German Prisoners Praise the English

Levin Daily Chronicle, 17 March 1917, Page 4

German Prisoners Praise the English

NO THOUGHT OF HATE. The British Government lias authorized the publication of a series of letters written by German prisoners of .the British in Franco and in England, in wliicli those prisoners writing to their relatives and friends in Germany, tell of the treatment accorded them by the British.

Tile letters, it is announced, were selected at random, and in each instance they were written without the knowledge of the British prison camp officials. German prisoners are permitted by the British to write, home twice a week. The men are allowed great freedom of expression, and so long as the letters do not deal with military conditions in England and France, they are permitted to go through to Germany uncensored.

Following' are extracts from some of the letters: — 11th October, 1916. .My Dear Friend Paul.—l received your card of July 21 with thanks. On July 27 I was wounded in the thigh, was at once bandaged, and then taken into a dugout; there I lay for about fourteen days without any food and only the first few days with something to drink. I was with several comrades, nearly all of them died, then the Englkh found me.

They are truly .good people. I am now living better than you, the very best to eat and 'drink. Next time I will write you much more.—From your friend, ALBERI.

3rd Sept., 1916. My Dead Adje.—Doubtless you Ihavc already learned thr.t during the battle of the Sonime I fell into the hands of the English at Pozieres. But 1 have struck it wo:I. we- receive a worthy treatment. Officers and men are kind in every possible respect towards us. We have no complaint to make. Only reading . matter is lacking, and the reason for that is»that this, camp has only recently been started. If you wculd send me a little book 1 would be grateful. This week we are changing to another camp. The weather has been miserable for the last few clays. I hope it will become sunny soon. ilearty greetings, your—

■WALTER. Sept. 13, 1016. Dear Parents,—! have been taken prisoner by tlie British, and it gives me pleasure to tell you that I am very, very well in every respect. lam reclotlied from top to toe in a perfect civilian suit, two new shirts, two pairs of drawers, new braces and sporting cap. I get very .good food, nice warm midday meal, very good meat, splendid white bread, beautiful tasting tea. lou can be absolutely without worry about your sou. Above everything we are splendidly treated.

We prisoners, Ferd Minister is also with me, are finished with the war. Hearty greetings from your very loving son Johann. Ilearty greetings to the dear Simons.

August 8, 1916. Dear Parents, Brothers and Sisters, — I c.an always still inform you that I am quite all right, and .1 hope you are the same. You must be thinking I can't write you; would have imagined it much worse that it is in reality, everyone in Germany uolieves firmly that those that get into English hands are done in. Xo, dear parents, we can't perjure ourselvcis about the English. They treat-us well, we were not so well treated by the company, the only things we lack arc cigarettes. —Your son and brother, ERNST.

2, 16. My Dear Wife, Son and Alvina, — Inform you that I have now been wounded by >a shell splinter, very lightly on the left ishin; my right thumb also has been For this reason I can't write well. To my sorrow I must let you know that I have been taken prisoner in France by the English. Otherwise lam all right. Food is faultless. We receive as prisoners very good treatment. „My wound is not dangerous. I lest my way. Instead of going back I arrived among the English. Greetings from — AUGUST.

France, August 20, 191:6 My Dear Parents.-—! hope my letter of tiie loth • lias been received. You will be happy that I am getting along well. A.s a matter of fact one ought not to be able to write for a few days, but as Actinig-Sergeant-iMa.jor I have been , allowed to write twice a week. So I am enormously pleased to send you, dear ones, right hearty Sunday greetings. To-day five weeks ago were taken prisoners. How quickly the time passes! 1 have quite enjoyed this five weeks. I really feel verv well here, as everyone tells me I

have grown appreciably stouter. It is certainly a good thing that you did not see us when we were taken pris- . oners. After these trying weeks you wcu.d hardly luive recognised me. And I nor,- ivc have not a single ground for complaint. In every respect we are ' <sj.;a.,.di.:i/ treated. It appears to me j as 'if 1 had a holiday until peace arj rives. Of course, mama will say, "Oh, jhe only writ:s that!" No it is an a!b- ---! sciute fact. I only say the one thing, j thank God with me and be happy the ' whole day and think of a meeting, j Have you made any enquiries about j parcels and letters? Only don't . forget cigars and cigarettes. YesterI day we each received forty cigarettes, i There isn't a thing that we lack. ' Hearty greetings and kisses, yours— j PAUIr.

f ,My I>ear Parents, Brothers and Sis--1 tors-, —Yesterday I was taken prisoner by the English, and I am happy that I am out of that swindle. . We were received in a most friendly manner, as 1 wou'd never have thought. Now, I have the greatest hopes that we shall see one another again. 'With greetings and .a happy meeting soon, PETER. 29-8-'l6. My Dear Ones.—l am in English captivity since the 27th. lam very well. The treatment is 'first class. The soldiers are very kind. One gets everything one needs irom them. We ' yet more to eat than we need. I like the white bread best of all. You need have no anxiety about me. I will send yon my address later. Write the company that I am a prisoner. One thousand times, greetings. - Your JOKANIN.

If you send me anything for goodness sake don't send me food, for I get more of it than you do over there, and ■I wish I could let you have ih.alf of it. Dear Paula, if you ever see an Englishprisoner don't hate him, for they aro downright good people, and I have not up to the present had an angry word from them.

Dear Parents, Brothers and Sisters: At last I can let you know something concerning me. It is God's will that in the battle of the Somme I was wounded (not severely) in the thigh, arm and knee (left) and on the 23-9-1' was taken prisoner by the English. I can assure you that I am now well eared for, and have fallen into good hands. I proceeded on foot with other comrades to the nearest dressing station supported il>y an Englishman. The English soldiers gave me something to drink and to smoke. The English ambulance (medical) staff is ve:y obliging. lamin an English field hospital. We are well cared for and I lie down in a snow-white bed and am bandaged every day by English nurses. Presumably we go to England in. a few days. Your WILHELM.