The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1918-08-15

the German practice Of torpedoing
these vessels on the score that they
also carried munitions! When l
pointed out to him that France would
hardly be sending munitions to Eng
land, he lost interest In the argument.
Some days before, had made up my
mind that 1t would be a very good
thing to get hold Of a map of Germany,
which l knew was in the possession OF
one Of the German interpreters, be-
cause l realized that If ever the OPP
portunlty came to make my escape,
such a map might be Of the greatest
assistance to me.
With the idea of stealing this map,
accordingly, lieutenant and l got In
front Of this interpreters window one
day and engaged In very hot argu-
ment as to whether Heidelberg was on
the Rhine or not, and we argued back
and forth so vigorously that the Ger
man came out Of his room, map In
hand, to settle 1t. After the matter
was entirely settled to our satisfac-
tion, he went back into his room and
| watched where he put the map.
When, therefore, learned that l was
on my way to Germany, realized that
1t was more important than ever for
me to get that map, and with the help
of my friend, we got the Interpreter
out of his room on some pretext or
another, and while he was gone l con-
flscated the map from the book In
which he kept 1t and concealed 1t In
my sock underneath my Logging. AS
l had anticipated, It later proved OF
the utmost value to me.
l got 1t none too soon, for half an
hour later we were on our way 10
Ghent. Our party consisted OF five
British officers and one French officer.
At Ghent, where we had to wait for
several hours for another train to take
us direct to the prison camp In Ger
many, two other prisoners were added
to our party.
In the Interval we were locked In q
room at hotel, guard sitting at the
door with rifle on his knee. 1t would
have done my heart good. for the rest
of my life II | could have gotten away
then and fooled that Hun-he was SC
cocksure.
Later we were marched to the trair
that was to convey US to Germany. II
consisted Of some twelve coaches,
eleven of these containing troops going
home on leave, and the twelfth re
served for us. We were placed In
fourth-class compartment with old
hard, wooden seats, filthy floor anC
no lights save candle placed there
by a guard. There were eight OF u
prisoners and four guards.
AS we sat In the coach we were M
object of curiosity to the crowd WHIT
gathered ut the station.
"Hope you have nice trip" one o
them shouted sarcastlcally.
"Drop me line when you get t
Berlin, will your" shouted another IL
broken English.
"When shall we see you again?
asked n third.
Remember me to your friends, vii
, you? You'll find plenty where your
! going" shouted another.
The German officers made no effor
: to repress the crowd, I'm fact, the
: Joined in the general laughter whic
followed every sally.
called to q German officer who wa
;. passing our window.
| you're an officer, aren't you"
t asked, respectfully enough.
: "Yes, what of it2" he reJolned.
D "Well, in England" said, 1--WE le
i your officers who are prisoners rid
5 first class. Can't you fix 1t so that W
t can be similarly treated, or least b
transferred to second-class compar
4 mentT
n "If had my way" he replied, "you'
e ride with the hogs!"
e Then he turned to the crowd an
told them Of my request and how h
|. had answered me. and they all laughe
hilariously.
This got me pretty hot.
"That would be a d sigh
better than riding with the Germans
Il | yelled after him, but If he conslt
/. cred that a good joke, he didn't pas
r 1t on to the crowd.
e Some months later when l had tn
+ honor of telling my story to Kin
George, he thought this incident wa
e one Of the best Jokes he had eve
= heard. l don't believe he ever laughe
e harder In his life.
n Before our train pulled out, OF
guards had to present their arms fC
r inspection and their rifles were loade
q In our presence to let us know thi