Читать книгу Three Times and Out - Mervin C. Simmons - Страница 3
PREFACE
ОглавлениеWhen a young man whom I had not seen until that day came to see me in Edmonton, and told me he had a story which he thought was worth writing, and which he wanted me to write for him, I told him I could not undertake to do it for I was writing a story of my own, but that I could no doubt find some one who would do it for him.
Then he mentioned that he was a returned soldier, and had been for sixteen months a prisoner in Germany, and had made his escape—
That changed everything!
I asked him to come right in and tell me all about it—for like every one else I have friends in the prison-camps of Germany, boys whom I remember as little chaps in knickers playing with my children, boys I taught in country schools in Manitoba, boys whose parents are my friends. There are many of these whom we know to be prisoners, and there are some who have been listed as "missing," who we are still hoping against long odds may be prisoners!
I asked him many questions. How were they treated? Did they get enough to eat? Did they get their parcels? Were they very lonely? Did he by any chance know a boy from Vancouver called Wallen Gordon, who had been "Missing" since the 2d of June, 1916? Or Reg Black from Manitou? or Garnet Stewart from Winnipeg?
Unfortunately, he did not.
Then he began his story. Before he had gone far, I had determined to do all I could to get his story into print, for it seemed to me to be a story that should be written. It gives at least a partial answer to the anxious questionings that are in so many hearts. It tells us something of the fate of the brave fellows who have, temporarily, lost their freedom—to make our freedom secure!
Private Simmons is a close and accurate observer who sees clearly and talks well. He tells a straightforward, unadorned tale, every sentence of which is true, and convincing. I venture to hope that the reader may have as much pleasure in the reading of it as I had in the writing.
NELLIE L. McCLUNG
Edmonton, October 24, 1918
List of Illustrations
Officers' Quarters in a German Military Prison
Tom Bromley / in Red Cross Overcoat With Prison Number And Marked Sleeve
Two Pages from Private Simmons's Diary
Map Made by Private Simmons of the First Attempt
The Christmas Card Which the Giessen Prison Authorities Supplied to the Prisoners
Map Made from Paper Which Came in a Parcel, Wrapped Around a Fruit-cake / Notice the Stain Caused by The Cake. This Is The Map That Was Hidden in the Cigarette-box
Friedrichsfeld Prison-camp in Winter
Map Which Private Simmons Got from the Canadian Artist At Giessen, and Which Was Sewed Inside the Pasteboard of his Cap / His Successful Journey from Selsingen to Holland is Indicated by the Dotted Line … … … … / the Unsuccessful Attempt is Shown—————From Oldenburg
Friedrichsfeld Prison-camp in Summer
A Prison Post-card from Friedrichsfeld Bei Wesel / The Group Includes Soldiers from Canada, Newfoundland, England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, France, Belgium, Italy, Russia, Serbia, and Roumania.
Post-card Sent by Private Bromley from the Prison-camp Of Soltau, Germany, in July, 1918 / the Crosses Mark The Graves Of Prisoners Who Have Died at This Camp
