The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1918-07-26
ESCAPED Horrors
OF IURKISHPRlS1N
Desperate Adventures Of Three
Officers Captured At kut;
Faced Deathln Many Forms

most like the widest fiction, is told by
one of the participants, and 10 literally
true. $3.50 -, - .. e; ~. !.
IL concerns the adventures Of three
British officers, members Of the vi
tated force, commanded. by General
Townsend, which, entirely surrounded
by the Turkish armies, had its lines Of
communication. cut, and was compelled
to surrender in a starving condition at
Kut el Amara. , -
A prison camp was established at
Syhope, and here most Of the British
officers were kept clorrlv ropfred un-
der a strong guard. Maddened by the
terrible privations they were compelled
TO endure IN the burning heat of the
desert, three of the officers formed n
desperate resolve to attempt an escape
IN the hope that they MIGHT eventually
reach the Black Sea and cross, to the
Russian forces guarding the Crimea.
LAYING their plans carefully, and
boarding small supply from their
scanty rations to sustain them on the
journey, the trio dug their way out
from their prison at night and set of
over the vast desert, guiding themselves
by a pocket compass one Of them had
managed to secrete,
Hid Under Desert Sand
The alarm was at once given and the
whole desert for miles around was
secured by troops of cavalry. The off,
GERS were compelled to dig holes in the
sand Mt dawn and lay concealed through
the burning heat of the day, often hear
ing the search parties passing their
place of concealment. Emerging at
night, they cautiously felt their way
forward, existing on their meager food
and sustaining themselves upon the
brackish water found in pestilent
swamps through which they had to
struggle in the darkness. Each morn.
ing they dug themselves in again, and
waited for the welcome darkness.
They had many narrow escapes from
reeaptHre and underwent appalling pTi-
vations until, utterly exhausted, they
reached the shores of the Black Sea-
Here they were obliged to remain con-
cealed for many days, to gain sufficient
strength to proceed, but, driven to des-
peration by hunger, and tortured by
thirst, they ventured forth and were
fortunate enough, after weary
journey along the coast, to find an
abandoned boat.
After a long struggle, they succeed
ell in getting it in leaky condition,
into the water, and were about to en-
bark when horde of mounted Turkish
troops swept down upon them and re-
captured them.
Back To Torture
Their limbs were tightly bound and
they were subjected to unnameable in
dignities by their cruel captOrs, who
seemed to delight in their suffering,
but eventually they were sent under a
strong armed escort, back to Synope,
where they knew death would await
them. As they neared the prison, and
had abandoned all hope, the escort was
attacked by a strong baud of rowing
outlaws, and a fight e;,s~"d, in the
course of which the escort wac massa-
cred to a man. Finding that the cap;
tives were British officers, the outlaws
set them free from their bonds and
treated them with lavish kindness,
binding up their many wounds and Civ
ing them nourishing and strengthening
food until their ,vigor was fully re-
stored
The outlaw party then offered to
accompany. their English guests back
to the Black Sea, which was eventually
reached after several engagements with
patrOlling parties Of Turks in each of
which the outlaws were successful.
Another Sea Attempt
A small boat was secured and the
party of three embarked with many
good wishes from their hosts. They
had rOwed for several miles, when they
deserted a large boat, loaded with
heavily armed soldiers, in pursuit. Els
cape seemed hopeless Sand they were
soon Overtaken but, resolved to die
rather than be taken back, the trio put
up a fight which deserves to live in
history, eventually killing every one
of their enemies.
The long journey was then resumed,
and eventually the CrimeaH shore was
reached Tho exhausted officers land
ed and were at once taken prisoners
by the Russian troops and taken before
an officer who would listen to no argu'
mcnts, but insisted they were German
spies. They were condemned to death,
but managed to secure n remand for
three DAYS while further Inquiries were
made. Their identity as English OH
GERS was then fully established and
thew were at once released and treated
with every consideration and kindness
by their Russian allies.
Back To the Front
After many weeks, passage was Sc
cured for the trio, and, after AROUND
about journey, the shores of Bhghty
once more greeted their weary eyes.
The officers journeyed to London and
at once applied for service on the West
crn front, but were given home leave
for two months. O..
At the time the letter received by
Mr.. dc Vis.Norton was written, the
three were making fnal PREPARATIONS to
sail for France, where it is 70 be hoped
they will be able to take part in the
march to Berlin. For obvious reasons,
the names Of these brave officers can.
not he given.
H0I nHMC 10 CEEHlNn