Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 120, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 May 1916 — QUICK THINKING SAVES SOLDIER [ARTICLE]

QUICK THINKING SAVES SOLDIER

British Sergeant Tells of Daring Exploit in Letter to Rector. HURLS HAND BOMB AND RUNS Wins Promotion and the DistinguishedConduct Medal for Sensational Escape From German Patrolling Squad—Saved From Prison by Bomb. London. —Capjtured by a German patrolling squad, escaping through the use of a hand bomb which was overlooked when he waß searched and narrowly escaping with his life in a rain of shell fire are some of the experiences which won promotion for Sergt. Arthur James Brooke and also the dis-tinguished-conduct medal. In a letter to the rector of the church at his home in Manchester, which was printed recently in an English newspaper, Sergeant Brooke gives the details of his daring escape: “I can hardly tell how thankful I am in being able to write you this day after the troubled experiences of Sunday night last. I have had many exciting times previous to this occasion, but nothing to be compared with this last one. I took out my party of scouts at half-past six in the evening and arranged them in various positions across the marshes. Having done this I remained with one small party. “Everything seemed all right, so ofT I went myself to push farther on. But before doing so I intended seeing another small party in another position on my way. I got as far as my men should be, bilt could not find them anywhere. Something was wrong somewhere, I thought. Suddenly I heard someone coming and, it being a very dark night, I could not see who it was. They passed me toward our position. I looked around to see if anybody else was coming and I saw another man. “Up went my rifle at ready and I said, ‘Who are you?’ “ ‘Working party,’ was the reply in good English. Dropped Patrol With Shot.

" 'Come here, working party,’ I said. He came until I saw he was a German, and then he dropped at a shot from my best friend, my rifle.. I then turned to do those who had passed me something also and did succeed in damaging one or two. However, they came from all directions for me and soon had me a prisoner. They took away my best pal, the rifle, and my ammunition. Next went my cap. Following this the beautiful scarf which you sent was taken from me, also my letters. “After they had got enough souvenirs half a dozen of them commenced to drag me toward their village. While I was being taken away a terrible struggle was taking place between one other scout and other Germans in a wood. This half dozen took me about two hundred yards toward the village and then left only one tall man, over Six feet, with me. Now was a chance for me, I thought. I said a short prayer asking him to help me get back to my comrades safely. “Then I suddenly thought of a bomb which I had carried with me. It was not in a pocket where I had put my other things, but was in a slit in my leather jacket. I suppose that is the reason they overlooked it,, for It was still there. I then managed to get it Out, but found I could not pull out the safety pin with only my right arm. However, I did the trick by hitting him on his temple with it, dropping him without a word. Off I made as fast as my legs would carry me, and at once out came another lot to get me. “Still the bomb'was left. I stopped, pulled out the pin and threw the bomb among them. It put more of them out of the fight, but still they kept after ihe. They were only a few yards from retaking me When our machine gun opened fire on them. I was safe from them then, but was in danger of being ■hot down by our own gun which had

balked them. I got within a short distance of our position when a German gun commenced to shell all around. “I was blown from place to place and in the early hours of the morning I found myself in a large shell hole half buried with dirt, where I must have lain a long time. I got home again later, safe and sound, suffering only from a bad head. My watch was lost, as the Germans took that and smashed it before my eyes. Our officers were very pleased with me for getting away and doing what I did. At the same time I was told I had been given the distinguished conduct medal for my work. * I had a fine reception from our men and have since been made a sergeant as a result of it.”