AUSTRIANS HAPPY TO BE PRISONERS.

Wanganui Herald, Volume L, Issue 14744, 25 October 1915, Page 2

AUSTRIANS HAPPY TO BE PRISONERS.

CHEEKFUL LETTERS HOME FROM ITALY. Some of the letters written home by the Austrian prisoners now in Italy make amusing reading. The writers are so evidently happy at their release from the, horrors and hardships of the battlefield, and so full of pity for everyone who is condemned to live in Austria, and who cannot be taken prisoner by the Italians, that it is doubriul if all their letters will reach their destinations. A Hungarian Officer writes: “A strange people, these Italians! I did not play the villain. I fought in the forefront of my company as long as it was humanly possible. The greatest hero on earui could not. have done any more. You can fight men, but not a rain of lekd. My trench was heaped full of corpses. I counted 128 in one minute. “There was not a square metre of ground where a shell did not fall. Bombs full of dense black, suffocating, smoke exploded all round us. After every explosion came a rain of. blood and pieces of torn flesh. “At last I was taken. The Italian officer gave me back my sword and embraced me. I was treated in the most courteous way it is possible to imagine. The Italian officers are men in whom valour is mingled with courtesy beyond praise. They act as gentlemen in everything they do. “It it was ndt for tne sentry’s bayonet I should not know myself to be a prisoner. Do not pity me. lam happy. I did my duty, and could do no more. I am a prisoner, but I am not depressed, because my conscience was uneasy.” ITALIANS ARB GOOD PEOPLE. A Croat soldier writes; “I was captured two days ago by the Italians. If I had not been taken I snould be dead. It was a terrible day. To have come through it safe and sound ought to guarantee me a life of 100 years.

, “You need not worry about me. The Italians treat us very well. We are much better off here than being beaten by our officers. Retribution has overtaken them at last. ‘‘Every day here we get more bread to eat than I have ever had in my life before. It is quite untrue that the Italians are bad. They are very good people. “I don’t know what has happened to our friends. If you don't hear from them they must be dead. The cries for help of the wounded were terrible. As long as I live their appeals will sound in my ears.” A Hungarian soldier writes:—“My -dear daughters,—l Jiave been taken prisoner by the Italians after a tremendous fight. The Italians are good people, and treat us well. They give us bread as white as the Host, meat, rice, macaroni, fruit, and jam. May .God bless them, because they have pity for the conquered.” Another writes: “Dearest mother,— I have received your four letters all at once, after ten weeks. It was like a ray of sunshine in the darkness of the pit. I am as filthy as a beast. My adored mother, your son salutes you with a pure heart, but with a dirty face. For a fortnight I have not had a wash. “After some days and nights of terrible fighting I was taken prisoner, and am well, treated. The soldiers share their v/hite wheaten bread with us, and give us lemons, cigarettes, wine. “We cannot talk to them, but when they understand what we want they give it to us at once. I am better off than you, after all.”