A PRISONER OF WAR.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 June 1918, Page 7

A PRISONER OF WAR.

A NEW; ■ZEALAK'DER'iS EXPERIENCE A TeRHJjIJNIG KiAIRRATIVfi.The public of New Zealand will be keenly interested in the return to these shores of Private Bert Oxley, of Auckland, after being a prisoner of war for eleven months in Germany In a raid on the "German trenches at iFleurbaix in Fe'bruary, 1917, he had the misfortune, after reaching the enemy front line, to be severely wounded, and was taken prisoner. Judging by his cheerful disposition and ready smile, the casual observer would never dream that he has •been through so much privation- He is literally covered with scars, and his right arm is practically useless. Private Oxley (a married man) left New Zealand with the 9th Reinforcements. Bis story was related to a member of the Wairaraipa Age staff, who was a comrade-in-arms returning home on the isame troopship. IN THE TRENCHES "During those last few minutes, as we'stood in the trenches waiting impatiently tfor the signal to "hop the bags,' many curious thoughts passed, or rather chased themselves through my mind, but little did I dream that our morning's work, would result in my being landed a prisoner. It was josfc (breaking day, and there was that uncanny silence which every soldier instinctively dislikes. Here and there along the line a flare quietly rose, and shed its brilliance over 'no-man's-land.' and mechanically I watdhed the shadows of the nearly limbless trees lengthen and fade away again as th& *ar» spent itself I was awkemsd from my reverie—the barrage bad commenced. Tie next thing I knew was that -we were 'over the top.' I was quite cool, with every sense on the alert. We manoeuvred the enemy quite easily, for the artillery had done their work well. Fritz was now replying vigorously, and tlie stuff was flying in all directions. I had juat Teached his front line, or rather, what remained of it after our bombardment, when I was knocked out. Although I did not immediately lose consciousness, I was unable to move, and felt myself getting weaker and weaker. AN EXCITING PERIOD. "Things seemed to be slipping away, and I really thought I was crossing the Great iDivide I remember no more until seeing a .party of about twenty Huns only a few yards away. They were firing like Mazes at «wne of our boys, who were beating .« Wok over 'no* man's land-' I didnt trouble, but just lay there wondering what would be my fate when discovered. Before they bad time to give their attention to me, our artillery opened up with another big blast Tight over the Hun's front line, and they scuttled like rabbits for shelter. Then I thought I would be blown up with our own stuff, for they were bursting thick and heavy all around me, and I was covered in mud. But Iu > —my 'number' was evidently not on any of those little packages. When the firing from our guns had quietened down albout a dozen of the Huns emerged from their retirement and came straight towards me. Now I thought my time had surely come, and as if reading my thoughts one of their number levelled his rifle at me. You will perhaps wonder what were my feelings, Ibut I was past caring and almost too weak to think My Guardian Angel must have interposed, for the rifle was lowered again. Then two of them came over, and, after relieving me of my

boute, half dragged me to an advanced dressing st&tion in their subsidiary line. There 1 was left lying outside for a good two until the last of their own wounded toad received atten« tion. OTHER PRISONERS TAKEN. "It was whilo at this place that I learned that I was not the only New Zeaknder who had been unlucky enough to be taken prisoner* Eventually our turn came, and in the course of a hurried patching up I found I was badly hit'in legs, arms, shoulder and stomach. After this I was wheeled in a. truck for about two miles to a clearing station, where I lay for the remainder of the day. At this place ample evidence of the deadly effects,of our morning's work 1 was to be seen in the crowds of wounded Germans. It was very cold, and I lay on my plank waiting and sniveling. Several times Red Cross men offered me coffee and bread, but I refused, being too ill to eat. They covered me with blankets, and in dut course my turn came to be dressed. From then on I only seem to have a hazy recollection of occurrences. I remember a motor amlbulanee, and some of our fellows saying something to me—a great deal of bustle and excitement, and strange faces at another stage of the journey. Also, I remember calling for water, and a kind nurse's face watching over me as she put the drink to my lips. Next I awoke in a comfortable bed and a very tall man in white was looking intenth- at, me. Again I was offered food, and refused. THE OPERATING TABLE. "Later I was removed to the operating table, Where two orderlies held me in a sitting posture while the surgeon proceeded to operate on my shoulder, and probe for pieces of shell. THE THERI) DEGREE, "While this was in progress, three military officers appeared on the scene. Two of them plied me with questions, and the third (a good listener) said nothing, but kept his eyes full on mine. Upon receiving no satisfaction from their enquiries, sse of them adopted a fierce expression and tried to bounce me into answering. His threats did not worry me, for I was thinking more albout the pain the doctor was inflicting o n my shoulder. Presently, I heard something fall with a ring on to the marble slelb, and I knew that I had been relieved of a pjece of shell. I nearly fainted, and the doctor, after giving me some brandy, finished dressing nty wounds, and I was carried into a ward near the operating room. Here I recognised Norman Faithful, of my own Company; Fred Kemp, whose leg had just been amputated. Frank Doyle, of the Heuraki's; and Rasmussen, of the 16th Waikato'sANOTHER OPERATION. "A few days after, f wis dressed

tion. Aa T was the worst case amongst our boys I was given cocoa. and one piece of white French bread and jam for breakfast, a good basin of minced meat, mashed potatoes for the mid-day meal, at 3 jp.ni. another slice of white bread and jam, a uup of coffee (arUftciai), and at night a piece of ■bread, a basin of barley macaroni, or vegetable soup, or perhaps gruel. The, ether boys got the same rations, but black bread, no cocoa, and at mid-day, instead of meat and potatoes, they received & mug of soup. TREATMENT IN FRANCE, "This was at Douai, Prance where we remained for soma weeks. Those who understand what running wounds are, will realise my condition. I bud eight wounds discharging, and sometimes I lay for seven days without being dressed. We were visited by a German pastor, and occasionally by a Roman Catholic priest. Russian orderlies brought us water for washing, but there was no soap, and I had mud on my hands and face for many weeks. Every Sunday the French people of Douai sent us tltree cigarettes and something which tasted like plum pudding. It was just the length, of one's finger and coated with chocolate. We used to call it our Sunday tit-lbit, and certainly it was very nice There were funerals every day The court-yard being just under our windows, we could bear the service being read in German, then the departure of the 'horses. The French populace always attended the funerals in large numbersSENT TO CAMPS. "At the end of the fifth week most of the New Zealanders had recovered, and were sent to different camps. About the end of the seventh week I noticed a change in the Germans round about the place. These were very excited, and argumentative with one another, and from What I could gather the cause of this was fresh newa from ithe battlefront. Also, I noticed some British prisoners being brought in. An orderly told us that the British were near, and, taking them by surprise, had taken much ground. The Germans began to pack up and remove the prisoners into Germany. YTMY RIDGE AFFAIR.

"By the end of tlie eighth week we were awakened. oiu» morning (by a terrific bombardment that shook every window in the place This was the Vimy Ridge affair. Our aeroplanes, too, had been busy, having destroyed part of the railway station and v other points of importance. All the New Zealanders had now been removed, with the exception of Faithful and myself. "On April l'Bth wo were carried to the railway station, the hospital by this time being practically cleared. BUSHED WITH GIFTS. "During our journey to the station we must have presented a curious sight to the French inhabitants, as our hair and whiskers had grown very long during our confinement. The 'French rushed us with gifts, giving to eadi one a bag containing shirts, sacks, towel, soap and cigarettes, and some of the Frenchmen in their enthusiasm tore off their hats and ioats and gave them to ua, as we were very poorly clad. They also gave us some 'bread, biscuits and raw eggs, and one lady, seeing mo in my helpless condition, removed her coatjind wrapped it round me. The Germans did not interfere with these acts of kindness, but in some instances they showed great brutality in keeping the crowds, back. Alas, these were ■the last good things we were to receive for some time. AT JULICSH. "Once aiboard the ambulance train, we were given a two-days' journey through France and. Belgium, en route to Germany, arriving at Julich on April 20. On the journey our food consisted of grain, black bread, and coffee. We were removed on stretchers from the train to the hospital, a distance of albout one mile. The lateness of the bour—midnight—-did not prevent a large crowd of German civiliana from gathering around, There was no hostile demonstration —they merely looked on in silence. I was still shivering from the severe coltL, and I indicated this to a German who was helping to carry my stretcher, and he made it his business to procure one of his mate's coats and wrap it round me. We arrived at last at the hospital, which, like tb.6 one at Douai, was for prisoners only. Here were congregated albout fifty French and British, and from 250 to 300 Russians, and I could not fail to be im-' pressed with the way in which the Russians were utilised to run practically the whole of the hospital work, even to the handling of the food. There were no nurses. The British were distributed all over the place, and I found my bed situated between two Russians. There were five Tommies in my ward —all serious cot cases. THE RUSSIANS. ''A large proportion of the Russians were sound men, and this, no doubt, explained the reason of their being seslected for the work of the institution, I might here mention that I was particularly taken with the type of Russian at this places—they were a very crude and ignorant lot. I am not saying this in a slighting manner. We could see reflected in their every-day actions that their environment had been very far removed from a bed of roses. Small wonder that the more enlightened of their brethren gazed with troubled eyes on the future, and what it held for them. They were a hungry lot these soldiers of the East, and I am afraid that in their zeal to appease their appetites we often missed our meals. "At every opportunity they would hang round the cookhouse on the offclian.ce of receiving any extra food- This used to "annoy the Germans, and they would sometimes throw water on them, and at other times belabor them with a piece of hose pipe, but this made no difference, and in a few minutes they would be back again. THE FOOT). "And now for a few words about the food. It makes my blood boil, even now, when I think of the Jood —meat, good bread, cheese, biscuits, etc., the German prisoners receive in England. Wliat did we get? What do the prisoners of war receive? I cannot speak of every hospital and camp where the Germans house their prisoners, but I llmow of five hospitals and one camp, and they arc nil on 3 par When we • oppii'-il "i!v vyv* in .TnllcJi. Hie first ■■'i.ii'nina »'o won' !;*!! !f"J niu l <lict» i>f

black bread. I wouldn't like .to hazard a guess as to its composition, but it constituted one's breakfast, together with soma vile, Mack coffee. What Jiil we have for dinner? One day it would In- ft weak solution of macaroni, another day sauerkraut, or turnip tops. Preserved vegetables were also served out, and they were most objectionable. In the drying process they seemed to have been smothered in charcoal or some such stuff, and these pieces were thickly scattered all through the food, and it was impossible to remove them. "Oh, the indigestion that followed. I never knew this complaint until I lived in Germany Wo received another piece of Mack bread at three o'clock, and a drink at five o'clock. THE PANGS OF HUNGER. "Sometimes at night the pangs of hunger would be bo great that I could not help crying out. My wounds would not heal, and six months from the time I was wounded they were running as bad as ever. "Then I contracted fever, and was placed in isolation. All this time I was continually asking for better food, and more of it. An Australian officer, who was also in isolation, heard from the Germans that I would only live for four weeks. This officer proved a real friend. He'"bought wine from the Germans at exorbitant prices, shared his food wth me, and generally did all he could to make things brighter for me. "In a short time I began to suffer less pain, and to gain strength. The month of August was very hot in Germany, and I was carried into the sunshine for several hours a day. The welcome rays of the sun did wonders, and my wounds showed signs of heeling. After a lot of persuasion, and with the assistance of one of the doctors, I was allowed an egg and half a pint of milk per day, in addition to my usual food. Soon I began, to walk and took more interest in my surroundings. THE SURROUNDINGS. From a window overlooking my window I could see right into the street. Business seemed to be dead, traffic almost at a standstill, and the few motor cars I did see bore the Government crest. Old and young men alike were in uniform. Not once did I see a limbless soldier, for the Germans keep their maimed well out ot sight. The men, women, and children looked pale and hollow-cheeked, although this part of the town was of the better class. It was no uncommon sight to see children begging from door to door. Fruit, in common with all other produce, was commandeered by the Government. Two fine orchards surrounded the promenade at the back of the hospital. "We üßed to gaze with longing eyes on the luscious fruit which adorned those trees, but they were earefulbr watched by three armed guards.. Working parties were from the hospital to pick the fruit and make jam. Even the swci>t briar berries were gathered, the shells being boiled in the jam, and the seeds reserved for the manufacture of coffee. GERMAN ORGANISATION. "Before our capture we had often heard stories of the efficiency of German organisation. All I can say is that, as far as my observation went, this state of efficiency did not exist in the hospitals I had seen. At this place in particular the sanitation was disgraceful, and the latrines were never cleaned. Talk about vermin! VERMIN EVERYWHERE "They were everywhere—in our beds, clothing, and even in the bandages covering my wounds. They were one long nightmare, and I shall never for» get my feelings of relief when I was moved away. Geese and duck 3 were allowed to roam about the enclosure, which greatly added to the unhealthy state of the place. The Germans even used the dinner bowls from our wards to feed the poultry. Very often when the Germans were not on the watch, our Russian friends would s'wpop down, and the geese and their smaller companions would lose their meal. At other times, I have even seen the Russians finish up what the poultry had left.

ANOTHER PERIOD OF ILLNESS. "About this tme I came in for another period of illness. I had been in the habit of taking light, esercise, but as the days went by I noticed myself becoming weaker, until I could scarcely stand I told the Germans of the change in my condition, but they refused to take any notice. Ultimately I collapsed, and had to be carried to bed by two Tommies. I soon lost the use of arms, legs, speech, eyesight, and suffered from terrific noises in the bead. "A faithful Jock fed me, and attended to my wants day and night. I must not forget to mentidn that at this period the German doctors were puzzled over a peculiar disease that was playing havoc amipngst the Russian inmates of the hospital —a form of nerve paralysis resulting in death. From what I could gather the doctors believed it to be some kind of trench fever peculiar to the Russians. "Trench fever or not, a great number of deaths occurred in the hospital every day, and apparently the Germans were powerless to cope with it. BURIALS. "In connection with any burials of our men, I would like to say that those of our fellows who were able were allowed to follow the remains, and werft given any available khaki. To give the Germans their due, every cortege included a guard of honor and a military band, and they themselves always acted as pall-bearers. (to be oontinued).