The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1919-01-25


ing a fight with sentry and giving
him O 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, 1t 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 it. 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, l 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 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 Eiffel tower in Paris.
That was too deep for Fritz, so the
Australian answered it himself. Don't
you know, Fritz? Well, we have no
blankets, you know"
Still the sentry did not get 1t. Sc
the Australian carefully explained to
me-so that Fritz could hear-that the
Germans had no blankets and were
using the flag to wrap their cold feet
in.
This started a fight, of course-tht
German idea of fight, that is. Tit
sentry, being very brave man for
German, blew his whistle very loudly
and sentries came from all directions
So we beat it to the Australians bar
! racks, and there I found the secont
, American in the camp. He was bar
Der named Stimson, from one of tn
Western states. He had heard wa
:, there as we'll as the Boston man in tn
Canadian service, but he had beel
too sick to look us up, and in fact dit
not care what happened, he was s.
, miserable. He had been wounded sew
, eral times, and died in day or two
!, l never knew how he came to be Il
. the Australian service.
Those two and myself were the onl
Americans l knew of in this priso
camp-whether in Canadian, Austria
liam or French service. The othe
two had been captured in uniform, s
there was no chance Of their bein
released.
Dulmen was very near the Dutc
border and as it was quite easy to ge
out of the camp attempts at escap
we're 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
I was there-that is, he had just abou
completed his period Of detention. Fl
claimed that the sixth time he hal
really got across the border and wa
arrested in little town by the Dutcl
authorities and turned over to the Ger
mans. That is against the law II
most countries, but he swore 1t was tn
truth. I am not so sure, myself. HI
got away for the seventh time whil'
was at Dulmen and was not returned
Ten days in the guardhouse Is no
such light punishment after all, be
cause water three times day Is al
the prisoner received during that time
but it is pretty mild compared to SOM
, Of the things the Huns do.
!, One morning thought for sure
4 was going, cafard. I was just fed III
: on the whole business and sick of do
n Jig nothing but suffer. So I strollet
4 along, sticking my head into barrack
Q doors, sometimes trying to have talk