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[Page 19]
frostbitten and causing me intense pain. After persistent exhortation on my part, he applied ether and paper bandages, which relieved me considerably.
Noon brought my next excitement in the shape of dinner. A large bowl containing "Saur Kraut" and hot water. The odour of the stuff is repulsive, despite my extreme hunger, I could not eat more than one mouthful, which sickened me immediately. Several Russians staring wildly, with eager anticipation of the result, rushed to my bed as soon as I placed the bowl upon the floor. Then a scene of fisticuffs commenced. Five or six additional Russians joined in the fray. Eventually a half-starved disreputable looking Jew, succeeded in capturing the much coveted bowl of "saur Kraut". For a few moments I lay astounded, wondering why such awful struggles were made over a bowl of rubbish like that. I watched the Russian Jew, who ate ravenously as he walked away; with eager repetition he thrust his fingers into the bowl and crammed the cabbage into his mouth. His action caused me to realize the hell these fellows were accustomed to. Even a crumb is picked from the floor and eaten. Many men walk about the ward searching for anything eatable. Several men died during the night. The groans and shouts of men in delirium are awful.
Sgt. Mjr. Smith of my own Batt, was strapped to his bed where he lay struggling and screaming in delirium. He was badly wounded in the stomach and received no attention. Towards evening several Huns approached his bed and watched him for a few minutes, then tightened the straps. He died a few hours later. Pte. Moore also of my Batt. had a leg amputated and shared Smith's fate. None of the English were able to assist these men, owing to their own severe wounds. The other nationalities treated the matter with indifference. No doubt, that sort of thing is common to them. Everybody's wounds are discharging profusely, and the odious smells in the ward are almost unendurable.
Up to date, the death rate has averaged four daily in