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                         CAPTIVITY AND ESCAPE

                     [Illustration: M. JEAN MARTIN

                           _Frontispiece._]




                             CAPTIVITY AND
                                ESCAPE

                           BY M. JEAN MARTIN

                        A FRENCH SERGEANT-MAJOR

                   TRANSLATED BY MISS V. A. RANDELL

                          WITH ILLUSTRATIONS

                                LONDON
                    JOHN MURRAY ALBEMARLE STREET, W




                                TO HER

             THE THOUGHT OF WHOM BROUGHT CONSOLATION TO ME
              IN HOURS OF SUFFERING, MOURNING AND SADNESS

                                TO HER

                 WHO PROVED MY STRENGTH AND SAFEGUARD
                  THROUGHOUT DAYS OF TRIAL AND DANGER

                             TO MY FIANCÉE

                        I DEDICATE THIS VOLUME

                         _All rights reserved_




PREFACE


We have hitherto had many volumes of the doings of British soldiers at
the front and in captivity, but few of our French Allies.

The experiences of Monsieur J. Martin, written originally in French,
give such a vivid picture of prison life in Germany, that they have an
interest far beyond the mere personal one which his friends and
countrymen attach to his name.

Brought up in France, amidst all the charm and culture of the best
French-Protestant traditions, he was educated at Rouen, and he finally
took his degree in 1912. During his studies he spent much time in
England, where his charm of manner and chivalrous spirit made him many
friends. Moreover, his love for games brought him in close touch with
our people, and he won great credit for himself in the football field.

Before the outbreak of war, while staying with friends in a country
village, near one of the garrison towns in Ireland, he made acquaintance
with some of our Irish soldiers quartered there at the time; little
thinking how soon he would meet them again in very different
circumstances, for, by a strange coincidence, he not only found them
sharing his captivity in the first prison camp in which he was interned
in Germany, but also, owing to his knowledge of the language, he was
appointed as interpreter to the British soldiers.

His first thoughts were to help them, by informing their friends of
their terrible condition. In this he succeeded, and it was through his
post cards that the British public first heard of their most pressing
needs.

Many long months elapsed in the prison camp which he so graphically
describes, and the intimate details which he gives of the life must
prove of intense interest to all who have relations and those dear to
them still suffering in captivity.

The reader may imagine the joy of his friends when his telegram reached
them one day in July 1915--“Escaped, safe in Holland.” Arrangements were
hastily made to enable the escaped captive to travel to London without a
moment’s delay.

Worn out and exhausted, he was granted leave to recuperate in Ireland,
and in less than a fortnight from the moment of his escape, he alighted
from the train at Tipperary, and realised that he had accomplished the
“Long, long way” which he had so often joined in singing with the Irish
soldiers in the camp.

He was awarded the Croix de Guerre, with a clasp, and his services were
honoured by a _citation à l’armée_--in the following terms:


CITATION.

     Le Général Commandant la Xe Armée cite à l’ordre de l’Armée:

     Le Sergeant Martin Jean...

     “Blessé au début de la campagne en cherchant à ramener dans nos
     lignes deux pièces de 75 qui avaient été abandonnées. Fait
     prisonnier, s’est évadé. Traqué par l’ennemi, se cachant le jour,
     marchant la nuit, a réussi à gagner la frontière hollandaise puis à
     l’Angleterre, à bout de forces en raison des privations subies et
     des marches pénibles.

                          le 24 octobre 1915
         le Général Commandant la Xe Armée,
                           signé: D’URBAL.”



After a brief period of recuperation, M. Martin was able to