TWO CAPTIVES.

Hokitika Guardian, 3 December 1921, Page 4

TWO CAPTIVES.

The public, it is said, has hid its fill of war hooks: It will only read them if they ate something very much out of tile ordinary, hut this description applies to “The Secrets ot a Ixtittito,” by Captain K. 0. Mousloy, and to “The Escaping Club,” by Major A. J. Evans, two books ol quite exceptional interest. The title of tlm firstmentioiied is rather misleading. Captain .Motisley, who is a New Zealander and an authority on international law lias no startling revelations to make about the siege or about the experiences of the prisoners in the bauds of the Turks, lint he lias • sense of humour; In* tells bis story ot hardship ami .high endeavour with graphic realism, and incidentally he throws a good deal of new light on the political conditions of Constantinople prior to the armistice. 11c joined the Mesopotamian I nice just before the battle ol Ctesiphon, ill which lie took part and was a member ol the column wluc.li retreated to Kilt. Tnwnshond’s army had from the outset the unpleasant conviction that it was being sent on a forlorn hope. Its commander and most ol the officers realised that they were set a task beyond tlieir powers and that il ihev were ever to reach Baghdad it would he as captives. This belief only made, them the more determined to hold out to the utmost. Captain Mousloy is justified in claiming that the defence of Kiit by a garrison starving, diseased, and short of munitions was one of the finest exploits in the war. The strategic importance of the defence was great. While Kut stdod the Tnrk dated not go soutli, and the prolonged resistance saved tlie situation in Meso-

potamia. Hut human endurance has its limits. Kut fell, and then began the doleful hegira to the prison camps in Asiil Minor. Tlie author paints a terrible picture of the sufferings of the troops, both British and Indian. Their Kurldislt guards behaved tnosi callously. Captain Motisley and Major Evans alike can hardly find words strong enough to condemn the Turks for their scandalous treatment of prisoners, hut acquit them of intentional cruelty. Their fault lay rather in indifference. They committed their captives to the tender care of undisciplined brigands wlm did what they liked, and robbed their charges right and left. They could not or would not recognise that, men weakened bv the privations oi the siege and in many eases, broken in health, could not stand the long marches, the miserable loot!, and the tig, HITS of the climate. TO expostulations the Turks always replied that i |,ey treated thcii prisoners in the same way as their oWn troops. That, ol course, was the point. These gaunt dysentery-shaken scarecrows were to no condition to survive a regimen which ao Anatolian mountaineer or a ill's.'rt A tali could bately tolerate. I hey died like files. At length the remainder reached their destination, and Major Mnttslev was assigned to the prison ciinip at Kastamttni. Hero the question of parole arose. Some office]s cherished tlie hope of getting away and refused to give it : others thought that the chances of esctijm from the middle of Asia Minor were nil. and that to give their parole would gam them gicater freedom and comfort without involving any breach of soldierly duty. Captain Mouslev belonged to the lornier elass, and though he never succeeded in actually getting out of the country, his refusal of parole afforded .him unequalled opportunities of seeing life.

It is interesting to compare his experiences with those of Major Evans, who made quite a hobby of escaping, both in Germany and in Asiatic Turkey. In Germany it appears the initial difficulties of escape we to much more formidable than in Turkey. Tlie guards Here efficient and incorruptible. The path lII’ the would-be escapee was beset with endless obstacles. But it be managed to surmount them and to get a nay from the place wf internment, his prospects were hotter than in Turkey. Tin- distances were not so great ; a

white face was not so conspicuous; there were land frontiers through which it was possible to slip, and above all tlie fugitive could live nil the country to siiine extent. Turnips and potatoes were meagre fare, Inti were, at any rate, something. But in Turkey tlie position was reversed. To escape from the prison was a relatively simple matter. Guards were venal, and a sentry could he induced for a consideration to turn Ids back at the crucial moment. But the principal difficulties were still to collie. The fugitive bail to cross mountain rouges and sterile deserts, lie bad to provide himself heiorehaud with food for his long journey, for he ~no 1,1 not expect to pick up anything en r,,nte. And even if be got so far, lilt' sea was a harrier which baffled him. Quite a number of British, Ercneli. and Belgian piisoners ese«|>od from Germany, lint escapes irom Turkey in Asia, where the prisoners were quartered, were very very few.

Undeterred hy what lay before him, Captain Mousley marie several uiisiieressful attempts, for which he was punished. Kventuallv lie was taken to Siamhoul for the double purpose of, medical treatment and trial. Mere he met Lieutenant Jones, of "The ltoad to Ifn-Dor” fame. It was a strange experience. Jones was believed hy the He it ish patients in the hospital and by the Turkish medical authorities to be quite mad, and ostensibly cherished such it hatred against the Knglish that it was dangerous for him to meet them. Captain Mousley was in a ward by himself. He had already heard of Jones’s infirmity, and one night- woke up to lind a "ghoulish figure wearing a large black mantle and with stark staring eyes stealing towards him. Captain Mousley tried to get to the door, hut Jones stalked him, anticipating every movement with uncanny dexterity. Captain Mousley believed that his last hour had come. What a pity, he thought, to have survived so matiy [terils only to die at the hands of an Knglish maniac, dust then an orderly came in and took Jones away, Later Jones revealed his secret. The object of his behaviour that night had been to impress the Turks. So thoroughly ,li,| he play his part that even amongst friends he continued to sliaiu mad. |lj s idea was that if lie relaxed ever so little .his performance would lie less convincing. Captain Mousley had a good deal of freedom in fit.ninbnul, and | I!IS much to say about the general demoralisation and disorganisation. The f Turks were thoroughly tired of the war,

and he is positive that if the British lmd devoted more attention to propaganda Turkey would have deserted her Allies very much Sooner.

Major Evans is the well-known cricketer who plays for Hampshire, lie was a member of the Royal Air force, a lid was takep prisoner at the Somme. He had, on the whole, little to complain of in his n’eatinent by the Germans, hut comparative comlort did not reconcile him fid cajHivity, and he reduced escaping to an exact science, lint he had very had hick. Hn several occasions When his goal was almost in sight lie was caught, hut at last Intitule favoured him, and he got auat into Switzerland. Subsequently kc was soul to the Palestine front, and oil a long bombing expedition was folded h,v engine trouble to descend behind the enemy’s lines. , Two Australian a viators, Austin and Lee. 'made a gallant attempt to rescue him, hilt in landing they smashed a nliecl. and all three were taken. They Were rtf.aid that their cantors were going to “do th'eni in” out of hand, and indeed it was touch and go for a time ; hot although these particular Turks were not troubled by any scruples of conscience they had some regard for possible consequences. In due course Major Evans indulged in his favourite Rnstiine ol endeavouring to escape. He reached the seashore starving and utterly exhausted, and was delivered ovei to the Turks by some peasants from whom he sought tood. The collapse before the | armistice turned the tallies. The piisoners now became persons ol consequence. The Turks invited them to intercede for them with the appvoaehj,,,, British, while the Germans appealed to tbelli lor protection against the Turks, who took the opportunity to payoff old scores against their dictatorial allies.