Prisoners of War

Levin Daily Chronicle, 9 May 1918, Page 4

Prisoners of War

NEW ZEALANDEE'S EXPEEI- t ENCES. j TWO INTERESTING LETTERS. The following two interesting letters received by Mr C. J. Wray of Wanganui, have been sent to the secretary of tho Patriotic Association (Mr M. Hogan, junr.), and in them the experiences of two New Zealand soldiers, who were captured by the Germans, are graphically described. Thomas C. Sloan, writing from Switzerland, says: "Well, I have arrived at a haven of rest at last. About sixteen N.Z. boys got over with me, end I can assure you we never want to Bee that 'Fatherland' again. It it had not been for the parcels etc., wo would have been in a nice hole. They are well whacked seven days from Sunday, but they won't admit it. What has puzzled me, though, is how did I manage to get on a Swiss Commission? After j I left the hospital I only saw one quack and he gave me IA, which means heavy work. I used to crawl around nearly doubled up; my back was in an awful state, so I went and saw him, and that is what I got. On Saturday, the Ist of December, I was told I wa.s for Mannheim for a Swiss Commission. I could hardly realise things. I packed up for Munster, and got there that night, wet through with snow and cold, but somehow I was happy. On Sunday ! I met thfee other of the boys, all caught same day «ts I was, and they were all on the Swiss Commission. After a lot of fussing around we eventually left I Munster for Mannheim. We arrived there after twenty-four miserable hours ride in a train. We travelled fourth class —because there was no fifth, and all the cattle waggons were in usel We arrived about 4. o'clock. Two old blankets each, and no fires in the barrack rooms allowed., On the Tuesday we were examined, and the doctor nicely said, Yes, Swiss.' He was the best doetor I ever saw! We hung around Mannheim until Boxing Day. We got orders to move, and boarded the train that night, and arrived at Constance at 5.30 next night. The Germans gave us a bowl of potato soup, the last feed we had in Germany. At a quarter to eight we left Constance, and inside five minutes we started to get a man machine-gunners were seen to aden route, and everywhere we got a real good welcome, cigarettes, chocolates, and hot coffee. At Berne we got some refreshment, also a small present from the Queen. We arrived at Interlaken about 8 oj'clock. We were split up into parties and taken to various hotels. We all got nicely settled down, and got a brand new outfit. The main itea On the programme now is waiting for money to come from the paymaster. At the present time I am on the cadge, no cigarettes and no money, "but that will be remedied in a few days, I hope. I am sure the German Censor used to tear up half the letters instead of censoring them. The town and surround ings here are very nice. We have a big take' close handy with boats on it, but *:hi'.y don't run in tht winter. Ico-sknt •igl tobogganing, etc., is in full sway snw in the English papers about tl-

raid on Mannheim. It was a l> u cess. We saw the fleet of plant over in broad daylight. They lei two lots of bombs go, not so very far from us, and a factory 'went west,' but as to the exact damage done, we wouldn't find out. They came over on the 24th; they brought a Christmas box for the Kaiser. Our .Christmas Oay menu is worth mentioning: 6.30 .m., black coffee; 8 a.m. ono ratior f bread (13 men to two small loaves); 2 noon; fish soup (could have strain--1 it through a cloth); 5.30, Semolina ind barley if wanted). I could cell you lots of things about the kultured cusses, but it is a waste of time, ink and paper. 1 only wish I was back in the line again. So you come from Wanganui. I know it fairly well. I know some girls there better than I know the town. I belong to Palmerston North myself, but previous to corning away I was at Hawera. One of boys here you will know. He is Allar Lockett, of Castlecliff, and ho was working for A. W. Larson, the architects in Bid way St. I would not mind landing in Wanganui for the next week-end. I hope to meet you one of these days, and then I will tell you all the whole story from the time I crawled over the top at Fluerbaix (and forgot to come back);that is, if you would care to hear it.''

P. Northey also writes from Switzerland: "I am just beginning to realise that I am in the hands of friendly people. For several days I was afraid it was all a dream* The treatment we received in Germany seems to have affected most of us in the cranium, as our memories are simply awful, so always remember that if there appears to be any neglect on our part. "Pte .Coles, although only a youngster (20) to what I am, is a real good comrade, and did many a job for me which X was unable to fulfil myself on account of weakness. "I hp.ve tried to flftd out about (name out), but without success. The lads here do aot know the name; but t don't think be died—at least, not at Mannheim while we were there, for the only two deaths were a ' Suffolk' and a Canadian, and both had decent burials. '' As regards parcels, we gave an authority to those left behind to draw ours, and perhaps be able to assist any other unfortunates who were short. The parcels are a God-send. To show you the values of some of the articles: I saw some Tommies at .Mannheim sell to a Frenchman three cakes of 'Sualight' for nine marks, and Crawford tells me he saw a German buy from a soldier a pair of English boots for 80 marks. Of course, things should not be sold, especially to Germans, but one cannot condemn the men, as there may be special circumstances surrounding tho cases, such as hunger. Although oae's address may be Friedrichsfeld, at which place there is a 'lager,' it does nol; necessarily follow that one is actually there. That is simply the depot. The men are sent out to various quarters in the district, within perhaps 60 or 70 miles. This is what is called being sent out on 'commando.' From all accounts, some of the jobs are good, but others are jolly bad, such as working in the salt mines, etc. You can rest assured that they do not do too much work."