1956-03-24 — Page 6

THE CHINA MAIL, SATURDAY, MARCH 24, 1956.

A 'DEAD' MAN SNORED.

THE STORY

SO FAR

Surrounded by German troops on a farm near the village of Le Paradis, about 100 officers and men-the last survivors of the Second Battalion, the Royal Nor. folk Regiment-urrender on May 27, 1940. They are rounded up, stripped of their equipment, and marched along the Rue du Paradis and into a field, where two machine-guns, manned by Germuns, point towards the prisoners. Private Albert Pooley is in the middle of the column, ELN the men march into a shallow pit in front of a farm building. A German oficer, standing near the gate, raps out the order to fre.

A

it..

NORFOLK

boy near the front swang round as if he meant to make a break for There was no time.

The two machine-guns were apparently fired in- wards from a left and right traverse. Bullets swept the column from the front and rear to the centre, cutting down the helpless men cora is cut with a seythe,

Some of the men of the Nor- realised hayn

AM

folks could not what was happening before they fell. Others heard the contrari before itawas down but were

they could turn away.

Searing pain

BVETE,

For Private Pooley it was the

strangest,

most_comforting

sound in the world. It meant

that in that

field

of death

someone else was alive

FROM THE BOOK

By CYRIL JOLLY

Pooley got both bullets in the hit. leg that had already been

with One stopped in the bone the nose of the bullet protruding Through the fur side.

Although the impact of these two bullets was terrific. Pooley ontrolled himself so well that he neither cried out nor mate any movement.

KW

Had he do no

Pooley with a

deter

mination

to

be

avenged.

would the Germ874

probably have ftred again. This tremen- cous effort of wilt unukubtedly

ved his life.

Private Pooley still recalls this

How can he forget it? "For a few monds the pries and shrieks of our men drowned the cracking of the guns. Then fella tervifle sparing pain In my leg and wrist and pitched

"My

over my head world of forward

to a ret

and I could just look ulong the pile of bodies. I saw a German

agony.

"My OWN Servan ol mingled with the cries anatos.

brin WaS

pain soldier step down into the hole of my with bayonet fixed. The Buspense was terrible. A bayphet "But even as I feil forward

but, a whistle blew and I into a heap of dying men I had heard

Order The just one thought...

clumbered out before he reach- ed me."

*If I ever get out of here the swine who did this will pay for

un

He was hit four times-super- Sodden clothes

icial wounds, two in one leg-- by bullets which night have boen richuchets from the walls

of the barn,

There

was quiet DA the Germans had moved away. The held possessed the stillness f detti.

1

came aware of a sound, the last sound he exported in that fieldi of death.

Someone close beside him was snoring.

"I just couldn't believe it at said later, "but t." Pooley that's what it was. It was the strangest sound in the worki but the most comforting."

Someone else in that pile of dead men was alive. By stretch- ng out his arm, Pooley was able fo shake the sleeping soldier.

The shoring stopped. A vatre whispered, "Who is it?"

'It's me-Poolvy, Wis £liet You"

"O Callaghan.”

A signaller

Private William O'Callaghan was signaller at Battalion JIQ. He came from Dereham, i Nor- folk. Later O'Callaghen told Pooley of his own experiences after the surrender.

London Express Service.

Somehow O'Callaghan got him out and on to the wet grass...

#

or

WELL WHAT D'YOU KNOW!

THE WORLD'S BEST SELLER

N

TO other book has ever had the phenomenal sales figures of the Bible, Tons of millions of copies are sold, each year!

In AD 600, the Bible existed in no more than eight languages. Today, it is printed in more than 7001

Only

three presses in England are allowed to print the Bible In English-those of Oxford and Combridge Universities and the Queen's Printers. This pri- vilege dates from Tudor times. 1 wasn't an exclusive privilege then, but the holders assumed it was-and time has honoured their claim.

The word "Bible" itself comes trom

the Greek "Biblos"-the inner bark of the papyTUB which the ancienta used to write.

on

Bible" there was a mistransla- ton of "Know ye not that the ghteous shall inherit the King

dom of God."'

One of the best known versions of tho Bible is the "Breeches Bible," the first to be printed in Roman, type. In Genesis III, 7, of this volume, Adam and Eve are said to have "sowed flg leaves together and made themselves breeches" stead of "aprens," as in the Authorised Version,

English.

bible is tho

Several scholars have trans- lated the Bible into modern Probably the biggest

one printed in Braille for the blind. It Alla 39 volumes which, when plled one abovo the other, stand... five feet high..

it,

ALWAYS QUOTING

Although we may not replice

we are constantly quoting from the Bible by using such everyday expressions as "skin of my teeth," "play the fool," "the fat of the land," "the apple of

and

law unto

themselves,"

was He fell asleep on the edge of one of the farm buildings The Germans actually rod on

Several verstens of the Holy him and hauled the body of one a mass grave with the bodies beginning to burn,

Book have acquired special of his commdes almost of him. of a murdered comrades

There was the But as it was well away from names. For the last 17 days

18th century "Bear Bible." which but O'Callaghan made no move- round.

been the barn he was not deterred. ance May 10-sleep had

had a bear printed on the ment

snatched In brief spells when-

He went

19 quietly

ho

his eye" cover, and the "Treacle Bible," ever it was possible.

could, the water from the roof in which ""balm” AVES trans- running on to him and splash-lated as "treacle." ing about his feet. two big doors--which up in the light of the fire.

One door was slightly open. He was just about to open wider when he saw that barn was occupied.

During the preceding two three days he had hardly closed It's eyes.

Probably his motionless figure lying face down in the thistles from bla own and the blood wound and that of his comrades male the Gerinans pass QVCT him.

It seemed 143 O'Callaghan How long he slept he had no hours before, he dare open his toea. When his senses returned, Slowly, very slowly, he it was raining raining hard. It rals his heal. No one would was dark. He was sodden, And have seen him mova unless they

someone was shaking him. above had stood immediately him. Gradually, he lifted him-

he could self until

way no living meadow. There person in sight. The machine- guns had gone.

the

His wounded left arm burned with pain. Blood soaked his nahurt Tune. His

urni Win their under the sergeant and www

whe numb. Ho lowered his brod: and began withdrawing it from underneath the boxly.

Al first he thought they wern to be well treated by capture, for the German Marchesi Him returned photographs of his father mother which wero In wallet.

the

his

Then the German said, "Have you a knife?"

Arm freed

O'Callaghan got his arm free, "No," O'Callaghan answered moved it slowly to restore the without thinking.

circulation and feeling, and even he did so he felt a slight tremor of the earth as footsteps approached.

14

战

At once he felt a tug at his

and, simultaneously, belt vicious blow on the buck of his hend that nearly knocked him uver. A German standing beside him hud understood this ques tion and seen the Army knife which O'Callaghan had forgotten was swinging from his belt.

In the back

The Bring stopped. Pooley heard, above tive moans of the wounded, a com-

The Britisti private lay there 'mard in Gertnun uzuk a metallle pot daring 10 move in case

He swung round almost rattle us bayonets were fixat

Use stinctively. watching WILK Someotic

and the same The sound

unmistakable, bodies; Waky

any movement would man turned his rifle and it was followed by shrieks and

have brought death. He noticed him hard in the back. peverni shota.

that the man lying across his He could not see the Germans, leg was a friend of his

cailed but

he

aware of them Nobby WILH

Then he passed out. gathered round the edge of the

Liter } came to for kinkiller pil. With bayonet pr

heard two Luliet, they

nministered the moment onki

men they talking in German. coup de grace whenever paw a movement.

Two shots

♫

From the tone of their voices they were nol rank and file, but afficers. Pooley was to wish be had

been able to understand what they were saying, but now he only registered they Wero there before slipping back into unconsciousness,

came

Ailiough Ponley Woa tense with fear, he still had enough grip on himself to know that his life depended on keeping abso-

It was dark when he Jutely sill, But one

of the men beneath round again, and raining hard him made a soosinodic move. Perhaps

was the sodden zicht as he died Pooley felt clothes clinging to his body that the tremor. A German must revived him, have seen it. immediately two chols were fired into the pile of bodien.

He moved his head but could

Then he be ste no Germans.

In-

wus

the

Grim business

"Are you budly hurt?" O'Callaghan asked.

sinusher up. Yes, my leg Pooley's voice with weak. "Try and get me out,"

O'Callaghan tugged two bodies to one side. It was a grin busi- ness moving those cbad com- rades to releuse Fooley.

All

10

He came to showed

'PAGAN BIBLE”

"Place

"А

The Bible has been used for ú formi forecasting the future

Bibliomancy. of magle called People used to (perhaps they open the pages at still do) randon and point to any part

und

The verse touched wa

supposed to apply to

of the the future affairs person concerned.

in without looking occurred

Then there was the maker's Bible,” 50-called be- the caus8 a mistake

writing "Blessed are the peace- makers," and the "Pagan Bible," which contained a voodout of Olympus and the heathen gods,

Al the far end, outlined in the light of a hurricane tamp and a stove, were several Ger mans who appeared to be cook- ing a meal. "O'Callaghan backed away.

Revenge

versions of

In 1011, two

James' Bible" were "King printed and became known) the "Great He" and the "Great She" Bibles because, 17: one, Ruth I, 15 read "he went," and in the other "she went."

"Wicked Pooley lay racked with pain There was even a looking at the heap of his mur- Bible," issued in 1832, in which dered comrades. But fereer the word "not" woe omitted Command- in the "Unrighteous

WOR

even than the

the from the Seventh pain desire for revenge. It filled himment! with

determination to DOW

rained,

survive.

and

the time st steadily, heavily.

He got his aring around Pooley who groaned with every The body of Nobby lay Just movement, for he had three or against him. Ho moved side- four bullet wounds just below ways towards the figure, and the knee in one leg the touching the wet tunde groped pain was severe,

for a pocket. In the pocket he But somehow O'Callaghan got found Nobby's lighter. German two

the wet officers who had been talking hit out and on

He felt it Pooley took it. during Pooley's brief moment of Krak.

the conselousness. Gingerly but with As O'Callaghan looked around was a pledge to Nobby and determination O'Callaghan him be made out the shape of others that if he lived he would luwered his head into the buildings near by. He thought bring those responsible for this

perhaps they might be empty, crime to justice. and they could get inside out of

O'Callaghan made his way past the heap of dead soldiers towards the end the barn. As

round most he went cautiously

the

thistles,

The Germans moved off, their the ru voices fading gradually

away. O'Callaghan docs not know

ex-

what happened after that Ger-

cept that he did the duk unlikely

thing in the circum- building it seemed to grow light, stances he went to sleep. and O'Callaghan realised that

O'Callaghan was on the side of the column neurest the guns

into when they marched

The of field.

three As the ranks began to fall, a voice seemed to 11 his brain, "Dive!

scream

men

THE BLINDS

AT

THE

(World Copyright. Adapted by Harold M. Harris from die book by Cyelt Heinemann.) Jolly, published by

NEXT SATURDAY: The Battle To Survive

ARE DRAWN

1014 FIFTH AVENUE

The bulk of the estate-the New York Germany, and a finaneter, died

and He lett years ago.

an big money goes to nieces of $8,000,000 to his nephews of the Gerards, but no one is paying much attention to them.

estate

Dive!"

He plunged into the falling in front of him, and felt a pain in his arm. He searing knew he had been hit. He lay with both arms outstretched and his face in a patch of thistles; their needle points pricked his HE blinds are drawn... four cheeks, his nose, his cars.

hush hangs over widow. Across his legs lay one of his 1014 Fifth Avenue

right arm 4

of the few private mansions comrades and his regimental police sergeant.

As the Germans with axed left on Millionaires' Row. bayonets came near, O'Callaghan fought down his fear with every bit of will-power he possessed and lay as one dead.

Get behind the flying A

for

A90 WESTMINSTER - BIX

--- one

who Mrs Gerard.

Inherited untold millions from her father, Montana copper king

Marcus Daly. died last January 19,

Cyprus

A

A man who had time on his hands once analyzed the Bible and produced some amazing statistics, which took him more than three years to compile. other Among

things, he found that It contained 773,092 worda made up of 3,506,480 letters. Altogether there are 06 and

books, 1,180 chapters

31,173 verabs. The word "and" occurs 35,543 times in the Old Testament alone.

(COPYRIGHT)

May Become

U.S. Election Issue

cans

From DONALD LUDLOW

that

to

in discovering Washington. terness LTHOUGH most Ameri- where America has sought

mediate and restore friendships are only just be she has found herself the

In ginning to take an interest middle of a quarrel, coming in it, the island of Cyprus only resentment

big a political may be as issue in this election year as another island was 86 years

when

Irish "the Ago

their troubles" were at height.

of

Then

It

wad

"Look," say these Americans, "we have constantly urged the colonial powers that they should give freedom to thele peoples before they

seize it. But it's always too little and too late. There is chaos in North Afrin, ferment through-

the

of the Middle out

WO East. And all the reward get for standing by the British. French and Portuguese are In- sulls

from the native people This

and our consulates stoned, We There even and our alllca suspecting

an emotional surge that came from the hearts the vasi Irish-American population, many of them fresh from the "old country.” time it

deeper. gocs are not enough Greek- Americans-only 170.000-to be * really polent political force.

Not a person seemed to be stirring outside the mansion,

But there is a large body of I rang

гаря and

a simple Americans many In high white ivory doorbell until my places who are Increasingly finger was numbed with cold. fearful of being dragged into Then down a flight of Iron steps the troubles In which to to the Iradesmen's entrance. 1

No one answers the stately

But in- Hoth Gerarda made bequests iron grille front door, side the five-storey limestone to servants. house, sandwiched lightly between two-towering blocks of The largest total Koes flats, is a story it for the films, faithful

from He receives $125,000, Inside, in cosy comfort biting, freezing winds raking the streets, are nine people. They are servanta.

For periods ranging up to 40 years they served Mr and Mrs James W. Gerard.

Their em- ployers are dead. And these servants have inherited

half a million dollars.

almost

The

the

butler Frank J. Hail. rang, and a buzzar automatically colonial powers now find them.

"From RICHARD

KILLIAN

opened the door.

selves. It is even possible that America may disassociate her A short woman came walking self from the colonial powers her end "go it alone," seeking new friends among the new nations as she can find them..

down the corridor drying hands on a white apron.

I asked her what the servants were doing"They are doing what they always did for Mr and Mrs Gerard—coring for the

Randle house,"

Some of this sort of thinking Victori

These servants-at least six comes from America's own of them anyway-were dusting revolutionary, history,

which the antique furniture, waxing

makės her traditionally

chauffeur, They also have the right Pomeroy, gets $95,000, they decl

it is a duty-to live Peterson, the cook, $21,000. In the mansion until the execu« tors of the vast estate can diş- pose of the lavish furnishings and the building.

hardwood floors. polishing the silver, straightening the plc- sympathetic to any people de-

iures.

it in full

They were doing knowledge they no longer had to serve any employers in the

mmanding self-government.

But

much of it also comes from a foar of being landed in another Korean-type war.

Two malds, Ana Flynn and Jennio Barron. $18,000 each. Laundress Ann Delaney $5,000; That may take weeks, months, handyman Jimmy Hayes, $4,000. even years, the executors say. Two other servants, with un- For the estate runs into tens of speelfed occupations James millions of dollars,

O'Brien and Eileen Daly Until then they will go on receive $7,000, and $2,000,, drawing full salary, and eating and sleeping off the kindness of

.be The largest non-family their deceased master and ques! is made to Veronic T. "That's all they care about, mistress. Gerard, America's Hyland, lawyer.

tho and secretary. They are still in mourning World War One ambassador to to the Gerards—$239,000,

Mrs Gerard."

MANDRAKE THE MAGICIAN

OWEN

AUSTIN-you can depend on it!

Sol METRO CARS (H.K) LTD.

Agents

121 KING'S ROAD, HONGKONG. TEL, 71327 132. TAIPO ROAD, KOWLOON. TEL. 84678.

KEEP THIS MACHINE STEADY-50 1 CAN AM

MACHINE-GUN BULLETS FROM THAT COPTERS

SOMEBODY-- NO WANT US

UP HERE

NOW-- I CAN ·· SEE THE WHITES OF HIS EYES

AUT MANDRAKE CAN ALSO SEE

HE

BESTURES

empty housc.

"They loved the Gerards," said the woman with the apron.

AND A GREAT HAND SEEMS. TO REACH UP FROM THE

MESA

for

Whole

us, siding with the nationalists,'

All this does not mean, how- ever, that there is any desire by these Americans to dump their allies. There is too much res- pect for Britain and for France, too much consciousness of their milliary necessity, for that,

But there is deep feeling that there are times and they cite the case of attitudes towards Red China. -- when the best of friends can agree to disagree and still work together in other fields...

Many Americans are cori- vinced that a ringing declara- from the U.S. that she tion sponsors independence for all under colonial rule is needed to win over the millions of the Middle East, Africa; India and Pakistan and make them proof against. Comarutism.

And if this causes friction of with

her old friends, then, it must be faced for, the benefi of the new.

(COPYRIGHT)

And there is dismay, 100, at the sweeping BUCCCASES nationalism which only leave West weaker and the Kremlin stronger. There is blt-

By Lee Falk and Phil Davis

VEN MAGICIANS

arlsberg

1