and +grey flannel trousers, the soaking raincoat +and tunic having been hurriedly secreted in +my pack, so that he could not assert that I +was in uniform when he first saw me, in case<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[163]</a></span> +the subject should be raised later. As soon +as he heard the facts of the case, the Dutchman +motioned me to accompany him along +the street, which I did wonderingly. I +imagined myself shortly being interviewed +by a fat, sleepy-eyed and pompous burgomaster, +who would either fall upon my neck, +or order me straight back to Germany. After +half-an-hour’s walk, when my guide halted +beside a long wooden hut and knocked +vigorously, I decided that there was nothing +to fear in that direction, for no such distinguished +person would deign to live in so +humble a residence. Presently, in answer +to our repeated efforts, we heard several +grumbling voices, a door was opened, and I +was bidden to enter. As soon as I was +accustomed to the glaring gas-light, I +experienced a considerable shock. Occupying +the whole length of the room in which I +stood was a double line of beds, mostly +containing sleeping men, and from the walls +hung many greenish uniforms, rifles and +bayonets! On recovering from my first +surprise, I turned to a fully dressed soldier +I took to be a sergeant, who by this time, +presumably, understood that I was an +escaped “Inglesman,” and asked him, in +German, for an explanation. In the midst +of his almost unintelligible reply I caught +the word “<i>Grenswacht</i>” (frontier guard).<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[164]</a></span> +Seeing that we were at cross purposes, the +sergeant roused a man who spoke very fair +English and acted as interpreter. I soon +learnt that I was in the local headquarters +of the Dutch Frontier Guard, and would have +to remain there until seen by an officer the +next day. This suited me only too well, so +having duly impressed the fact that I was not +in uniform, I retired to a bed arranged for +me in the N.C.O.’s room, and commenced to +pull off my wet clothes.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile tongues had not been idle, and +eager, curious faces began to peep at the +“stray dog” through the half-open door. +Just as I was about to turn in, curiosity +could be restrained no longer; the room +filled with noisy young fellows, who took up +a position round my bed and proceeded to +bombard me with questions. It was all so +well meant that I endeavoured to give them +a brief outline of my doings, in German. The +idea of an Englishman speaking German was +evidently quite beyond their comprehension, +for, judging by many doubtful looks of +astonishment, it seemed that the general +impression was that I was a camouflaged Hun. +As they all persisted in talking at once, I put +an end to the argument by disappearing under +the bedclothes. About ten o’clock the next +morning I awoke, feeling stiffer than ever +before, the slightest contraction of a muscle<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[165]</a></span> +resembling the jerking of a rusty wire. +However, when a soldier, seeing that I +was awake, brought my breakfast, I sat up +with remarkable agility and devoured every +crumb. Never have I enjoyed a meal more. +Every additional mouthful of the deliciously +fresh Dutch cheese and new bread seemed to +receive a still more exquisite taste when I +thought of the Irish stew I had missed when +standing behind my imitation wall at Ströhen. +It was not until after a thoroughly good scrub +and a cold bath that I could screw up enough +courage to look at myself in a mirror, and, +prepared as I was, the sudden reflection of the +wild-eyed, bearded tramp considerably surprised +me. A little before lunch, having +obtained some dry underclothing, I was +sitting on my bed, extracting a selection of +barbed wire and splinters from my hands with +a large needle, when a Dutch officer walked +in to see the curiosity. He greeted me +cordially in very good English, introducing +himself as Lieutenant Hoffman, in charge of +the local detachment of the Frontier Guard, +and asked me to lunch with him at his hotel.</p> + +<p>On the way thither I could not help being +very impressed by the design and beauty of +the village. The houses were mostly large, +with spacious, well-kept gardens, the streets +clean and the general atmosphere of the place +spoke of great prosperity. Hoffman took me<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[166]</a></span> +to a barber, who performed for a long time, +but in the end turned out a comparatively +respectable human being. At lunch I met +another Dutch officer, also an English scholar, +who, after hearing the latter part of my +experience, told me that I must have actually +walked along the German sentry’s path, just +beyond the canal, the night before. Having +had no escaped prisoners in that district +before, they had a disquieting idea that I +should very likely be interned. I learnt that, +in all probability, I should proceed to a +larger town for further examination the +following day, and gathered that, in the +meantime, it would be advisable for me to +remain close to my headquarters and refrain +from wandering about by myself, the frontier +being too close for safety.</p> + +<p>Shortly after lunch the two officers entered +the room, carrying a couple of sporting guns, +and announced their intention of spending +the afternoon at a canal on the frontier duck +shooting, and said that I might expect them +back about tea-time. Being a prisoner no +longer the very thought of seeing grey-clad +sentries standing at their posts appealed to +me so much that I begged to be allowed to +accompany them, deciding to run the small +risk such a visit might entail. Hoffman was +considerably surprised at my proposal, but +said I could come at my own risk if I thought<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[167]</a></span> +I had known him long enough to be able to +take his word. He reminded me, at the same +time, that one can easily step over a frontier +line, intentionally or otherwise, and produced +a loaded automatic pistol from his +coat pocket as if to back up his argument, +asking me to choose my course of action. +For a few seconds I reasoned with myself +and then accepted, it seeming perfectly +obvious that Hoffman would never have +shown his hand had he intended playing a +crooked game. Just before starting the +innkeeper lent me a civilian cap and overcoat, +which gave me a sense of security and +enabled me to set out with the others if not +a perfect, at any rate a passable Dutchman.</p> + +<p>Presently we arrived at a bridge-head, +where the Dutch guard turned out and +saluted, when, it must be confessed, I felt +a trifle nervous, being then almost on the +frontier. The formalities over, we left our +bicycles in the guardroom and, crossing the +bridge, proceeded along the tow-path at the +side of the canal. There, sure enough, were +the grey-clad sentries, standing near their +boxes along a little raised path, at intervals +varying from one to two hundred yards. +Seeing that our presence seemed to occasion +considerable interest on the part of the +sentries, I inquired the reason from one of +my companions, and was informed that only<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[168]</a></span> +persons in the company of Dutch officers +were allowed where we were walking, in the +neutral zone dividing the two countries. +Curiously enough the water dog, whose duty +it was to start the birds from among the reeds, +was English and went by the name of “Tom.” +Fortunately he was very obedient, for had +he once crossed between the extenuated lines +of grey men Tom would have afforded the +Huns some moving target practice, which in +all probability would have resulted in his +contributing to a sausage machine. I am +sure I do not know what I should have done +if this had happened while I was with the +party, for Tom, when feeling lonely, used to +run straight up to me, wagging his stumpy +tail and looking up with eyes which so +plainly said that he was indeed glad to meet +a fellow-countryman, for, though Dutchmen +were kind enough to him, the scent was somewhat +different.</p> + +<p>Towards the end of the afternoon we came +to a place where the frontier line gradually +converged, running parallel to, and about +twenty-five yards away from, the canal, just +the other side of a dyke at the bottom of the +embankment. It must have been somewhere +here that an unseen hand had unconsciously +guided me to safety through the darkness of +the night before. I selected a particularly +Hunnish-looking sentry, who was standing<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[169]</a></span> +beside a painted black and white box, with +a long, wicked-looking and old-patterned +bayonet gleaming above his slung rifle, and, +hailing him casually, remarked that it must +be weary work doing nothing, and inquired +if he was tired of the war, to which he replied +with a sullen “<i>Ja</i>.” Undismayed by his +dismal expression, I inquired if they ever had +any escaped prisoners in those parts. This +time he did not deign to answer, but merely +shook his head solemnly. By removing my +coat I could have easily disillusioned him, +but, remembering that a rifle bullet is not a +thing to be trifled with, I refrained.</p> + +<p>Feeling my triumph complete, I turned and +limped away, still hardly able to realise that +only a few hours before I had unknowingly +paraded along the same little raised path +which the Germans were so jealously guarding. +Of all my escapes this was the most +inexplicable. To what was it due? Certainly +not to my own initiative alone. +Man’s extremity is indeed God’s opportunity.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>Supreme in the world of red tape, far +above the ken of misguided mortals, lives +an omnipotent being—the Censor. In +imagination, he sits in a huge armchair, +wreathed in tobacco smoke, casually sorting, +from piles of manuscript, the sheep from the +goats. The former are destined to be<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[170]</a></span> +smothered in official stamps and coloured +inks, while the latter are cast ignominiously +into the gigantic waste-paper basket. Though +this little sheep, in particular, may have a +little of its wool shorn off, I trust that it may +eventually avoid the rubbish heap. For this +reason I must ask the reader to be contented +with a very curtailed and disjointed account +of the remainder of my wanderings.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>In due course I was placed in a quarantine +camp, to remain there until a given number +of days should elapse, when, on being pronounced +free from infection, I should be +allowed to continue my journey through +Holland. The camp contained a number of +German deserters who, it appeared, crossed +the frontier in this district at the average rate +of one per diem, having for the most part +arrived direct from the front, with every +intention of leaving their beloved “<i>Vaterland</i>” +behind for ever. They made no +secret of the fact that they hoped to be able +to emigrate to England or America as soon +as it was all over. Several of them were +N.C.O.’s, wearing the black and white ribbon +of the Iron Cross, to all appearances good +soldiers whom their relentless system had +forced to desertion rather than the terror of +the British guns. The Germans occupied a +separate hut, and were kept strictly to themselves.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[171]</a></span> +This probably saved a lot of trouble, +for, judging by the spirited way they occasionally +sang “<i>Deutschland, Deutschland über +alles</i>,” accompanied by an accordion, the +spirit of patriotism and savage “kultur” +still flowed in their veins. Doubtless the +first German band to return to England will +be composed of the most gentle peace and +beer-loving Huns that ever visited our +favoured shores. Whatever the nature of +the welcome and guarantees extended to +them by our English “Bolsheviks” (who +even now have the audacity to advocate +a policy of “shake and be friends”), +their lives will not be at all secure when +they come in contact, as they ultimately +must, with Britishers who have been most +brutally treated and forced to work as +prisoners in the German salt mines, men +who have come to know the truth of the +saying, “Once a Bosch, always a Bosch,” +during their stay of several years in Hunland. +I feel genuinely sorry for the very few really +nice Germans who certainly do exist (several +of whom I met during my captivity). However, +considering that their influence has been +practically <i>nil</i> in the War, on account of their +being in such a minority, I suppose they will +be bound to suffer with the rest.</p> + +<p>The number of escaped French and +Russian soldiers was surprising. However<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[172]</a></span> +they must have had many excellent opportunities, +while working in the fields near the +frontier, to cross the dividing line. It did +not take me long to discover three British +privates, who were distinctly bored and very +pleased to see me. The eldest was a South +African, escaped from a reprisal camp, while +the other two belonged to the Warwicks. +Though little more than boys they had in +all probability seen more of the hardships +of life than many men of treble their age. +Great excitement prevailed when, by dint of +much cajoling, I managed to procure a +mandoline from the town, for, though the +meals were very much looked forward to and +enjoyed, the rest of the time passed very +slowly. It is not easy to play tunes to +satisfy the cravings of different nationalities +at a moment’s notice. A few Russians +flung themselves about to the lilt of some of +their rowdiest cake-walks, while the “Marseillaise,” +seeming a universal favourite, was +repeatedly called for. On the morning of the +fourth day three weird-looking figures, wearing +a queer mixture of ready-made Dutch +garments, entered the camp with a guard. +I could scarcely believe my eyes when I +recognised some of my former companions +at Ströhen. Two of them, Captain Harrison, +of the Royal Irish, and Lieutenant C. F. +Templar, 1st Gloucesters (since then, I regret<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[173]</a></span> +to say, killed in action), were “old Contemptibles,” +having been captured about +the beginning of the War, while the third, +Lieutenant J. Insall, V.C., R.F.C., had been +in captivity two years. They had all made +many previous attempts to escape, and +consequently had sampled many German +prisons, and now at last succeeded. Captain +Harrison, I have since heard, was again +captured, during the German advance in +the spring of ’18, but was fortunately able +to regain our lines the same night. Our +delight at meeting again outside Germany +was mutual, and, having so many notes to +exchange, the time then passed much more +rapidly. After various communications with +the British authorities, we were successful +at last in getting in touch with the British +Minister at the Hague, who almost immediately +obtained our release from the quarantine +camp, to the unbounded astonishment +of the local Dutch magnates.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>Receiving an invitation to visit Sir Walter +Townley (British Minister), I proceeded to +the Hague, freed at last from the annoying +formality of being continually escorted by +an officer or guard. Imagine my pleasure +at once more sitting down to afternoon tea +in an English drawing-room. I shall never +forget the kind thought and solicitude of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[174]</a></span> +my hostess, Lady Susan. I almost seemed to +be in England.</p> + +<p>Before catching my train back, I engaged +a taxi and tried to see as much of the town as +possible in the time. The driver understood +but little of my directions; the sight, however, +of a few <i>guldens</i> caused him to drive +so recklessly that I thought my last hour +had come. It seemed that we must be leaving +the path strewn with luckless victims. +Arriving at the Palace of Peace, where the +nations had so unsuccessfully beguiled each +other with “smooth words, softer than honey,” +I succeeded in inducing my charioteer to come +to a standstill. Alighting, a policeman informed +me that the building had just been +closed, but pointed out the highly ornamental +metal gates, which, at the cost of 40,000 marks, +had been presented by the Kaiser Wilhelm a +few years before the War. Espying on them +angels of peace carrying palm branches, I +could contain myself no longer, so delivered +an impassioned harangue to the astonished +Dutchman on the subject of hypocrisy, in a +mixture of German, French and Dutch. +Presently, seeing a large crowd gathering +around us, I concluded my remarks with a +substantial tip, and signalling to “Mynheer +Mercury,” was once more whirled into space.</p> + +<hr /> + +<p>The convoy, in formation, steamed through<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[175]</a></span> +the neutral waters towards the open sea. +On board were a party of women and children, +proceeding from Germany to England for +repatriation. Several of them must have +been in Germany an exceedingly long time, +for they could only speak broken English, +while some of the children, having evidently +been born there, could speak no English at +all. Soon the ship began to roll gently in +response to the ever-increasing swell. As the +White Ensign fluttered happily from the +stern, most of us took advantage of the still +comparatively calm sea by parading along +the deck in company with a British commodore, +confidently straining our eyes to catch +a first glimpse of the approaching escort; and +it was, unfortunately, obvious that every one +on board did not share our good spirits. As +the disconcerting movements of the ship +increased, the Anglo-German element, pale-faced +and dejected, assembled amidships, and +forming a small, huddled group, hastily +commenced to put on their cork jackets and +life-belts, evidently preparing for the expected +impact of the dreaded torpedo. Just then, +as the look-out, attracted by some specks +of foam emerging from the grey, misty +horizon, signalled that a number of ships +were fast approaching, they could stand the +strain no longer, so, breaking into a weird +German chant, they wailed disconsolately.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[176]</a></span> +Could it be that the victorious German fleet, +of which they had so often heard, was at this +very moment bearing down upon us? +Perish the thought! The specks of white +grew larger with alarming rapidity. It was +not until the British destroyer flotilla was +almost on us that we could discern, behind +each dividing mass of curving foam, the +sinister and capable grey shapes of Britannia’s +watch-dogs moving swiftly, in perfect harmony +with sea and sky. As if inspired by +one mind, our guardians turned about, and +silently taking up their respective positions +at a reduced speed, they passed with us safely +along the King’s Highway!</p> + + +<p class="center" style="font-size: 90%; padding-top: 2em">THE WHITEFRIARS PRESS, LTD., LONDON AND TONBRIDGE.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[177]</a></span></p> + +<div class="advertisements"> + +<div class="bbox"> + +<p class="center"><big>PHILIP GIBBS</big><br /> +ON THE WAR IN FLANDERS</p> + +<p>I. The Battles of the Somme<br /> +<span style="padding-left: 9.5em">6/- net</span></p> + +<p>II. From Bapaume to Passchendaele<br /> +<span style="padding-left: 9.5em">6/- net</span></p> + +<p>III. Open Warfare <span style="padding-left: .7em">10/6 net</span></p> + +<p class="bt center">London: Wm. Heinemann, 21 Bedford St.</p> +</div> +<p> </p> +<div class="bbox"> +<p class="bb center"><i>OTHER RECENT VOLUMES</i></p> + +<p class="negative">THE SWORD OF DEBORAH.<br /> +By F. Tennyson Jesse. F’cap 8vo.<br /> +<span style="padding-left: 11em">3/- net</span></p> + +<p class="description">A woman’s account of woman’s work in +France.</p> + +<p class="negative">THE LOVERS. By Elizabeth +Robins Pennell. F’cap 8vo.<br /> +<span style="padding-left: 11em">2/6 net</span></p> + +<p class="description">A true love story of the war.</p> + +<p class="negative">A DIARY WITHOUT DATES.<br /> +By Enid Bagnold. F’cap 8vo.<br /> +<span style="padding-left: 11em">2/6 net</span></p> + +<p class="description">“Here is a book that will live on.”—<i>Morning +Post.</i></p> + + +<p class="bt center">London: Wm. Heinemann, Bedford St.</p> +</div> +</div> + + +<div class="note"> +<h5>Transcriber's Notes</h5> + +<p>The list of other volumes in the collection has been moved from the +front of the book to the end.</p> + +<p>Obvious typographical errors have been fixed. See the list below for +details. The original errata in the book has been included.</p> + + <h5>Issues fixed:</h5> + +<ul class="transcriber"> +<li>page <a href="#Page_5">5</a>—typo fixed: changed 'stacatto' to 'staccato'</li> +<li>page <a href="#Page_25">25</a>—errata typo fixed: changed 'weis' to 'weiss'</li> +<li>page <a href="#Page_32">32</a>—spelling normalized: changed 'guard-room' to 'guardroom'</li> +<li>page <a href="#Page_43">43</a>—errata typo fixed: changed 'balolaika' to 'balalaika'</li> +<li>page <a href="#Page_47">47</a>—errata typo fixed: changed 'Weiswein' to 'Weisswein'</li> +<li>page <a href="#Page_51">51</a>—errata typo fixed: changed 'Hammelin' to 'Hameln'</li> +<li>page <a href="#Page_55">55</a>—errata typo fixed: changed 'Weiswein' to 'Weisswein'</li> +<li>page <a href="#Page_75">75</a>—typo fixed: changed 'Middlesessex' to 'Middlesex'</li> +<li>page <a href="#Page_103">103</a>—spelling normalized: changed 'gaolbirds' to 'gaol-birds'</li> +<li>page <a href="#Page_111">111</a>—spelling normalized: changed 'bathroom' to 'bath-room'</li> +<li>page <a href="#Page_126">126</a>—typo fixed: changed 'Pupchen' to 'Püppchen'</li> +<li>page <a href="#Page_127">127</a>—typo fixed: changed 'farmhouse' to 'farm-house'</li> +<li>page <a href="#Page_152">152</a>—typo fixed: changed 'Strohen' to 'Ströhen'</li> +<li>page <a href="#Page_159">159</a>—errata typo fixed: changed 'feasten' to 'fkasten'</li> +<li>page <a href="#Page_165">165</a>—typo fixed: changed 'Strohen' to 'Ströhen'</li> +<li>page <a href="#Page_167">167</a>—spelling normalized: changed 'guard-room' to 'guardroom'</li> +<li>page <a href="#Page_171">171</a>—typo fixed: changed 'uber' to 'über'</li> +<li>page <a href="#Page_172">172</a>—typo fixed: changed 'Strohen' to 'Ströhen'</li></ul> + +</div> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of 'Brother Bosch', an Airman's Escape +from Germany, by Gerald Featherstone Knight + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK BROTHER BOSCH *** + +***** This file should be named 27229-h.htm or 27229-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/2/7/2/2/27229/ + +Produced by Irma Spehar and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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