Boche and Bolshevik: Experiences of an Englishman in the German Army and in Russian PrisonsPrice, Hereward Thimbleby
History
Boche and Bolshevik: Experiences of an Englishman in the German Army and in Russian Prisons
Price, Hereward Thimbleby
World War, 1914-1918 -- Personal narratives; World War, 1914-1918 -- Prisoners and prisons, Russian
Tartar newspapers used to circulate in the camp, and Greeks who could
read them told me that they were all written in ironic depreciation of
the Russians and the Allies, and by subtly worded phrases they pleaded
the Turko-German cause without seeming to do so. The Censor did not see
that a dangerous propaganda was being carried on under his nose. There
are some millions of Mohammedan Tartars in the Russian Empire, and
there is no doubt that these newspapers exercised a powerful influence
on them. It appears probable that, even if the Revolution had not
broken out, there would have been grave trouble with the Mohammedans in
Russian Central Asia.
Then there were the Hungarians--really a wild Asiatic race still, and
scarcely tamed by Europe. When they were at their games, no one else
cared to play, it was much better fun watching the Hungarians. Their
excitement, laughter, and shouts filled the camp. At times they quite
lost control of themselves, and once, when things were going badly with
them in a football match, they drew their knives and made a concerted
attack on the opposing centre-forward because he was kicking too many
goals. At Christmas-time the wild, barbaric music of their hymns was
splendid to hear. Their educated classes were always gentlemen, and,
as the traditional sympathy between Hungary and England did not seem
to have suffered by the war, intercourse with them continued to be
pleasant. Many Hungarian officers spoke to me about their intentions of
settling down in England after the war was over. They scarcely seemed
to regard themselves as at war with England. Caution will be necessary
in resuming relations with any of the enemy, but it would be impolitic
roughly to brush on one side advances that may come from Hungary. There
is a good deal of the untutored savage about the Hungarian, but he has
not the deliberate barbarity of the Hun.
[SN: AUSTRIANS]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account