STORIES PROM ENGLISH PAPERS

Taihape Daily Times, 13 June 1918, Page 3

STORIES PROM ENGLISH PAPERS

An English nurse home on leave from Prance says a German aeroplane which had taken part in a raid on London was crippled on the return journey and forced to descend in France. The crew were captured and one of them was badly injured in the ; knee He was sent to a hospital, where he boasted of the ruin and deaths caused by German bombs on London. Two nights later a German air raid took place in the neighbourhood of the hospital. So terror-stricken was he that he clambered out of bed and tried to seek refuge in a room below, but fell headlong down the stairs and was fatally injured. While passing through a certain town in France right out of the wararea, a British Government official was suddenly taken, ill, and was attended by a local doctor. His French was not the best, and the doctor knew j but two or three words of English. When he recovered he wanted to know what had boon the matter with him, and wound up with “What is it?” The doctor looked puzzled for a moment, then his face lighted up and said he, “It ees two pounds.” The answer was not what the patient expected; but it served. One evening last week a wealthy gentleman, with a country scat in Surrey, telephoned from his office for his brougham to meet the midnight train. On arriving at the station he found his coachman was intoxicated; so without a word he bundled the man into the carriage and took the reins himself. When the lodge gates were reached the master deposited the coachman and drove on to the house as usual. The footman immediately ran out and opened the carriage- door; but not seeing anyone inside, remarked to, the supposed coachman, “Oh!”' what have you done with the old fool to-night, James?” The next day, needless to say, there were two in- I tant dismissals, instead of one.

Five time wounded was the record of a soldier, Percy Fellowcs, 21, Middlesex Regiment, who was charged at ffi'ghgate, London, recently, as an ribsentee. He had overstayed his leave by a few hours because ho felt ill. ■ 'The warrant officer said there was h'-'HbW arrangement with regard to deserters. The Eastern Command in Tidndon had to be communicated with and they sent to take possession of a deserter. The Magistrate (sternly): He is not a Ho is a hero, and I am mot going to put him to the disgrace of being taken back under an escort. A man who has fought for his country so moll deserves to bo respected. Hq : can Voluntarily return to his unit, .{jnd the Clerk can give him a letter which will carry him through London. The soldier gave his word of honour 'to return at once. -The'- Magistrate: I accept the word -ofia-hero.