El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1918-04-10
FOOD IS BETTER
THAN GAPT0R5'
English Prisoners Fed Well
for Laying Gas Mains,
Then Punished.
By PVT. r.. b. DICKINSON
Escaped Prisoner OF war;

London, Eng, april 10.-lt VIII ID
difficult TO realize that on one occa'
sion German officials actually ordered
about 200 British prisoners, including
myself. 20 live on the very best food
obtsinable. while the German people
themselves residing in the vicinity
were put on shorter rstions 10 meet
the ezigency-
And yet this really happened, the
circumstances being uuged with con-
siderable humor, though the sequel
was very serious.
The scene Of the comedy was the
city OF Munster and Its immediate
neigh bcrhood, and the time the first
fortnight Of March, 1917.
one day there arrived at our camp,
Rennbahu. which IS on the outskirts
OF Munster, the burEonaster Of that
town. In his wake there Followed
several city councillors Of Munster
also a parsonage named Busch-oI
whom more anon-and an unctuous
looking contractor, whose name is
or no importance
Tie burEomaster. addressing about
zee British prisoners OF war; was
acting as interprer started or py
providing the Information that the
CITY Of Munster had decided 10 lay
-aspipe TO the city OF Hamn, and that
the men who acted as its gravedlggers
would find themselves the best fed
men in the fatherland-
The citizens OF Munster viii have
to 90 short 10 make this big ration
posi- bic" he cried trembl1ngly. They
may kick and howl as must as they
ike, but they VIII just have TO tighten
their belts and go without This gas
pipe must be laid, and you are TO be
given extra 1000 because the Work
may heta trifle hard
The boys were WiliiuE-quite Will
ing. Digging a trench for gas pipe
was not So bad as the mines or the
coke ovens, they said and the extra
food absolutely cllnched the bargain
The following morning zoo or Us
marched like a conQuering army 20
the scene where that gas pipe lay stiff
and stark on the snow covered
ground We were accompanied By a
score Of guards Who we're also In the
visions Of the dinner which was 10
descend upon them like a Yertiable
Eift from paradise
Live son Fat OF The Land
The majority Of US had been more
or less familiar with Munster for two
years and We recalled 10 mind me I
many occasions during the early days
when the then fat and oily citizens /
had laughed and Jeered as hungrily I
we tottereu along their thorough ]
fares Now the scene was changed I
They had been starving for a year, ]
while our parcels from home con-
tanned many dainties not Oh the I
money II Germany could purchase.
And. 10 crown all, 20 reach the su- ]
preme apex, as Il were, we were now /
about TO live on the fat Of the land
81 their expense
Before starting work at $50 in the
morning we were each handed a pint
If coffee and half pound OF super
lor bread At nine we had more coz
fee. bread and Jam and then for din
ner We were presented with the best
soup in the land, rich in vegetables
and thickly streWn with sausage, and
som eLlmes meat. Most important
point OF all about this dinner-We
could eat our iii and not many per-
sons IN Hunland have been able 20 do
that for many moons
II was not q feast fit for the GODS
but from the German viewpoint 10 un-i
douhtedly is TOO good for anything in
heaven or earth or under the earth
bur patriotic German
N0r should I omit 20 state that
when the days WorE was done the
eternal coffee and bread again made
its appearance and each man retired
10 his Tirtuou5 couch 9TH the pleas
q Mt thought that some Muusterite had
gone TO bed that night hunErier than
be might otherwise have been but for
ne lords and masters OF the destiny
II the gas pipe
JOB A Hard One.
I have remarked that snow was
wing on the ground, and the weather
was cold I should also mention that
Q had been freezing hard for about a
month in that region Of the world. IL {
vas almost ike digging in rock
The German guards announced IN
'Lfect that they did not give a tinkers'
xpletive loW impenetrable the SOIL
lss They were there 20 see that the
8rltishers stuck 70 the Job, and were