THE TUNNELLERS OF HOLZMINDEN ------------------------------------------------------------------------ CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS C. F. CLAY, MANAGER LONDON: FETTER LANE, E.C. 4 [Illustration] NEW YORK : THE MACMILLAN CO. BOMBAY ⎫ CALCUTTA ⎬ MACMILLAN AND CO., LTD. MADRAS ⎭ TORONTO : THE MACMILLAN CO. OF CANADA, LTD. TOKYO : MARUZEN-KABUSHIKI-KAISHA ALL RIGHTS RESERVED [Illustration: The track of the Holzminden Tunnel after being dug up. ] ------------------------------------------------------------------------ THE TUNNELLERS OF HOLZMINDEN (WITH A SIDE-ISSUE) BY H. G. DURNFORD, M.C., M.A. FELLOW OF KING’S COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE CAMBRIDGE AT THE UNIVERSITY PRESS 1920 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ TO MY WIFE ------------------------------------------------------------------------ PREFACE Almost exactly two years ago, as I write these lines, the famous Holzminden Tunnel became history. Even then, when the sordid camp was still lending (and seemed likely to lend _in perpetuum_) its grey colour to every aspect of life, when sense of proportion was practically dormant and racial animosity intensified to the highest pitch, it was impossible to overlook the peculiar dramatic proprieties of the event. Some day, it was felt, this story might be fittingly told. And in the retrospect the feeling remains unaltered. The harsh angles have softened: the tumult and the shouting have died away to the remoter cells of memory: Captain Niemeyer (of the Reserve) has departed—God knows where! His imperial master is dragging out an unhappy old age in exile. The British protagonists and walkers-on in the 9-months struggle have scattered to the ends of the Empire on their lawful occasions. Once in a blue moon perhaps they think of it and rub their eyes. The details are already vague. The whole of their prison existence seems absurdly far away.