CLEVER ESCAPE FROM GERMANY

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 126, 14 February 1918, Page 5

CLEVER ESCAPE FROM GERMANY

TRUTH AS GOOD AS FICTION. London, February 12. Two late inmates of a. German prison camp, Messrs. Pitts and Cboate, who succeeded in escaping, state that they had many thrilling experiences. Pitts said that Choate was responsible for the arrangements for the escape. Choate, during his two years' imprisonment, studied German in order to travel unsuspected. He had made unsuccessful attempts before, and had been punished for them. Many of the men in the camps knew of their intention to make another attempt, but guarded the secret carefully. Choato raffled an old fiddlo in the camp, and thus raised money to pay his expenses. It was impossible to wear the camp clothes without detection, and they therefore secured the baggiest military trousers they could, and when the stripes at the sides were taken out and the legs sewn rip they looked like ordinary workmen's trousers. They removed all distinguishing marks from the tunics, and grew moustaches in the German style. They dodged the sentries at night and' got clear of the camp. Choate's knowledge of German proved most useful. They noticed a, policeman watching suspiciously, and Choate asked him the way to the station. The policeman sternly asked: "Who are you?" and Choato replied: "Belgian workman." The policeman said: "Where aro you going?" and Choate replied: "Going home." Choate's frankuess disarmed the policeman's suspicion, and he indicated the direction of the train. Travelling was difficult, but various devices allayed the Germans' suspicions. They feigned sleep when closely watched. Choate's disguise was perfect. He addressed Pitts in colloquial German, and Pitts nodded or responded in monosyllables. They brought a little food from the camp, and it was therefore not necessary to visit restaurants, where the absence of bread and other cards would have promptly led to detection. Finally the escapees reached Holland. —Aus.* N.Z. Cable Assn.