Jackson County journal. (Sylva, N.C.) 19??-19??, 1919-01-31

days. They thought nothing of pick
ing fight with sentry and giving
him good battle, even though he was
armed with rifle and bayonet. We
soon learned that unless his pals are
around German will not stand by his |
arguments with his fists. In other |
words, If he can outtalk you, he will |
beat you up, but If he cannot, it is a
case Of Here comes Heinie going |
back"
The Russian prisoners at Dulmen
were certainly a miserable looking
bunch. They spent most Of their time
wandering around the Russian bar
racks, hunting for rotten potato peel
ings and other garbage, which they
would eat. When they saw Fritz
throw out his swill, they would dive
right through the barbed wire one
after another, and their hands and
face and clothes were always torn
from 1t. 1t was unhealthy to stand
between the Russians and their garb-
age prey-they were so speedy that
nothing stopped them.
One morning, just after barley-cof-
fee time, came out Of the barracks
and saw an Australian arguing with
the sentry. I was not only curious,
but anxious to be a good citizen. as
they say. so I went up and slung an
ear at them. The Australian had asked
Fritz what had been done with the
flag that the Huns were going to fly
from the Elffel tower in Paris.
That was too deep for Fritz, so the
Australian answered 1t himself. Don't
you know. Fritz? Well, we have no
blankets, you know"
Still the sentry did not get 1t. So
the Australian carefully explained to
me-so that Fritz could hear-that the
Germans had no blankets and we're
using the flag to wrap their cold feet
In.
This started fight, Of course-the
German idea Of a fight, that is. The
sentry, being q very brave man for q
German, blew his whistle very loudly
and sentries came from all directions
So we beat 1t to the Australians bar
racks, and there I found the second
American in the camp. He was bar.
Der named StimSon, from one of the
Western states. He had heard I was
there as we'll as the Boston man in the
Canadian service. but he had been
too sick to look us up, and in fact die
not care what happened, he was sc
. miserable. He had been wounded sew
eral times. and died in day or two
I never knew how he came to be IL
the Australian service.
Those two and myself were the onl!
Americans I knew Of in this prison
camp-whether in Canadian, Austria
! liam or French service. The othe
! two had been captured in uniform, 81
i there was no chance of their bein,
J released
: Dulmen was very near the Dutcl
:. border and as it was quite easy to &c
out of the camp attempts at escap
were frequent. Most of those who RAJ
away were brought back, though. TIL
= Germans were so easy on those VIII
;, tried to run away that almost though
- :. they were encouraging them. On
- - chap was doing his ten days In tn
guardhouse for the sixth time Will
[ was there-that is. he had just abou
completed his period of detention. 81
claimed that the sixth time he ha
D really got across the border and wa
arrested in little town by the Dutc
- authorities and turned over to the Gel
=. mans. That is against the law
- most countries, but he swore it was tn
:. truth. I am not so sure, myself. b
got away for the seventh time Will
- l was at Dulmen and was not returne'
:. Ten days in the guardhouse is NJ
- such light punishment after all, b.
~ cause water three times day is a
:. the prisoner received during that tim
~ but it is pretty mild compared to SON
- Of the things the Huns do.
- One morning I thought for sure
N
"A was going cafard. I was just fed I
- on the whole business and sick of d
~ ing nothing but suffer. So strolle
"A along, sticking my head into barracl
- DOORS sometimes trying to have a tai