TOMMY'S WELCOME IN SWITZERLAND.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 5, Issue 209, 15 September 1916, Page 3 (Supplement)

TOMMY'S WELCOME IN SWITZERLAND.

When the newspapers announced to us some weeks ago that 500 British prisoners in Germany were to he sent invalided to Switzerland, every British heart heat quicker at the thought of being aide to welcome the brave fellows, but few of us expected to find that from one end of Switzerland to the other our Tommies would lie literally covered with flowers an J loaded with presents. As eai ly as four o'clock on the morning of Tuesday, May 30, a dense crowd was waiting patiently on the last platform of the Lausanne stat'on, though the train was not expected till 4.50: and to Britishers it was interest'ng to see the eager sympathcic faces of the women and men who had risen early and trudged, many of them, from a long distance carrying their basket or bag of presents. School children were there too with flowers, postcards, jr chocolate, for the papers had told us that thp Tommies were well provided for with the necessities of life. As the train steamed in, the group of Britishers «ang —in rather quavering voices, ]am afraid—the National Anthem ; but their voices were drowned in the cheers of the crowd, and, as the first carriage of soldiers passed, the enthusiasm knew no bounds. The Tommies' cry of " Vive la Suisse" was lost in the prolonged hurrah of the crowd. Eager hands stretched up to shake hands and to offer their presents, and those who, too far away to do so, feared their gifts might not reach the boys in khaki, bombarded the carriage windows With showers of flowers, cigarettes, and tobacco. Such was the fusilade that one of the heroes declared —"I say. this :s almost as bad as Ypres." That caused a laugh, for most of the people seemed to understand some English. When the excitement had subsided, each one got a chance of coming closer to the carriage windows, and then disjointed onversations were engaged in. Everyone wanted to know how they had "been treated in Germany. One canny Scot, on being asked in broken English how he liked the Germans, sa : d with a smile—"Oh! very nice people; very nice people." Upon that Ins interlocutor, not understanding his sarcasm, turned and said to her companion in French charming; they said of the : r enemies that they were very nice people.*' I spoke to an Edinburgh man who was less charitable, fie complained nit terry of the hardships of their captivity.' But little time was lost in speaking of the enemy. Ttye jnnenVs eyes wero shin'ng with tears as they said with the usual reticence- of Britons — "It is so good to see k'nd faces again; •i\e never expected anything like tin's. From the moment he crossed the frontier, at every little station, lat very level crossing, smiles have greeted us. It does one's heart good." And we in the crowd had only to peep into the carriages to see that tht smiles had been accompanied by flower.j and presents, for sheafs of roses hung down from the racks, and parcels of al! sizes were strewn on the seats, and the caps and coats of the Tommies were adorned with sprigs of lily of the valley. A Hundu, with a fine bronzed face an dan immense white turban, sat smiling and nodding Ins gratitude; two •laps, looking the picture of orenta' good humour, were distributing hand shakes: and the Glasgow, Edinburgh, and Aberdeen lads were getting more than their share of th.e good things, ror the Swiss have a marked sympathy for the Scots.

Next morning a crowd almost as large was waiting to welcome the second contingent. Among them i saw severa 1 London Scottish and a Gordon Highlander. A Royal Naval Volunteer, with a face l : ke Milton when at college, had a busy time signing postcards for the girls, and I hsard murmnrs of admiration of the handsomeness of " les Anglais" that T was glad they del not understand. But thnt made one feel all the prouder of the brave fellows who, in spite of long months of suffering and captivity, had lost nothing of their gallant hearing, and who, I felt sure, wer smiling so ii.s to keep from breaking down before the generous strangers who were giving them such a warm welcome.

While w,e were talking to the soldiers the ladies of the Red Cross Comnritee wore passing through the carriages offering tea and cafe an lait to those who wished refreshment, and, as the whistle blew, hands were stretched out again with an "an revoir. at Chateau d'Oex ' and hats and handkcrch : cfs waved their Godspeed till the train disappeared. Lausanne. Hegina Johnston.

OF THE VOUXG WOMAN. There was a maiden who went astray In the golden dawn of her life's younj day. She had passion and heart than head, And followed blindlv where fond levied; And love, unchecked is a dangerous girdo To wander a will by a fair gVl's side. The woman repented and turned from sm, Hut—no door opined to let ner en. The preacher prayed that -he might ho forgiven, \y.\ told her tn look for mffT-m Heav.en. i''o! this is the law of the earth, we know, That the woman is scorned, wliilv the man may go. A bravo man wedded her, after a!!. But the world said frowning, "Wo Shall Not Call." S F. .1. in the "Scotsman.''

"CZAIVS BOX MOT. At a hospital in Podola the Czar found a reservist who had seven wounds, none serious. On hearing that t'rs soldior had seven children and had a good service record the Czar promi t. :1 him to the rank of s°rgeant. The Czar justified this by quotinu: an army proverl) that a sergeant must have s-'ven brans. "A man with seven children who survives seven wounds." said the Czar, "must have at bast ,'ven brains."