军法(英中对照)

古德明《征服英语》之英语军事故事，古德明，香港英语教育作家，他开了一个《征服英语专栏》，在专栏中专门用英语写了世界近代史上的军事小故事，用英语讲述历史中那些惊心动魄的战争。

军　法
In February 1916, Private Beverstein wrote to his mother in London:"We were in the trenches, and I was ill, so I went out and they took me to prison and I am in a bit of trouble now and won't get any money for a long time- I will try my best to get out of it, so don't worry." The next letter his mother had was from the War Office informing her of her son's execution.It is believed that 300-odd British soldiers of World War I were shot for cowardice and desertion. Many of them were boys still in their teens, and had joined up by giving a false age. Hebert Burden, for instance, lied that he was two years older. He was shot at the age of 17 for desertion. His unit had been issued orders to make for he front just before he went missing. He said he had gone to see a friend stationed nearby.
一九一六年二月，二等兵贝弗斯坦写信给伦敦家中的母亲说：「大家都在战壕里，我感到不适，走出战壕，给抓入狱，现在有点麻烦，很久都不会获发金钱了。我会尽力脱身，不必担心。」他母亲其后收到的一封信，由陆军部寄出，说她儿子已遭处决。第一次世界大战的英军，因怯阵或开小差遭枪决的，估计有三百多人，其中不少无非十多岁的孩子。他们为求从军，虚报了年龄。例如赫伯特．伯登报大了两年，最后因开小差罪被枪决，死时不过十七岁。他在所属部队奉命上前线之后，马上失踪。据他自己说，是去了看附近驻守的一个朋友。