The sun., 1919-07-13

cape.
The pair. with another British ON,
GER. had slipped away from Anon.
Kara-Hissar and made for the Medi-
terranean coast. After walking ovel
400 miles and living through the mos,
extraordinary adventures with brig
ands and Turkish villagers. they came
within sight OF the sea. They planned
to leave the country by commander
ing one Of the small craft which they
saw from afar in q creek.
j. 81 Goat Their Undoins.
.ThEn. almost at their journeys end,
they were retaken. owing in the FRS,
place to---a goat. Their stock Of food
was eaten, and wanting to avoid the
publicity Of transactions in a village
bazaar they bought q goat from q
shepherd whom they met on a hillside,
In this deal they made a serious mis-
take. The price was one Turkish pound
which they paid in gold instead Of in
silver. Reused from his haSitual stu
pidity by the unusual sight OF a gold
CON-. the peasant showed 1t TO a gen.
darme. Details Of the buyers appear
ance and location. as given by the
shepherd, led finally to their recap
ture. soon after they had killed the
goat for food.
Having been taken to Constantinople
they were flung into one of tho worst
dungeons in the Ministry Of War
prison. They would be kept there in
definitely. said the military authori-
ties, unless they gave parole not to at
tempt another escape. As British Of
ficers they very naturally refused;
and they remained In the dreadful cell
for nearly ten months, growing even
thinner and weaker, until special sane
ton for the required parole was sent
to them. through the American EN-
bassy, by the British Admiralty.
When they returned to Anon
Kara-H issar, they were In shocking
condition; and It il probable that a
few more weeks In the Black Hole
would have killed them.
Two years later Lieut.. Commanders
Cochrane and Stoker withdrew their
parole, and In consequence were moved
to Yozgad, an even more inaccessible
town than Afion Kara Hissar. In 1918
Cochrane, with several other officers.
n AIDE another bid for freedom, and this
time succeeded. He escaped from
Turkey at about the same period as
did.
AS rule newly captured officers
were sent frst of all to the Min
istry of War prison. so that they
might be handy for Interrogation.
Although three aviators were once for
gotten in the prison for three months,
most of the recently taken people only
remained for about fortnight before
being transferred TO an internment
camp. Their quarters were much
better than those Of political offenders
or OF officers who had tried 10 escape.
Yet even they sickened from the total
lack OF exercise. and suffered from the
vermin that infested the whole Of the
prison. One night two Britishers, un-
able to sleep because of the bugs, got
up and slew seven hundred OF the little
red brutes that the lower class Turk
accepts as a matter Of course.
"They Do No Harm"
Useless to complain OF the vermin
when the prison Governor paid a visit
of inspection,
"Bugs?" was his invariable reply.
with an affectation OF surprise. Bugs
at the Ministry? You must be mis-
taken. never heard OF such a thing"
whereupon the prisoners would
complain of sleepless nights. and as
proof would dig out some Of the dis
agreeable insects from their day time
hiding places.
well, WELL" the Turk would say,
they do no harm. Often they are
useful In drawing bad blood from a
mans body. Since you dislike them
the room shall be disinfected to-
morrow"
But In Turkey. more than anywhere.
Tomorrow never comes; and never
a room in the Ministry Of War was
disinfected.
The Governor of the prison was
DJevad Bey. Military Commandant Of
Constantinople. and one of Enver
Pasha's pet puppets, He was an i'm
rressive looking brute, with his glitter
ing uniform and heavy mustache.
Always he smoked his cigarettes
through lengthy amber holder. He
tAioit any OHo NoAt IVoPOuolDlC
for the sufferings Of prisoners Both
the officer commanding the jail and the
cfficer OF the guards were fair minded
people enough when not acting under
his direct influence.
With his cigarette holder and long
shiny boots, he would swagger round
the prison, followed by a clanktng
stan. Sanitary arrangements were
practically nil, washing water was at
a premium. Dirt II not disease. was
in every room. But Djevad Bey "cared
for none of these things"
What more do you want?" he
asked British officer who complained.
Looking across the Bosporus. from
the garden. you have one OF the most
beautiful views in Europe"
"But am not allowed into the gar
GEN."
"Have a little patience, my friend.
II is rather crowded with older pris-
oners now. But in fortnight's time,
perhaps"
Political Prisoners Fare Worst.
And he would leave. with a conde-
scending smile. TO inspect some other
section Of his miserable menagerie.
In the case OF q British officer or q
political prisoner confidential orders
from Djevad as 70 treatment always
came to tho commandant OF the prison.
Political prisoners Jared the worst; but
the lot OF Britishers undergoing some
special punishment was nearly as bad.
1 shall always remember the shud-