The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1918-11-01


six men to each car. The windows ir
the cars were all smashed, and every
| thing about the cars was dirty.
Finally the train stopped at town
named Alt-Damm, and there was q
mob of women and children around
as usual, ready for us with bricks and
spit. They stoned us through the car
windows, and laughed and jeered at
us, but by this time we were so used
to 1t that we did not mind much. Only
every now and then some fellow
would get all he could stand, and
either talk back or make pass at
somebody. Then he would get his
either bayonet through the arm or
leg, or a crash on the head with gun
butt.
After an eighteen hour ride, with
out food or drink. we arrived at Neu-
strelitz. 1t was raining as we pulled
In. AS we went up the grade to the
town we could. see lights about mile
away, And we figured that that was
the camp. The rain stopped and we
remained in the cars for some time.
Then, after q while, we knew our new
guards were coming; long before we
could see them. We could hear the
racket they made. Somehow Ger
man cannot do anything shipshape
and neatly, but always has to have a
lot Of noise, and running around, and
general confusion. Four-footed swine
are more orderly in their habits than
the Huns.
When they came up, we were roust-
ed from the cars and drilled up the
road to the camp. When we got near
the German barracks we were halted
and counted again, and made to stand
there for at least an hour after they
had finished counting us, shivering
like leaves. At last they placed us in
barracks, and those who could went
to sleep.
There were about forty barracks In
the Limey group at Neustrelitz and
two large Zeppelin sheds. The bar.
racks were just about like those at
Swinemunde-at least, they were no
better. Along the sides Of the rooms
were long shelves or benches, and
every three feet were boards set In
grooves. The shelves were what we
had to sleep on, and the boards in the
grooves divided them up so that only
a certain number of men could use
each bench.
The following morning we nearly
dropped dead when the Huns pulled
In a large wagon full of clothing. We
thought we never would have any |
thing to wear but our underclothes |
They issued to each man a pair OF |
trousers, thin model, a thin coat |
about like the seersucker coats some
people wear in the summer, an over
coat about as warm as If 1t had been
made Of cigarette papers, skull cap
and pair Of shoes. which were
lays labor to carry around. Not one
If US received socks, shirts or under
wear.
The toe was cut from the right shoe
If the pair I received, and as my
Wounds were in the right thigh and
ny leg had stiffened up considerably
md got very sore, got pretty an1
lush underfoot, and ] was afraid
hight lose my leg. So / thought that
l went to the commander and made
kick might get good shoe. hesi-
ated about 1t at first, but finally made
p my mind and went to see him.
I told him that 1t was slushy outside,
nd that the water ran through the
ole In my shoe and made 1t bad for
~ whole leg, which was wounded.
lie examined the shoe, and looked at
be open toe for some time, and
bought he was going to put up an
rgument. but would give in finally.
Then he asked me what wanted. IL
lought that was plain enough to see,
ut said just as easily. as / could
nat wanted shoe without a hole
/ the toe.
$50 the water runs into 1t, does til"
e said. "Well, my advice to you Is to
ct knife, cut hole In the heel and l
t the water out" All the other
vine In the room laughed very loud T
!. this, and I guess this Fritz thought
, was great comedian. But some
wv or other. 1t did not strike me so {
Inny that Just had to laugh. and I
as able, after quite a struggle, to
ep from even snlckering. 1t was .
rider struggle than that to keep L
ON doing something else, though! a
Our meals were just about the same Il
at Swinemunde--the bread was o
st as muddy, the barley coffee just A
rank, and the soup just as cab 2
geless. The second morning after e.
2 had had our barley coffee, one of
e sentries came to our barracks, G.
itch was number 7-B, and gave each G.
US an envelope and sheet of writ n
6 paper. Then he told US to write n
anybody we wanted to, after which n
chalked on the door In big letters
MISREPRESENTATION
d told us 1t was the return address.
e were all surprised, and asked each IT
Ter where we were, because we had y
ought we were in Neustrelftz. Afteh "
while, we learned that 1t meaEs X II
WarCamp." At first, Rl
,ugh, many Of us thought 1t was Y
, name of the town, and we got to ~
Iluo <I1 uraxvowry hnoo,v~n