Paying Back a Debt.

Hokitika Guardian, 24 December 1921, Page 1

Paying Back a Debt.

NEW YORK, Nov. .9 How a former British soldier repaid his debt to all American comrade who saved his life on the French Battlefields was revealed yesterday when the British ex-soldier Harry Haley was released from the military prison at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, 11 a ley and the American, Thomas Jones joined the British Army together at the outbreak of war. Several months later the two men took part in a raid at dawn. On the way back to the British lines under heavy machinegun and artillery tire Haley tell with a bullet in his Icg. •Lines hound up the wound and remained in No Man’s Land with him the whole day until it was dark, when he carried him to shelter. On the entry of the United States into the war Jones transferred to the United States Army. The next time tfie two men met was a little more than six months ago in Toronto, .Tones wax still serving in the Army, hut lie told ! I nicy that in order to visit his wife who was seriously ill in Toronto ami need him, lie had deserted and was afijaid to, return. , 1 Haley immediately offered to impersonate "him, took- llis papers donned Ids uniform and crosisng the border, surrendered to the nearest garrison. Ho was sent, to Kansas, where he was sentenced by court-martial to imprisonment.

After he had served six months .Tones arrived at Fort Leavenworth and discovered the deception. Asked by the commanding officer how ho came to bo there instead of .Tones. Haley simply •aid: “T am a single man and have no responsibilities. Jones has a wife and family, who needed him. Tt was a chance to pily him hack. “I took it.’