PRISONERS ON SHOW

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 109, 1 February 1919, Page 7

PRISONERS ON SHOW

TURKS PROUD OF THEIR CAPTURES Among the returned soldiers bv the Malta was Private Archibald M. Morice, 11 nephew of Mr. J.'M. Morice, Assistant City Engineer, and a cousin of Captain G. W. Morice (who returned by the Briton), a former member of the staff of Wellington College. Private Morice was one of the unfortunates who were captured by the Turks in the operations' on Gallipoli enrly in 1915, and was a prisoner for three years and (wo months. When ho was captured, Private Morice was I suffering from six wounds, and for. 6eyen | months was an'inmate of a hospital in Constantinople. "Whilst making." no charges as to cruelty or deliberate illtreatment, Private Morice said that the wounded suffered from a lack of skilled treatment. There were doctors and attendants (Red Crescent) of a sort, but they were not very well vp in their work. One of the most remarkable experienceswas the parade of the prisoners—only about forty all told, including three New ! Xealanders—through several of the towns and villages of Asia Minor, a device evidently to liven, up the war spirit in .the districts visited. In some cases, where circumstances permitted, the little band of prisoners, after having, passed through I-a village, were ordered to' "right-about-I tuni" and march again 'through the village in order to nmko the inhabitants believe that there were twice the number that '.there actually were, which simple theatrical device Was sufficient (o delude the credulous village folL After (heir grand tour in- this fashion, they wore put on to .railway . .construction works iu Asia Minor—on the Hagdad line and one of its branches—.'.nd .while, so employed' were fed twice a (lay on boiled /wheat 'with an occasional ration of coarse bread—just enough to keep going. without, knocking up. Private Morice left for his home in Opotiki by yesterday's troop train.