SOMETHING TO BE GLAD FOR.

Taihape Daily Times, 2 May 1919, Page 7

SOMETHING TO BE GLAD FOR.

A WAR PRISONER’S HUMOUR. That the Pluns treated their prisoners with both studied and unconscious brutality is undeniable, but neither deliberate cruelty nor unstudied callousness could dampen some spirits, and the following letter (quoted by the “Literary Digest,”) is sufficient proof of that. It was written by Captain John W. Morris (an American doctor) of the Black Watch Regiment, until it was cut to pieces on March 28, 191 S, when he and his entire staff were captured. He wrote this, letter from a German hospital, where he was attending British wounded. It would be interesting to know how many Teutonic censors struggled to understand his remarks, and on what ground they de cided to pass them.

We quote the captain’s jevous epistle as‘ it appeared ri the Memphis “News-Scimitar”:

“I have been transferred to the German service. I was expecting to bo transferred to the American army, and this came as a complete surprise. The change came so suddenly that within an hour after dressing our wounded, I was assisting German doctors with their wounded and the wounded British prisoners (of war

“I, then, without being consulted as to what climate agreed with me. took a Cook’s tour of the French and German border, staying in nunneries and breweries at night and finally was scut here to assist in looking after British wounded.

“Everything i s decided for me. All matters of importance are looked after without my aid. In fact, I don’t even have to worry about what I write, because, if it doesn’t suit, the censor makes a lot of erasures. WHY BRACES ARE POPULAR.

“Already I have solved the problem of why suspenders are so popular here. I have contributed om-third of my belt to the salvage-lump, and could spare more, only I notice that it is beginning to look juicy and nice, so I retain it.

“As to parcels that are sent me, allow me to Suggest that they be securely packed and that not many days elapse before sending another. There is another officer here, but ho oats his nails all the while, and conse-

quently he is looking well. “I will be content here as soon, as

the mail begins to come, but just now I feel hermetically sealed up from the world. Understand me, if I become discouraged, I will continue to stay. This is one job I can’t afford to lose.

“i won’t say how many British | wounded arc here, because tin* letter 1 might, got destroyed, and delay the par- i cel, but we work from B„'i(j i I( (], e morning until 7 in the evening, and do only the urgent dressings. I didn't know there wen' so many broken lees in the world. ■ MURRY UP THE'SOAP! i “Rigarding th c soap that yon- are going to send: Don’t go to a drug store for it. A grocery is where yon ' will find tin kind I want By confuiing myself to behind the ears and back S of the nock ablutions. T will probably | be able to make this piece of soap do ! until J hear from you. [ “I have discontinued the use of i cigarettes, not that they were dobm- ■ me tiny harm at all, but J decided to ■ cjuit until that parcel comes. yj v \ cigarette case thinks it is New Year, j and my stomach has decided that I I am either wounded in the nock, or that I it is Lent. 1 "I am glad that I am alive.”