Payette enterprise. (Payette, Canyon Co., Idaho) 1909-1935, 1918-07-11
CHAPTER v.
The Prison Camp at courtraI.

From the intelligence department /
was conveyed to the officers prison
camp at COurtrai in an automobile. 1t
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 1 was told by an
English airman who witnessed his last
combat, that he fought a game battle
and died a herO's death.
The prison, which had evidently
been a civil prison of some kind before
the war; was located right in the heart
of Courtrai. The first building we ap-
preached was large and in front of
the archway, which formed the main
entrance, was sentry box. Here we
were challenged by the sentry, who
knocked on the door; the guard turned
the key in the lock and / was admit
ted. We passed through the archway
and directly into a courtyard, on which
faced all of the prison buildings, the
windows, of course, being heavily
barred. After had given my pedigree
my name, age, address, etc.-I was
shown to a cell with bars on the win
dows overlooking this courtyard. I
was promptly told that at night we
were to occupy these rooms, but had
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 had worn over the lines,
/ was compelled either to go bare
headed or wear the red cap of the
Bavarian whom I had shot down on
that memorable day. 1t can be i'm
agined how l looked attired in a Brit
ish uniform and a bright red cap.
Wherever l was taken my outfit
aroused considerable curiosity among
the Belgians and German soldiers.
When 1 arrived at prison that day 1
still wore this cap, and as 1 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 it on
the walks we took. 1 either went bare
headed or borrowed a cap from some
other prisoner.
At certain hours each day the pris-
oners We're allowed to mingle in the
courtyard, and on the first occasion of
this kind 1 found that there were IL
officers imprisoned there besides my
self.
They had here interpreters who
could speak all languages. One Of
them was a mere boy who had been
born iS Jersey City, n. j., and had
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. 1 think il
the truth were known he would much
rather have been fighting for America
than against her.
/ found that most of the prisoners
at NOuElEul lNO VI |
three days. From there they were in
taken to prisons in the inte-
rior of Germany.
Whether 1t was because I was an
American or because 1 was a flyer, L
don't know, but this rule was not fol-
lowed in my case. 1 remained there
two weeks.
During this period Courtrai was con-
stantly bombed by our airmen. Not
single day or night passed without one
or more air raids. In the two weeks
was there l counted 81 of them. The
town suffered great deal of damage.
our people We're aware that
the Germans had lot of troops con- {
centrated in this town and besides the
Headquarters staff was stationed there. I
The kaiser himself visited Courtrai
while / was in the prison, l was told by |
one Of the interpreters, but he didn't I