On the train, where we had a compartment to ourselves, one of the privates bought some fruit, and gave us a share of it.  Our German money had been taken away from us when they searched us, and we had nothing but prison-stamps, which are of no use outside the prison-camp.  One of the privates was a university man, and in broken English tried to tell us why Germany had to enter the war, to save herself from her enemies.  I thought his reasoning was more faulty than his English, but believed in his sincerity.

He told us that every nation in the whole world hated Germany and was jealous of “him,” and that England was the worst of all.  He said England feared and hated the Bavarians most of all, and that all Bavarian prisoners were shot.  I tried to convince him that this was not so; but he was a consistent believer and stuck to it.  He said when Germany won the war “he” would be very kind to all the countries “he” conquered, and do well for them.  He told us he hated England, but not all “Englaenders” were bad!

At Hanau we changed cars and had a few minutes to wait, and our guards walked up and down with us.  The station was crowded with people, and the lunch-tables were crowded, although it was getting late in the evening.

At Friedberg we had an hour’s wait, and we saw the same thing.  Beer-drinking and eating was going on in a big lunch-room, but the patrons were ninety per cent men.  The Sergeant Major with the iron cross did not bother us at all, and at Friedberg he devoted himself to the young lady who sold cigars, beer, and post-cards in the station.

We asked our friend who could speak a little English what they were saying, but he, being a university man and of high degree socially, gave us to understand that the Sergeant Major was lowering his dignity to flirt with the girl behind the counter.  He said it was all “verruecktheit” (craziness).  We were of the opinion that it was the girl who was stepping down!

When we got into Giessen, they took us on the street-car to the prison-camp, and we were glad, for it had been a long day for us, and the thought of longer ones ahead was not cheering.

We were taken to the hut where the prison-guards sleep, and were given a room at the very end, where we would surely be safe.  We were tired enough not to give any trouble, and when they left us, we threw ourselves down without undressing and slept till morning.

At nine o’clock we were taken before the officers of our own Company, and put through the same questions.  The answers were written down, as before.  We were then marched away to the Strafe-Barrack.

The Strafe-Barrack had in it about thirty prisoners, but it was not nearly full.  These were all kept at one end of the hut, and at the other end there were three men whose official standing was somewhat of a mystery to us at first.  Two of them were Belgians, a private and a Sergeant, and one was a British Sergeant.  They were dressed like ordinary prisoners, but seemed to be able to go about at will.