Desert Spooner-Ism

A NEW story from the Middle East:— The commander of a desert post received a brief message from a portable radio carried by a mounted scout, who had gone out to reconnoitre certain enemy positions. It was brief and pointed:— “Rommel captured. Walking home.”

There was incredulity and excitement.

A party was rushed out into the desert, to meet the capturers of the German General. They met one man, very tired and very fed-up. He was alone. He said he had sent the radio message.

“But where’s Rommel?” they cried.

“Rommel what?” snarled the weary soldier. “What are you talking about?”

“But you said you’d captured Rommel!”

“That radio bloke at the post ought to be bumped.” said the patrolman. “I didn’t say ‘Rommel captured—walking home.’ I said, ‘Camel ruptured—walking home!”’ 5