A Yankee in the Trenches by R. Derby Holmes
page 101 of 155 (65%)
page 101 of 155 (65%)
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batch of prisoners who had been turned over to me seemed dazed. One
who spoke English said in a quavering voice: "Gott in Himmel, Kamarad, how could one endure? These things are not human. They are not fair." That "fair" thing made a hit with me after going against tear gas and hearing about liquid fire and such things. The great number of the prisoners we took at High Wood were very scared looking at first and very surly. They apparently expected to be badly treated and perhaps tortured. They were tractable enough for the most part. But they needed watching, and they got it from me, as I had heard much of the treachery of the Boche prisoners. On the way to the rear with my bunch, I ran into a little episode which showed the foolishness of trusting a German,--particularly an officer. I was herding my lot along when we came up with about twelve in charge of a young fellow from a Leicester regiment. He was a private, and as most of his non-commissioned officers had been put out of action, he was acting corporal. We were walking together behind the prisoners, swapping notes on the fight, when one of his stopped, and no amount of coaxing would induce him to go any farther. He was an officer, of what rank I don't know, but judging from his age probably a lieutenant. Finally Crane--that was the Leicester chap--went up to the officer, threatened him with his bayonet, and let him know that he was due |
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