New-York tribune., 1918-08-28
Tobacco and Books
Are Needed in Camps
Strong Message Sent to
Friends of Soldiers Now
Held by Enemy
By Wilbur F orrest
(SpeciaJ Gable Co The Tr,buns)
c.py-tsht. 1918. by The Tribune Associa;ioli-N
York Tribune

THE FIELD, Aug. -I.-'l lell american
mothers and fathers not to forget for
one moment the extreme urgency of
sending food parcels regularly and
often to the boys unfortunate enough
20 be in German prison camps"
This was the message a young French
coruoral gave to The Tribune to-day
for America This corporal was capt
ursd four years ago in the first Bat
fla et the Marne. He was forced TO
work on sixty different German farms,
where he was badly treated and poorly
fed. Then he convinced the German
authorities that his rank was really
that of sergeant and he was trans
ferred to the Merseburg camp in Cen
tral Germany. Sergeants and men OF
higher rank are not forced to work IN
Germany. At Merseburg he met James
J. Bach. of New York City, al archl-
tect, who joined the French Foreign
Legion at the beginning of the war
and later was transferred to the
French aviation section as sergeant
Bach was the first American citizen
captured by the enemy in the European
War. He had been confined steadily at
Merseburg for thirty-ive months.
Escaped From Merseburg
The corporal had just escaped from
Merseburg, after two years of the clos
est comradeship with Bach. He spoke to
me in perfect American" and 1t
might have been Bach speaking, be-
cause the corporal explained that Bach
taught him and many others English,
and American slang and all
"You are looking fairly we'll after
four years of Germany" I suggested
to the corporal, whose boyish face was
beginning to refill and again take on d
healthy glow "You bet" he answered.
Bach had shared his parcels for many
months with me and others who got
none. He's fine boy, that Jimmy
Bach. His father and mother are liv
ing in Paris and send him parcels
often. and we've done rather we'll"
Tell NE the absolute truth; what
are the Germans feeding prisoners
now" asked the corporal. He cursed
a healthy American curse and added,
Nothing, or almost nothing. No real
man could live on it long. A little piece
of the vilest black, soggy bread and soup,
If you could call it soup-beet tops
boiled in water. Tell them in America
not to forget boys in Germany. It's
important, and it is important, too, for
those who have nobody to send parcels.
Some of our Frenchmen get parcels,
bat not everybody"
How Bach Was Captured
The corporal told the story for the
first time how Bach was captured The
New Yorker volunteered for perilous
mission to land with a passenger be-
hind the German lines at night, drop
the passenger, restart the aeroplane
and escape to the French lines
One night in September, 1915, Bach
landed safely in a quiet spot, dis
charged MS passenger and tried to re-
start his motor. The motor sputtered
violently, making much noise. Bach
tried repeatedly, though vainly, and
the noise attracted German soldiers,
who captured him. He was tried before
military court martial and sentenced
70 six years solitary confinement. He
pleaded his own case after he was SEN
tenced and succeeded in gaining a new
trial.
The second verdict reversed the first
and ne was sent to Merseburg, where
for nearly three years, within highly
electrified barbed wire inclosure, the
only diversion ne and his companions
nad vas teaching languages to one an
other.
Bach also read hundreds Of books in
many languages, some furnished by
Germans. when paid for, and many sent
70 him by his parents. Bach now
speaks seven languages
Jimmy tried to escape in March this
year" the corporal said. "HIe and u
British sergeant succeeded in yettin.
civilian clothes from outside. A few
Of us Knew the plan and secretly wished
them luck They got just outside the
gate, disguised as civilian laborers,
~nen the sentry smelled a rat and
nabbed them. They both got ten days
solitary confinement in dark cells.
4 made my getaway in another
form"
The secret Of the corporals escape
zaould not be known publicly, in orde-
mat others, including Americans now
IN That staryation camp d. Mcrseburg.
can profit by his success Many Of
mem Know how it was done
Tobacco Badly Needed
We we're all in bad way for to-
oaceo," the corporal continued, "and if
~hey realize in America how important
S'oaeeo IL 70 thc poor devils there they
VIII send lots through the Red Cross
~ o"''zerland. But food is the crying
need until the var cndS The Ger.
mans are wasting none 10 speak Of on
"sir prlsoners. II the men are goinq
- 'Ye they are going 10 liye on stuff
/. ron home folks. Tell them that, anG
s'p can't make it too strong"