New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-10-03
FrenChman Thrice Hero
of German Prison Camp
"Auguste" Three Times Wrecked Plant Where Asphyx
iating Gas Shells Were Made and Twice
Escaped to His Own Lines.
Before war was declared ?"

, Before war was declared"
but yes. monsieur, three days be-
/ fore war was declared"
where was that"
at was in Saxony. monsieur
would not want 20 say too closely. My
wife and children are still there. and il
would be bad for them. But it was not
far from Dresden"
Were your wife and children also
made prisoners? ?"
MY wife is German and my children
were born in Germany"
"And how long have you lived in Ger
many"
Fifteen years.
"But you have come home every
year,"
"To do my training"
"And now you have escaped and come
back TO France
"To fight for France" he said.
! marvelled at that small man with
the little bald spot, the stubbly gray
beard, the sickbed pallor and the baggy
trousers that were too long for him.
How old are you?" | asked.
"Forty-tWo years since last month,
monsieur" he replied.
and what is your business?"
81 am tailor"
could no longer be astonished.
"Were there many prisoners in your
camp" | asked.
AT first there were not very many"
he said. But soon they began to bring
in soldiers, French, Russian and Eng
fish, and then there were very many of
US. They did not treat us very well ex-
cept when the American Ambassador
, came to inspect the camp. We were
I well treated and well fed then, but
! after he had gone we lived on bread
I and water for week to make up for
the expense while he was there"
Did you have to work."
"Only the French. The English and
/ Russians did not have to work, but
they built a factory for making asphyx-
/ iating gas shells and the French pris-
| oners had 10 work in that factory"
Did you work in it?"
81 wrecked it three times" he re-
piled. eft made 10000 shells a week.
The first time | damaged the furnace,
and it took them four days 70 repair
il. Then ] spoiled the acid tanks and
thoy ran for more than four weeks,
making shells that were worthless be-
tore they found it out. The third time
! wrecked the furnace again and 1t
took three days TO repair II. But then
they began TO suspect me, monsieur.
They watched me too closely. | could
be of no more use there, and-well,
drew a plan of the factory and escaped
II is for that plan that the government
has given me fifteen days leave before
! join my regiment"
"Was 1t hard 10 get away?"
INV wife did not want me 10 go. She
was afraid they would capture me and
shoot me-"
"Your wife,"
yes" he replied. when | escaped
from the camp, went to say goodby
TO my wife and children Ny wife
cried and begged me TO go back and
give myself up. She said ! was sure to
be captured and then | would be shot.
But her sister came in while | was
there. Her sisters husband and his
two brothers are fighting in the Ger
man army. One OF his brothers has
been wounded and has the Iron Cross.
And she said that / was right to go.
She said that ! was French, and il was
right for me TO want 10 fight for
France. She told my wife TO let me go.
SO ! kissed my wife and children and
came back to France
at was in June that escaped. and
they caught me just as | got IN the
Swiss border and started to take me
back again. But | escaped once more
and this time got here. 1t took me two
months"
Haven't you done enough" asked.
"Do you want 20 fight now?"
"Oh" he cried, raising his clenched
fists, give me a gun and bayonet in
my hands,"