The Waterbury Democrat., 1942-06-24
relieved to find that I was "pris-

relieved to find that I was "pris. oniero."
 He stopped in front of me ana said "Inglesep, making throat cutting gesture. I grinned at him and made an offensive remark fl Enblish but in a quiet tone oi voice. He could not understand but the tone pleased him and he went off.
 While talking with the German filters as they worked, it was ira- teresting to learn they had been told German casualties on the !, Russian front were 160,000. I sug- gested 100000 as 8 more reason able figure but they received il coldly.
 About 12 o'clock I was trans- ferred to another truck which was going around with petrol. There was one chap in the back with me and he was 50 slow getting on the truck I thought he was going to miss 1t and there would be my chance to escape.
 However, he thought so too and dashed into the next truck and followed right along. Then was put into a little Dodge truck, which had a driver and 8 corporal in front and corporal in charge of double machine gun mounted back. Both corporals were armed with pistols.
 We started well up front with the column when it began advarlc- ing on partol activity, but were soon left behind when we had to stop and tow several trucks stuck in the sand. One truck in particular we had difficulty with and was asked to get out and help push. I realized it was about the last chance to escape.
 TWO NEAT
 TRICKS
 The corporal lowed the truck from the sand by an ingenious method of his own, which was to back right on to the truck he was towing and then suddenly to go flat out, which nearly broke the roupe but got the truck from the sand.
 When the success of this stunt became evident; the corporal was very pleased with himself and came out rubbing his hands, leav- ing the engine running. He made some remark to me like "thatll show these youngsters"
 The other corporal was tired and was leaning against the back of the truck. Stopping to disengage the tow rope, took a deep breath, then dashed into the drivers seat, plunged the gear shift into second and raced of. One corporal had managed to get on the running board, but the rough ground and my driving shook him of. There were a few shots but I was safely away.
 TRUCK
 BOGS DOWN
 Once for a moment I thought it was all over. heard machine gun firing and climbed out ready to chuck in my hand, when the firing stopped. It was the double ma chine gun in the back of the truck which the jolting had set of.
 drove for 15 miles and then the engine stopped. It was behind an abandoned 3-ton British truck That was about 4:30. came to the conclusion I had to get that truck unbogged. I dug the wheels out, put the camouf1age net under, but in spite of everything 1t only sank lower. I spent 31s hours doing this but 1t was no use and I went to work on the German Dodge.
 I got 1t working at last and drove on for another miles when it again started acting up so I de- cided to stop and spend the night there. fixed the engine and then went to sleep behind the guns.
 Next morning was very misty and as I had no map or compass I set of, steering roughly N. F. by the sun, until I hit a desert track I knew. Up this track for 8 few miles I went, stopping once to gel 4 gallons of petrol from an aban- doned truck.
 WHAT'S GOOD"
 ABOUT IT? Sixty miles I drove in all with. out seeing soul and then at 2 desert junction crossroads founc my old friend Peter Swordes, whc was lost as was. We sat dowr to a good lunch of the German rations in my truck, then set of together, eventually meeting one oi the infantry companies of 8 consid- erable British force. said Good morning"
 They said, "Is it? We are sur rounded"
 l And just then we began beiril shelIed from both sides. We coulc not reply for we were out of ann nlunition. So we got the order t move flat out for 22 miles, all 1T l different directions. We had sornt quite decent smelling to go through but made 1t fine.
 Next day, Q large column wal seen about 10 miles away. Ths I Company Commander sent me or out on patrol to lind out wEo 1 was. why he couldn't have sen one of his own officers I don know.
 Driving towards the column, seemed British, SO drove quit Z, genially up to about @ yards Whsl