The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1918-08-08
Photograph Of Official Memorandum Giving Personal
Belongings Which
Raney Was Missing August H.

could speak all languages. One of
them was n mere boy who had been
born In Jersey City. N. j., and had
spent all his life In America until
the beginning Of 1914. Then he moved
with his folks to Germany, and when
he became of military age the Huns
forced him into the army. l think II
the truth were known he would much
rather have been fighting for America
than against her.
/ found that most of the prisoners
remained at Courtrai only two or
three days. From there they were In
varlably taken to prisons I'm the inte-
rlor of Germany.
Whether It was because was an
American or because I was flyer,
don't know, but this rule was not fol-
lowed in my case. l remained there
two weeks.
During this period Courtral was con-
stantly bombed by our alrmen. Not a
single day or night passed without one
or more alr raids. In the two weeks
was there l counted q Of them. The
town suffered great deal Of damage.
Evidently our people were aware that
the Germans had lot Of troops con-
centrated In this town and besides the
headquarters staff was stationed there.
The kaiser himself visited Courtrai
while l was In the prison, was told by
one Of the interpreters, but he didn't
call on me, and for obvious reasons l
couldn't call on him.
The courtyard was not n very popu.
lar place during air raids. Several
times when our alrmen raided that
section in the day time went out and
watched the machines and the shrap-
mel bursting all around; but the Ger
mans did not crowd out there, for their
own antlaircraft guns were hammer
Ing away to keep our planes as high
In the sky as possible. and shells were
likely to fall In the prison yard any
moment. OF course watched these
battles at my own risk. Many nights
from my prison window | watched
with peculiar interest the air raids
carried on, and 1t was wonderful
sight with the German searchlights
playing on the sky, the flaming on.
Ions" fired high and the burst Of the
antialrcraft guns. but rather an un-
comfortable sensation when realized
that perhaps the very next minute
bomb might be dropped on the building
In which 1 was prisoner. But per-
haps all Of this was better than no
excitement at all, for prison life soon
became very monotonous.
One of the hardest things had to
endure throughout the two weeks l
spent there was the sight of the Hun
machines flying over Courtral, know
Ing that perhaps never would have
another chance to fly, and used to sit
by the hour watching the German ma
chimes maneuverlng over the prison,
as they had an airdrome not far away
and every afternoon the students-or
| took them for students because their
flying was very poor-appeared over
the town. One certain Hun seemed to
find particular satisfaction In flying
right down over the prison nightly, for
my special discomfort and benefit, 1t
seemed, as II he knew an airman i'm
prisoned there was vainly longing to
try his wings again over their lines.
But used to console myself by say
ing: "Never mind, old boy, there was
never bird whose wings could not
be clipped II they get him just right,
and your turn will come some day."
One night there was an exception
ally heavy air raid going on. A num-
ber of German officers came into my
room, and they oil seemed very much
frightened. / joklngly remarked that
It would be fine II our alrmen hit the
old prlson--the percentage would be
very satisfactory-one English officer
and about ten German ones. They
didn't seem to appreciate the Joke,
however, and. indeed, they were mp
parently too musA alarmed at what
was going on overhead to laugh even
at their own jokes. Although these
night raids seem to take all the starch
ont of the Garmana whiln thov ara