FOUND IN THE N.Z. LINES.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XL, Issue 1874, 7 September 1918, Page 4

FOUND IN THE N.Z. LINES.

A GERMAN PRISONER’S LETTER.

Mr J. McDowell, of Dargaville, says the Chronicle, is the possessor of an interesting war souvenir, sent out by his son, Lieut. I’. A. McDowell. It is a letter written by a German prisoner of war to bis avM'c, and intended to be “posted” in the German lines per medium of French or British aeroplane. The airman to whom it was entrusted evidently missed his mark, for (he missive fell in the New Zealand lines. It is written on a folder specially printed for the benefit of German prisoners of war, the instructions as where to write and where not to write being printed in German. The space reserved for the address is “By balloon. Dureh Suflbalhm. Prisoners of war,’’ and the right-hand corner hears the intimation: “No stamp required. “On the outer side of the folder the correspondent is warned, “Night Hier Sehvieben,” which, roughly interpreted, means “Don’t write here,” while inside lie is enjoined “niehl Zwisehen die eiders sereihen” (not to write between the fines). The letter is dated December 23rd, 1917, and reads: — “My Dear. —I received your card of the 2Gtli October at lasi, yesterday, also the remittance of 11,99 francs,‘and on the 3rd December 7.75 francs, for which many thanks. Please don’t send any more money until furl her notice, I got my ’Xmas parcel on the 1-11 h December, and have already gratefully acknowledged it. From the Durlaeh Red Cross I received a lovely parcel, which I hog to acknowledge. “I hope that 'Xmas celebrations found yon in the best of health. I am well and cheerful, and all rigid. You may be perfectly easy about my fate. We are well-treated and looked after; every day avo get butter, cheese and marmalade. Our lodgings are good. We are living quite comfortably in small barracks. Work, of which they do not demand a great deal, shortens the time, which considering lioav time is spud: m eaptiA’ity, has hitherto seemed quite short. Write more often. Hearty greetings and wishes, especially ior AViilie and Max. I hope we shall meet again soon. (The sender's name and address is legibly written on the flap.)

Scattered through the various regiments of the United Stales Army of over 2,500,000 men (that was the strength in the latter part of June) are .about 5,000 Red Indians. All of them were educated in public schools, and many are university graduates. Among them are about 200 Sioux Indians. Their forefathers were members of the great Xaduoe.sigug tribe. The early French explorers of the American NorthWest pronounced it 'Naduou.s-sioux. The last syllable of the corrupted Avord Jived. Tavo hundred years ago the French Avore mingling with the Sioux in the trackless Avildorness that stretched from Luke Superior to the Rocky Mountains; to-day descendants of the tribe have crossed half the world to aid the French. And that leads to an interesting coincidence. Many years ago enemy Indian tribes were called the Sioux Dakotas. That name, too, has liA r ed. Two States, comprising territory once called North and South Dakota. The meaning of the word Dakota is “allies.”