Norwich bulletin., 1918-01-08
XXI.


 The ambulance took us to Lazaret I i-another hospital for prisoners in Cologne, where after a short wait, few more men were added to our party and we were wllirled off to the railway { station. We were met by Red Cross f0rde<iies who were very kind and as- ksisted in, carrying the baggage of those el risonerS who were too weak to do so for themselves The unterofhzier in ] command of our guard had a railway fwarraut for a certain number of pris- oners, and .our heads. were counted as we passed through the wicket. We were obliged to- wait for about half an, hour in the huge hall, but chairs were brought for most of US and the rest ! sat on their suitcases or on the floor. We were eventually led into a second ] class restaurant where we found lit ] tie group of English officers seated at one end of a long table. Most of these [ men were from the same camp any had ' much luggage in the shape of cages of tame canaries, home made musical. in strllments and such other articles as had served to while away the time during their long Imprisonment. After buying a few war cakes and cup of l coffee, we sat around and talked until l, we were taken out on the station !, platform.
 Meet Old Friends.
 At : o'clock a train loaded with prisoners from various camps pulled ! into the station. We officers were all tlotted certain carriages and climbed on board to seek room in some of the compartments which were not com pletely filled. By a very strange coin cidence Barnes and I got into a corh- partment containing Noodle and Gray and also Addie Slime, whom l had not seen since our long chat in the trenches lon June 1. We had a happy reunion. Everybody talked at once. and it was worse than any woman's sewing meet ing that was ever held.
 No one slept much that night, for the compartment was too crowded and besides we had too much to say. We talked we'll on into the night, catching occasional dim glinpses of the Rhine and some of it's famous old castles. We all regretted very much that we were not making this trip in the dEN time because those who had been in Ger many before told us that the scenery was wonderful. It was unanimously decided. however. that we would much prefer to study the scenery in Switz- erland. --.,.- ,-... .-'.....
 We had all brought timed food to last us for two or three days, at the ;end of which time we expected to be on our way back to camp or hospital or making our way to the promised Hand where timed food was not re- iquired. At about F o'clock we decided to have little feed. One of the mer produced a loaf of Swiss bread, others tins of butter, sausages and tongue.
 This was washed down with a drink of condensed milk sucked through the : nole in the tin-and then we felt much better.
 The next day we were interested ir seeing the women and old men work. ing in the fields. Horses were nowhery to be seen. their places being alnos invariably taken by oxen. On this oc lcasion 1 don't remember noticing on, man of military age who was not il uniform.
 About noon the train was stoppe, for an hour on siding. We wer taken to a wooden hut close by, wher we were allowed to purchase an ex .cellent meal, consisting of soup. yer, good meat, plenty of potatoes and cab sbage. We were all surprised at tn huge portions of meat. and came t the conclusion that this was done t send us from the country with the i'm pression that Germany was far iron starving.
 At Il o'clock that night we arrive, at Constance and were very thankfu to get out on the platform and stretcl our legs again. A German doctor ask |, ed those who wished to ride in an am bulance to stand on one side. Yer few wanted to do this, as they prefer !. red to walk and see something of tn