the British. During the time I was with the Germans they treated
me with every consideration. Food was scarce, owing to the fact
that the roads were so well shelled by our artillery that their
transport could not come up; but they shared their food with me.
They also dressed my wound with the greatest care, and in every
way made me as comfortable as possible. Being able to speak a
little German, I talked to the other wounded, and found that
their papers also published dreadful tales of our treatment of
prisoners, which I am glad to say I was able to refute.

I am, Sir, yours faithfully,
A BRITISH OFFICER.
December 27.

I would especially call the attention of fair-minded men to the last
sentences.

Here is a letter written by Second-Lieut. F. Phillips Pearce (aged 18)
of the 2nd Essex Regiment, from Crefeld on October 27, and printed in
the _Times_ of November 19, 1914:

We are treated very well indeed here. We have good beds and
fires in the rooms, three good meals a day, and a French soldier
for a servant, and this morning I had a splendid hot bath. We
have roll call twice a day, at 8 a.m. and 9.45 p.m., and lights
out at 10.45, and we have a large courtyard to walk about in. We
have a canteen here where we can buy clothes and anything we
want. Prison fare is very good--new rolls and coffee and fresh
butter. Not bad! I had a very decent guard when I was coming up
on the train; he got me food, and when one man tried to get in
to attack me he threw him off the train. I am afraid I am out of
the firing line until the war ends (worse luck). I am in no
danger of being shot unless I try to bolt, which I shan't do. I
shot the man who was carrying their colours, and he wanted to
have me shot, but luckily nobody seemed to agree with him. The
next time I saw him he had been bandaged up--he was shot through
the shoulder--and he dashed up and shook me by the hand and
shouted, "Mein Freund, mein Freund."

On November 25 other letters appeared in the _Times_. One was from a
cavalry subaltern in a German fortress:

You ask about money; they provide lights and firing and all the
men's food. The officers get 16s. a week and buy their own.
Quite sufficient, as it is cheap. I have learnt German fairly
quickly and do interpreter now in the shop for the men, thou