16 JANUARY 1915, Page 2

We believe we are right in saying that no such

desertions "to the enemy" have ever taken place among British soldiers. As, of course, happens in every army, a certain percentage of mien skulk, straggle, run away, and desert—hoping by various subterfuges to escape the stern duty of war. Between such unwillingness to face the fight and actually going over to the enemy there is, however, a world of difference, and it is a legitimate source of pride that our men do not go north- east. "Eyewitness" seems to suggest that the Germans who come into our lines are Alsatians. Without wishing to challenge that statement, we think it will be found that the deserters are by no means confined to Alsatians, but that Prussians, Saxons, Bavarians, and Wfirtembergers are to be numbered amongst them.