CONCLUSION
Breakfast was given us by the Dutch police official who had been our
welcomer. They were very kind to us at his house, and we managed to
get a small wash and we attempted to make ourselves look a little more
respectable before going on to Rotterdam.
It was the first time I had seen a mirror for fourteen days, and when
I saw what it told me I got a fright. A filthy, scrubby object met my
gaze, and I was not sorry to get a shave that afternoon at the town
before proceeding, and we stayed for the night and got baths.
We met nothing but kindness here.
Arriving at Rotterdam at noon next day, we said goodbye to our Dutch
policeman and came under the excellent care of the British Consul
there.
We landed in England after an uneventful voyage.
* * * * *
There are a few remarks to be made in conclusion.
Our phenomenal luck was the prime factor in making our attempt
successful. Without that all-important item, attempt after attempt may
be made without anywhere nearly approaching a success.
Our officer-prisoners, as a whole, by continuing their numerous and in
many cases desperate attempts to escape, are doing a service to the
country, and although nominally counted out of all useful work are
doing valuable work, by causing the Germans to employ more guards to
watch them than might otherwise be the case.
Prisoners are bound to be taken from all armies, and the unfortunates
who have to undergo years of captivity should have the sympathy of
all thinking persons. I myself feel great sympathy with those Germans
who did two hundred miles in an open boat in their attempt to regain
their country, and whom we brought back to more durance vile.
It is hardly sporting on the part of those people who declare that we
should deal harshly with Germans who break away from their camp in
this country. Fortunately, by agreement with the German Government,
all heavy punishments for attempted escapes have been removed, so
"the" one great pastime of prisoners of war will not cost so dear in
future.
PRINTED IN GREAT BRITAIN BY ROBERT MACLEHOSE AND CO. LTD.
AT THE UNIVERSITY PRESS, GLASGOW.
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| Typographical errors corrected in text: |
| |
| Page 39: innoculation replaced with inoculation |
| Page 178: warner replaced with warmer |
| |
| Note: On page 183 the word 'started' in the sentence "the |
| original report from the camp must have started the |
| existence of two separate escapes" would mean proposed in |
| this context (see Webster's Revised Unabridged |
| Dictionary, 1913 online). |
| |
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