THE PETTEO HUN.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 July 1918, Page 3

THE PETTEO HUN.

CODDLING THE GERMAN PRISONER.

An A.M.Q, soldier, who returned rceently from the front, explained how the German prisoner has first claim upon the care of the attendants at the field dressing stations. “You never hear a word out of the wounded digger. Give him a fag and he’s happy, no matter even if he is dying.

“But when wo get a wounded German at the dressing station, we’re kept busy. If we have a brazier, he must bo put nearest- it, and our wounded soldiers must keep back.” “'But why?” ho was asked. Consideration for the enemy can go a long way, bi’it it hardly seemed fair to coddle the Gorman at the expense of our own wounded, and perhaps, dying. “Ob, it’s not because we liko to do 'it; it’s because it’s orders. A German prisoner has to bo looked after because he can give us information. And h'e won’t gives us information unless he feels like it. The only way to get into his good graces, is to make him feel friefldly towards us. So we’v© got to look after him like,a brother. If there’s a drop of rum about,, he gets it. If there a warm place in the shed, he gets there, and is turned over whenever one side is getting chilly. And he is always complaining, while you nevere hear a word from the- digger. “Except once. A wounded digger who saw us making a fuss over a sulky Gorman wounded, said, ‘lf T could only get up I’d kill that bloke 1” “But we’ve got to do it—to get information. And wo get it.”