The Better Germany in War Time: Being Some Facts Towards FellowshipPicton, Harold W. (Harold Williams)
History
The Better Germany in War Time: Being Some Facts Towards Fellowship
Picton, Harold W. (Harold Williams)
World War, 1914-1918 -- Hospitals, charities, etc.; World War, 1914-1918 -- Prisoners and prisons, German
I hope soon to write more. The children will now be taken to
their parents by Swiss ladies, and I am on the point of starting
for Frankfurt, where there are many important points to discuss
with the Committee for Advice and Aid in connection with our
common work.
The last-named committee is a local Frankfort Emergency Committee for
Aliens.
A SOLDIER AND THE CHILDREN.
Here is a German N.C.O. writing in _Vorwärts_ of some experiences in the
Russian occupied territory:
He describes the poverty of the people, the lack of even such
necessaries of life as salt, boots, etc.; how little children are
running about in the snow with bare feet, and often with no other
garment on them than a shirt. He adds:
On the whole, however, the children give me great joy, though
also not a little annoyance owing to their importunity.
Fortunately, during my activity in connection with the school
children’s gymnastic society at —— I have gained so much
patience that I never permit myself to lose my temper. While I
am writing this already ten or twelve children have invaded my
room asking for bread. Everyone of them got something. I am now
almost reduced to beggary myself, and whatever I can get hold of
is given to the children, so that they may enjoy themselves. I
got from a friend a few packets of ginger cakes. I gave them all
away, and I do not even know how they tasted.
And when I show them photographs of my children’s gymnastic
society there is almost a riot. How I wish I could understand
them better! A little girl of 13, who always reminds me of my
own second daughter, has won my heart completely. Every day she
says to me a couple of German words which she has picked up
somewhere: “I don’t know,” “Potatoes without salt are no good,”
“Benzine is dangerous,” and phrases like that. I cannot realise
that these children belong to an enemy nation. I should have
dearly loved to roam about with them through forest and field,
as I used to in Berlin.—(Quoted in the _Daily News_, December
20, 1915.)[40]
THE CHILD IN NO MAN’S LAND.
The story of the child adopted by the Bedfordshires will be remembered
by many. She was found in a ditch by the men on their way to the
trenches, and was perforce for some time with them there.
The German trenches were about 150 yards off, and the level,
open space between the two lines wasn’t healthy. No man who
valued his life would go there unnecessarily, or recklessly put
his head above the parapet. One morning, to their horror the
men, through the periscope, saw the child standing above the
trench on the German side. Cries came from the enemy, but they
were not hostile. The sight of the girl, little more than an
infant, has touched their sentimental side, and she had offers
of chocolate and invitations to go and see them.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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