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ENGLISH PRISONERS FROM YPRES 349
In the restaurant kitchen the prisoners’ fare was being cooked
in large caldrons, and here, too, the kitchen staff was predomin-
antly French. Anyone accusing the Germans of stinting
the prisoners’ food allowance should take a peep at the res-
taurant in Roubaix. Everything was most ample and excellent.
It is true that they got no oysters, truffles, lobster or plum
pudding. But they got sound, solid food, and these mer-
cenaries, who perhaps were natives of the east end of London,
had probably not for a long time been so well looked after as
at Roubaix. Moreover, the French waitress was not a little
in love with " Tommy Atkins," and watched over him as the
mother eagle watches over her brood, to see that he always
had plenty to eat.
A few days previously the catering, both in food and other
things, had threatened to assume more liberal proportions
than the German authorities thought desirable. The fact was
that the citizens of Roubaix had decided to make a collection
of Liebesgaben for the English prisoners. But then the Germans
thought that things were going a little too far, and stepped in
and prohibited the intended feast.
In the great hall I found other members of the genus " Tommy
Atkins " resting on the straw. They looked well and cheerful,
and many had attractive, manly and kindly features. When
I stopped in front of a group to talk to them, they made no
sign of rising, but answered very politely and with the ineffable
calm which distinguishes their race. They said straight out
that they were satisfied with the treatment they received and
with the food given them. One of them thought that one
could not very well expect in war better treatment than they
received here. The only thing that worried them was that
they were not allowed to smoke in the hall. But the German
officer standing by explained that the hall was built of in-
flammable material, not to speak of the dry straw, and that
the Germans had no wish to see their English prisoners burnt,
A large and pleasant room on the first floor accommodated
three English officers, a captain and two lieutenants, and a
French captain. Each of them had his own bed, clean and
neat-looking, and the room also contained tables and chairs
and other useful and necessary furniture. The Frenchman
was in mufti, and explained, when I asked how this was, that
he lived in Roubaix, and had received permission to fetch
fresh clothes from his home. Like the others, he had nothing
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