WAR TOPICS.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 December 1917, Page 3

WAR TOPICS.

EXTRACTS FROM A LETTER FROM THE NEW ZEALAND HIGH COMMISSIONER.

A. week or two ago I had a call from that fine young V.C., Frickleton, who performed such a splendid deed.

Recently I spent four days at Brockenhurst Hospital, every bed in which I visited. It :is <a model hospital and splendidly administered.

Some German prisoners asked for more pay. They were told they could have an extra penny or 2d per day, but would be put under an Australian guard. They said “Kamerad, we would rather work for nothing than have an Australian guard,”

Another case was that of a New Zealander named Worsley, who commanded a submarine, and was sent to take care of an oil steamer. Accompanying him was a British destroyer. The weather which was had, increased to groat violence during the night, and he lost the destroyer. In the morning a' German submarine was encountered, which launched a torpedo. The noise made by the storm was so loud that. Commander Worsley did not hear the torpedo striko the ship, hut he saw her settling down. Ho whipped round, discovered the submarine, and immediately sent her to the bottom. Tho only member of the German crew which was saved was the commander, whom he took on board. He then took the oil steamer in Land and brought her safely into port.

A V.C. was given this week to a young submarine commander for a deed ! which shows that the spirit of our Navy ’ is still of the very highest. One day he j suddenly sighted two German submarines. one of which he was smart enough to sink, and the other was so taken by surprise that the crew surrendered. He then took command of the German sub- > marine (it might be Baid that he is an excellent German scholar), transferred the uniforms from the German officers to his own, and set out for Heligoland,, and on arrival he sent a wireless, purporting to detail his exploits and the number of British ships he had sunk, and asking for further instructions. He was told to proceed in a certain direct- , ion, accompanied by a German destroy--1 or. In due season he sunk the destroy- ; er, returned home, and received the j honour of the V.C. We shall probably have a dismal ; winter, /with few Jlights and fewer ' conveyances. Tt is almost impossible : to get a cab a tv a railway station, or even to get a porter to carry one’s luggage, and tbe crush at some rail wav stations, and bus’ halting stations is such that only strong people can fight their way through. Recently, at one railway station. T had an unfortunate experience, for T was thrown back from ft railway carriage by tbe guard and narrowly escaped falling between the wheels. I brought 1 the matter to the notice of the ' authorities, and I don’t think the | guard will have an opportunity of repeating his conduct.

« Another aspect of London life is lack of laeeomjnodation. People are giving up big houses, and renting smaller premises, flats and tenements. A great number of the large hotels have been commandeered for Government purposes, so that those wishing to live in London have to faeo a difficult housing problem.

The other day an escaped British officer had afternoon tea with me. He is closely associated with one in whom I am deeply interested, and who is I still a prisoner. In reply to my inquiries as to whether it was true that the Germans ill-treated -Their prisoners he stated that they bully the Bussians and Roumanians to an awful extent but the Englishmen stand up to them, and are not bullied so badly as others. He said:—“l was walking one day in the exercise ground, when a German guard ordered me out of his way in coarse language. I told him that that was not the way to speak to an English officer and a gentleman; if he addressed me courteously I would move out of his way. He forthwith endeavoured to crush my feet with the butt end of his rifle, but failing in that, he bayonetted me in the thigh For thijf he was commended by his officer and I was ordered to he courtmartialled ; but I escaped before my trial canie on, and I am now free."

1 have heard some terrible stories from others regarding their treatment and yet, would you believe It, there is a feeling in this country that as soon as the war is over some people will shake handis as cordially with the Germans for trade purposes as they did before the war I have told them if this is to he the attitude of many British people it will have a serious influence upon those from overseas who are determined to keep the Germans at arms length in the same manner as one would an undesirable neighbour.