Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-01-18
Shaffer's Last
Flight
Continued

the aviator took his departure, re-
My dinner. arriving at that time
marking as he did so that no doubt
was accustomed to better eating
than the meal on the table. Incl
dentally, he forgot all about my ad-
dress, but I was too hungry to no.
tiee the significant omission, just as
if he had any intention of dropping
said information over, the line. 1
thought was one hungry man, but
the looks of that basin of soup drove
all my hunger away. In fact, I've
seen better messes mixed up for
pigs. This was my first acquaint-
ance with German soup, the one
0 Dig meal of the day, and / GER
, tainly did not get any pleasure out
OF 1t. One must eat, however, to
live, and the Lord only knew when
they might give us anything else;
so with some curiosity l tasted the
mixture of cornmeal and sour ap-
pies. Neither my eyes nor my re-
voting stomach had been deceived.
The taste was horrible, and worse
luck, 1t was not half cooked. Even
at that. ate it nearly all, which
VIII give YOU an idea how hungry
NAARI III L was given SOUle
more coffee-nothing else-and my
hard, plank bed yielding no more
warmth than sleep. Next morning
came coffee again, 1 was getting
pretty well fed up on this doggone
conee diet, and hope you are not
thinking of that coffee as nicely
was both black, unsweetened and
sweetened and milk to help out This
tasteless, and one had no bread
to help opt. However, there being
nothing else to do, drank 1t, won
dering at the same time when there
would be change in diet
Uses Precious SOap
To keep my mind off my suf-
fering stomach, used some of my
precious soap in washing my face
and hands There was not much to
talk about with my fellow-prisoners,
except the lack of eats and how soon
We would be sent away from here
IL interested me, too, because it was
| pretty lonesome life being couped
up all alone with nothing to do. and
what was worse-nothing to eat
one had too much time to think, and
i round MY thoughts turning many
times to the story of my grandfa-
tner, who had starved to death in q
Conrederate prison. That day my
lou was bettered a little when [ was
put IN q room with four others,
three Frenchmen and an Italian lieu
tenant; all of whom put in most of
their spare time hunting "cooties" /"
Ihls occupation may have been in
| teresting from their point of view, I
know from later experience that it
was; but for an unaffected spectator
ilke myself 1t was more than antici-
pating. The beds were made q little
so1ter mere with a thin layer of
straw, but my bones. unaccustomed
| 10 such beds, refused to acclimate
themselves to the circumstances, so
l passed another meatless, breadless.
| sleepless night
Increased RatiOns
Next day we were given a loaf
OF black bread and a small slab of
| rotten cheese, said eats to be divided
petween hve men and to last a night
ana day. It's a cinch we were not
| gong to save anything on such ra
tiohs Tor q probable escape. AS for
the rations, II was only because of
extreme hunger that could eat the
Dread; but the cheese was no go.
even though the Frenchmen pro-
nounced 1t pas NAL" (not bad) so
l. prudentlyput IT away for morning.
IWas well did SO, because IN tnu
| morning l ate 1t with gusto and was
sorry there was 80 little. AS for my
snare of bread, breakfast finished
IT, what was going to eat for
oinner was question which could
take care of itself when that time
arrived. ~
A Change OF Scenery
since we were to be put aboard q
train at 10 a. m. 1 figured the seen
cry would make up for the lack of
dinner, for Irhad never doubt that
we would be sent into Germany. Ma
turaliy, l was curious to see what
tnls kultured country looked like,
ana now much was true that had
peen said of the inhabitants. l found
out the latter much sooner than 1
anticipated and much to my sor-
row. However, 1t was not discovered
In Germany, for after.a short ride on
the train We were marched to a
camp, which on inquiry proved to
be only some twenty-five miles be-
hind the lines. This was great sur
prise to me. for /, in my ignorance,
mad thought that all prisoners were
sent into Germany. Anyway, there
was. and as luck would have 1t,
just In time for soup, that is, IL you
/ happened to have something to put
1t in. Being an aviator, naturally
l carried none of the necessary tin
ware of soldier around with me,
so 1t, looked as IL was out of luck.
A French man, working in the
Kitchen, noting my costume. and
lack OF spoon and bowl and no doubt
thinking was an officer. kindly
brought me basin filled with hot
soup. 1t was not at all bad, either.
The only fault had to find was that
there was not enough of 1t. wanted
"a second helping. but politeness~is
not virtue OF the Boche-one cam
not expect 1t of an animal-and
this was not offered. In fact, he
l saw to 1t that nA nna naaaad his