As we went the trenches were under fire all the time from the British artillery.

The guards swore it was our surrender that had drawn the fire, and belabored us the more on that account.
At the rear of the German lines we were herded in a quarry lest we observe too much, and it was not until after dark that we were given half a loaf of bread apiece.

Then, without time to eat that which had been given to us, we were driven off into the darkness.

First, however, they took our goatskin overcoats away, saying they were too good to be worn by savages.

A non-commissioned officer, who could speak good English, was sent for to explain that point to us.
After an hour's march through the dark we were herded into some cattle trucks that stood on a siding behind some trees.