Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-01-20

Life in the camp was much the
Same as in the prison, except that
one had little more space for
walking and more scenery, for we
were close to the town of Mont-Cor-
net, and this town being somewhat
of a railroad center we could. at
least, watch the trains come in. I
suffered little from the cold for the
simple reason 1 rarely went out. Be-
ing sergeant 1 was not compelled
to work, and since all the sons-of-
ficers were in our barracks which
was we'll heated by a stove, had no
kick coming except for lack of air.
Being an aviator, was in the habit
of having lots of air and of the finest
grade.
Times had changed, for here were
some 40 men in a room 2oX15 and
not a window open day or night.
This suited the Frenchmen right
down to the ground as they hate air
like the Boche. It's pretty strong
comparison, but true, nevertheless.
AS for the eating 1t was nearly the
same as at prison, except that the
soup was more of an eatable nature.
The diet of coffee continued steadily
morning and night, the same black
tasteless stuff.
Always Black Bread.
Our next days ration of bread
was given up in the night, a portion
of black bread no bigger than one
of your home made common buns.
And to think that l refused often to
eat your excellent bread without
butter and jam! There 1 was only
wishing I would be given a whole
loaf of that black, coggy mass.
Having no work to do I found the
camp interesting as something new,
and thus spent my leisure time be-
tween meals(?). One had to do
something to keep ones mind off
his stomach. I'll hand it to the
Boche. They sure had it down to
science as to the amount of food
required to keep one alive. We
got that much and no more and
as for saving up grub for an oppor-
tunity to escape out of ones ra-
tions was utterly out of the ques-
ton. The soldiers might do it, but
not we officers for the soldiers
(privates) were compelled to work
every day, and every night one
could see them coming back to
camp with little wood under one
u
other. We drones did not get any
chance like to swipe stuff from the
fields as we passed, for We were
Gagged up in our double-wired prison
all day to mediate and to fast. This
combination / believe, was much
used in Biblical times to become
more pure in soul and spirit, but in
this case the effort was for from re-
ligious, especially to me. For. in
about four days there was nothing
of interest in that camp except a
way to get out.
No Time to Laugh.
The first few days I was much
amused watching the universal GOO
tie" hunt indulged in Immediately
after dinner. Everybody did it, and
just as regularly and matter-of- fact
ly, as the American smokes his af-
ter dinner cigar. The amusement
did not last long, for by the third
day I was scratching myself and
was so interested getting rid of the
numerous families I had acquired
I forgot to laugh at my unfortunate
comrades We were all in the boat
now, and it was n cinch If the fam
lilies continued to increase at the
same rate, said boat would sure be
sunk. No. I certainly found it
neither amusing nor interesting. 1t
was disgusting to be swarming with
vermin like that, and never having
had lice before 1 sure got them right
that time. Golly! they sure did get
to me! Inside of two days my body
was one mass of little red bites, and
itch-oh, boy! how I did scratch!
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