Baxter Springs news., 1918-09-06

camp at Courtrai In an autonoDile' "
was about an hours ride. My escort
was one OF the most famous flyers In
the world, barring none. He was later
killed In action, but was told by an
English aIrman who witnessed MS last
combat, that he fought q game battle
and died hero's death.
The prison. which had evidently
been n civil prison Of some KIND DeIore
the war, was located right In the heart
of COurtral. The first building we APP
proached was large and In front OF
the archway, which formed the main
entrance, was a sentry box. Here we
were challenged by the sentry, VINO
knocked on the door; the guard turned
the key I'm the lock and ! was admit
ted. We passed through the archway
and directly into courtyard. on when
faced all of the prison buildings, the
windows, of course, being heavily
barred. After had given my pedigree
my name, age, address, etc.-l was
shown to cell with bars on the win
dows overlooking this courtyard.
was promptly told that ut night we
were to occupy these rooms. but hau
already surveyed the SURROUNDINGS
taken account of the number OF guards
and the locked door outside, and con-
cluded that my chances Of getting
away from some other place could be
no worse than In that particular cell.
As had no hat, my helmet being the
only thing l had worn over the lines'
/ was compelled either to 60 bare
headed or wear the red cap OF the
Bayarian whom ! had shot down on
that memorable day. 1t can be I'M
aglned how l looked attlred In a Brit
ish uniform and q bright red cap.
Wherever was taken my outnt
aroused considerable curiosity among
the Belgians and German soldiers.
When arrived at prison that day
still wore this cap. and as ! was taken
into the courtyard. my OvercOat cover
ing my uniform, all that the British
officers, who happened to be summing
themselves In the courtyard, could see
was the red cap. They afterwards told
me they wondered who the "bug Hun
WAS with the bandage on his mouth.
This cap managed to keep with me.
but was never allowed to wear 1t on
! the walks we took. either went bare
headed or borrowed cap from some
other prisoner.
At certain hours each day the pris-
oners were allowed to mingle In the
courtyard, and on the first occasion OF
this kind found that there were IL
officers imprisoned there besides my
self.
They had here interpreters who
could speak all languages. One OF
them was 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. ] think II
the truth were known he would much
rather have been fighting for America
than against her.
I found that most Of the prisoners
remained ut COurtral only two oI
three days. From there they were IN
varlably taken to prisons In the Int
riOr of Germany.
Whether It was because l was al
7 American or because l was a flyer,
, don't know, but this rule was not FOL
lowed in my case. remained there
two weeks.
During this period COurtral was con
stantly bombed by our airmen. Not
single day or night passed without on'
or more air raids. In the two week
/ was there counted p Of them. . Tit
town suffered q great deal Of damage
Evidently our people were aware tina
the Germans had lot Of troops con
centrated in this town and besides tn
headuuarters stan was stationed there
The kaiser himself visited Courtra
while was in the prison, ! was told D.
one Of the interpreters, but he dldn'
call on me, and for obvious reasons
couldn't call on him.
The courtyard was not a very pOp'
ar place during air raids. Sewers
times when our airmen raided tins
section In the day time ! went out an
watched the machines and the shral
ael bursting all around; but the Ge
mans did not crowd out there, for the
)wn antIaircraft guns were hamme
.ng away to keep our planes as mig
N the sky as possible, and shells wei
likely to fall In the prison yard az
moment. OF course watched the'
battles at my own risk. Many nign
from my prison window / watche
with peculiar interest the air Fal'
carried on, and II was q wonderI
sight with the German searchlign
playing on the sky, the Flaming Q
ions" fred high and the burst OF u
antialrcraft guns, but rather an q
comfortable sensation when realize
that perhaps the very next minute
bomb might be dropped on the buildil
In which / was q prisoner. But pc
haps all Of this was better than
excitement at all, for prison Life so'
became very mOnotonous.
Il Ona NJ the hardest thlnRs / had