ARRESTED BY GERMANS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXIX, Issue 3773, 10 November 1914, Page 3

ARRESTED BY GERMANS.

C ORRESPONDENT’S ESCAPE

ACCUSED OF SPYING

A SPORTING OFFER

The American war correspondent, Mr Richard Harding Davis, had the experience of being arrested and imprisoned by the Germans. He describes the incident in the following terms :- — “I had come from'Brussels, and had a pass permitting me to go through the German lines. As all the motorcars and horses were commandeered, and one stood a very good chance of being shot if one rode a bicycle, the only tiling to do’ was to walk, and x walked with the army. The force I met was trying W roll up the English left lower down'this road to Ath, and they were going at the double. It was this movement they were trying to conceal, and when they .saw me they though I was a British officer, who was hastening from Brussels, where he had' seen them, entering, and had collected information, and was attempting to get through their lines to the British forces, which I think were then at Toumai. “I though that they would merely send me back to Brussels, hut they put me in the ranks with a guard, and told me to march along with them until we met the general. “For the first half-hour we were going at a pace no troops could keep up, or mean to, for long, unless it u as a 'surprise movement that was in store. The men went at the double, and many were falling out. And as. fast as they fell out they were picked "up and thrown hack into the ranks, seized in a most brutal manner, and forced to go on. “Then an officer came back in an automobile, and took me forward. U was the first time I began to think that I really was in danger, as I saw they were giving more importance to me than I thought I deserved. _ They took me to Count von Schwerin, the general commanding the Seventh Division. He and his staff spoke English perfectly, and they crossexamined me exactly like lawyers. They said that without doubt I had seen enough already to justify them in shooting me. “Finally they locked me up in a stone building, gave me two bundles of wheat, whether to eat or to lie upon I don't know, and locked me in with a sentry, who every time I moved drew his ‘automatic. ’ I offered to pay anyone, in -Light l 009 francs to cycle bark to Brussels and carry a letter to the American Minister, and if he did not return within five hour® they could shoot me. I made this as a sporting proposition. It was —I calculated—about thirty-five miles, and a man in a hurry could just manage it. I wrote a letter which the Germans would naturally read, hut sealed it as.if I did not want it to be read. It was to the American Minister, whom I addressed by his first name, and signed liiv own—although T had only known him three days/ I knew that he would back me no. I wrote: “ ‘I am in a house with a guard. We are- located across the village by the line. Come and get me out, and if convenient send motor-car. —Rich-

ard.’ “They asked me if they could read the letter, a fid I pretended to consider this, and finally said they might. They delayed matters for an hour or two- —until ten o’clock at uight. and then I was taken in a car to a chateau not far away, and ensconced, as I thought, for the night. “I had just fallen asleep wlien they woke me up. They put me in a car again, and drove me to another ■chateau —a beautiful place. where there was a cluster of automobiles. Everybody around seemed very excitable and 'hysterical, and shouted like children, saying: ‘The English are coming.’ Sometimes there were as many as six electric torches turned upon me, and I heard them saying: ‘An Englishman—an English spy.’ • “I said that I had a better plan

■ than shooting mo. It was that I ; should he sent hack by the short route i to Brussels—they to name the. towns i through which I was to pass. If I I left'the road I was t oho shot, and if i I didn’t arrive in Brussels within

forty-eight hours I was to be shot on arrival—that was my offer.

“They agreed to that, and added that if a motor-car or transport wagon was returning to Brussels I could use it if there was room. However, I

hail to walk. They drew up a paper and put a seal on it. and sent me off at three o’clock in the morning. I pointed out that they might as well shoot me at once, for the first sentry would have me. But they wore not to lie dissuaded, and I started out. “When I got within five miles of Engliin a motor-car approached going towards, Brussels. I held up the paper and pointed to its red seal. The car stopped, and a very charming old German general got out. He was extremely stupid, and _ thought the paper was an order which compelled him to carry me.' Consequently he gave me a scat beside him, and we reached Brussels, travelling at sixty miles an Hour. I did not get out ot, the car until within two blocks of the American Legation, and then 1 thanked him and got inside the Legation quick.” ’