Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1919-01-28
CHAPTER vi.

| u W
Nine came sooner than I expected.
CHAPTER vi.
A Leap for Liberty.
| I had been in prison at Courtrai
nearly three weeks when, on the morn
ing Of September 9th, and six other
officers were told that We were to be
transferred to a prison camp in Ger
many.
One Of the guards told me during the
day that we were destined for re-
prisal camp in Strassburg. They were
sending US there to keep our airmen
from bombing the place.
He explained that the English car
ried German officers on hospital ships
for q similar purpose and he excused
the German practice Of torpedoing
these vessels on the score that they
also carried munitions When /
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 very good
| thing to get hold of map Of Germany,
| which I knew was in the possession OF
one Of the German interpreters, be-
cause I realized that If ever the op-
portunity came to make my escape,
such q map might be Of the greatest
assistance to me.
With the idea Of stealing this map,
accordingly, lieutenant and 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 rSom, map In
hand, to settle 1t. After the matter
was entirely settled to our satisfac-
ton, he went back into his room and
I watched where he put the map.
When, therefore, learned that was
| on my way to Germany, I 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 con-
hscated the map from the book In
| which he kept it and concealed 1t In
my sock underneath my Logging. AS
I had anticipated, 1t later proved OF
| the utmost value to me.
got it none too soon, for half an
hour later we were on our way to
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, a guard sitting at the
door with a 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 so
L
cocksure.
Later we were marched to the train
that was to convey us to Germany. 1t
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 a
fourth-class compartment with old,
hard, wooden seats, filthy floor and
no lights save q candle placed there
by q guard. There were eight Of US
prisoners and four guards.
As we sat in the coach we were an
object Of curiosity to the crowd who
gathered at the station.
"Hope you have nice tripW one OF
them shouted sarcastically.
"Drop me q line when you get to
Berlin, will you2" shouted another in
broken English.
"When shall We see you againi"
asked third.
Remember NE to your friends, will
! your You'll find plenty where you're
going!" shouted another.
The German officers made no effort
to repress the crowd, in fact, they
Joined in the general laughter whic!.
followed every sally.
| called to q German officer who Wa
passing our windew.
you're an officer, aren't your :,
asked, respectfully enough.
Eyes, what of it?" he rejoined.
"Well, In England" I said, I'VE
your officers who are prisoners ri
first class. Can't you fix 1t so that
can be similarly treated, or least /
transferred to second-class compaI
mentT
"If I had my way" he replied, "yoN
ride with the hogs"
Then he turned to the crowd an
told them of my request and how b.
had answered me, and they all laughe,
hilariously.
This got me pretty hot.
"That would be a D. sight
better than riding with the Germans !!
| yelled after him, but If he consid'
cred that a good joke. he didn't pass
1t on to the crowd.
Some months later when I had the
honor Of telling my story to King
George, he thought this incident was
one Of the best jokes he had ever
heard. don't believe he ever laughed
harder In his life.
Before our train pulled out our
guards had to present their arms for
inspection and their rifles were loaded
in our presence to let us know that
they meant business.
From the moment the train started
on its way to Germany. the thought
kept coming to my head that unless
could make my escape before VIC
reached that reprisal camp might q
| we'll make up my mind, as far a.
i was concerned. the war was over.
It occurred to me that II tho eight