ty. The lying Commandant of Sennelager Camp was thus condemned
out of his own mouth, while the minute precautions he observed to
prevent the mysterious stranger from learning a word about our
experiences on the field proves that he merely turned us out into the
open, herded like animals in a corral, to satisfy his own personal
cravings for dealing out brutality and torture.

But the most glaring example of German duplicity and astuteness in
throwing our protector off the track provoked Ruhleben to hilarious
merriment, despite the seriousness of our position. Leastways, although
the Teutons may have regarded the movement as one of serious intention,
we regarded it as a deliberate piece of hoodwinking. One morning we were
solemnly informed that the authorities had completed arrangements
whereby every prisoner was to receive a good substantial meat meal once
a week. It was to comprise a chop, potatoes, some other vegetable, and
gravy. It sounded so extraordinarily luxurious and appetising as to
provoke incredulity and caustic comment. Those who, like myself, had
suffered internment in other camps and who had become thoroughly
grounded in Teuton shiftiness and trickery divined that something
unusually crafty and cunning was afoot.

I might mention that by this time Ruhleben comprised a small town of
twenty-three barracks housing a round 4,000 prisoners. This represented
an average of 174 men to a barrack, although, as a matter of fact, some
of the buildings accommodated over 200 men. The culinary arrangements
were fulfilled by only two kitchens. Now, the problem which presented
itself to the minds of the more sophisticated and suspicious prisoners
was this--How would the authorities grapple with the preparation and
serving of 4,000 chops in one day with the cooking facilities available?
Were we to be treated to another staggering example of Germany's
wonderful powers of organisation and management?

The glamour of the proposition suddenly disappeared. We learned that the
"tuck-in" was not to be general throughout the camp on a certain day.
The delight was to be dealt out in instalments, and in such a manner
that so many men would be able to partake of the gorgeous feast upon
each successive day of the week.

So far so good. We in Barrack 5 were among the first to receive the
promised meat meal, which we had been anticipating with ill-disguised
relish. It reached us on the Tuesday. The meal was swallowed greedily
and kee