After a brief period of recuperation, M. Martin was able to enter again into the service of his country, where our best wishes go with him.
HILDA SANDERS.
Charleville Park,
Co. Cork,
September 5, 1917.
AUTHOR’S INTRODUCTION
THE following is an extract from the Author’s Introduction to the French edition of this book:—
With but few exceptions the incidents and scenes described in this book were actually witnessed by the author, although he was not always one of the dramatis personæ. As regards the rest they were all reported to him by personal friends whose good faith is beyond question.
The authenticity of all—even of the strangest—situations here described, as well as the truth and accuracy of the pictures, may be accepted without hesitation.
At the same time the author feels in duty bound to warn his readers to be on their guard against a very common and very human fallacy, which has, in his opinion, given rise to much prejudice in the minds both of prisoners and of their relatives. The world has been too ready to generalise from the complaints or praises of returned prisoners, and to infer from one report—the truth and exactness of which was beyond a doubt—that it was the same at every place throughout Germany.
Such a conclusion is most mischievous and injurious to the interests of those most nearly concerned. The inevitable result is either a fresh access of misery and apprehension on the part of the relatives of the prisoners—or a deplorable falling off of the help sent to those in captivity.
The fact that the author survived those trying days on the field of battle; that in the course of his removal he had the benefit of comparatively humane treatment; that he was kindly tended in a good hospital, must not lead any one to the conclusion that in no case was a wounded man finished off or tortured; or that he never was subjected to grievous privations and brutality during his time in hospital.