The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1918-09-13
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Paris. Sept. S.-Lieutenant Thomas
Hitchcock. Jr., of Westbury. KY. the
youthful member of the Lafayette Fly
ing Corps, who was captured by the
Germans some time ago. but escaped
and reached Switzerland August rs
today described his experiences while
| a captive and his flight TO neutral ter
ritory. which was accomplished thru
evading his guards on a train. The
guard was taking a nap at the time. VI
Hitchcock was forced to walk more
than a hundred miles. This he did In
eight consecutive nights, hiding during
the daytime. He lived on the food he
had saved from his meagre rations in
the prison camp. He was entirely ig-
norant of the country through which
he passed. but guided himself by q
small pocket compass. On the eighth
day of his tramp he found himself in
small village. He inquired of a
small girl whether he was in Switzer-
land andbeing told that he was, he
made his way direct TO Berne. where
he arrived August 20, and called at
the American legation.
when he was forced to land after an
aerial combat with three German ma
chimes He was wounded in the thigh
and his machine became disabled at an
altitude of three thousand metres, but
he managed to land safely inside the
German line. He was Immediately
seized by several Germans and taken
to dressing station. From there he
was transferred to Saarbrucken.
1t took two months for the wound
in his leg to heal. He said he was not
maltreated by the Germans, but that
there was plenty of suffering among
the prisoners, who were barely exist
ing. He said he had been saved by
the arrival of packages containing
food from France.
After landing inside the German
lines" said Hitchcock, II tainted twice.
The second time did not come to my
senses until / had reached the dressing
station. On the hospital received
fair treatment only. There was one
doctor for the 10 patients and the food
was not very good.
- 81 escaped while being transported
with two other Americans from
Dachfeld to Rastadt. There was one
German guard for the three of us.
while the train stopped at sta
ton near Ulm the guard fell into doze.
/ snatched the railway map which was
near him, and also my money. We
were not allowed to handle our money.
Presently the guard awoke and
missed the map and money. Picking
up my package of food which had been
saved from my rations, but leaving
the map behind, rushed out of the
door opposite, and ran as fast as pos
sible away from the railroad track.
The guard yelled after me but l knew
that he could not follow because of
the two other prisoners he had in
charge.
/ then slowed down and began to
walk toward the frontier. During the
daytime always hid in the woods,
and at night ] evaded towns and viii
lagos, walking around them. | was al
ways ON a close watch for the Germans
for was in the uniform of French
aviator. Most of the territory ! ira
versed was farming land, with the peo-
pie working during the day. When
they left the fields in the evening !
would begin my tramp.
II made excellent progress, except
now and then, when ! encountered
marshes, fences and hedges. slept
during the daytime, after having made
sure of the safety of my sleeping place.
ARRIVING at what / thought was
Swiss border, watched for traps, such
as electrically charged wires and auto
matte signals. Apparently l evaded
all such things.
zone morning ! felt sure that l was
in Switzerland but before inquiring
added few extra miles to my tramp
and found myself in little village,
Then / asked girl, who spoke French
where was. She said was in Swift
erland, and then / knew / was safe"
Hitchcock will leave for the United
States in about two weeks. He in
tends to transfer from the French to
the American flying corps.