CHAPTER XXXI[ToC]
FREE
I BLUFF THE GERMAN SERGEANT. AACHEN. TWO BOTTLES OF WINE. ACROSS THE FRONTIER. GREAT SCOTT! I AM CHARGED FOR MY OWN DEATH EXPENSES
I was passed for England!
The Examination Board consisted of a Swiss doctor, a German doctor, and the camp commandant. The Swiss doctor was provided with a schedule of disablements under which prisoners could be passed for exchange to their own country, and partial disablements for Switzerland, and frequently objections to a prisoner's application would be made by the German representative.
Of our party from Osnabruck, one was rejected, two were passed for Switzerland, and I was passed for England.
The decision of the Swiss Commission is not final, for, on being sent to the border, all prisoners are again examined—this time by German doctors only—and by their decision prisoners are frequently rejected and sent back to camp.
The final examination for those going to Switzerland takes place at Konstanz, and for those going to England, at Aachen.
I knew of one British Tommy who, during eighteen months had been twice passed for England and once for Switzerland, and each time rejected at the border, and he is to-day still in Germany.