1917-05-26 — Page 11

SUFFERING HEROES.

IBA:

LOT OF BRISONERS IN GERMANY.

Some Facts Which Cannot be Ignored.

THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH, SATURDAY, MAY 26, 1917.

in

Felads and

WES that if

dressing, the pablication has its Crose, and civilians," reported the in a dark cell, lesser crimes meet epic Small wonder that Ger-able by a special summons from letter of a prisoner sergeant now of what Sir Albert Stanley had.

many should not desire each a town,

R. Hamilton.

many dreary month. None would a card hanging over a water tap ocossionally compel a degree of There are, undoubtedly, some benefactor," writes a contributor again on Dateh territore, and identify an "orsrorowded bar---the only cae available from 9 sweeping and garnishing other notable exceptions. Each ex- to the Doberita Gastle. The Port Said; while sean era nomin rack in a town" rocad per am. to 6 am."warning against than normal, mech more receptions are the more honourable camps ara fall of them. But if from Australia usually bunkeren fectly fit rectangle of hard yellow the use of the water as it was faulty conditions likely to be in view of evidence that a doctor there is good fellowship among either at Newcastle or Sydney, earth," tome"eventy to eighty under suspicion of being typhoid prevalent the numerous was pauished by three weeks' the prisoners, it is not for lack of sod probably again at Colombo, yards long and about sixty yards" they gave no hint that Arbeitstager (working camps), to arrest "for acting with weakness." Germany effort to breed disen-If this proposal was pasted the wide," with the picture of large British non-ocommissioned officers which a proportion of prisoners Weakness means bumanity to sion, and that not only between German atasmers would requir slope buildinge in ornamental were sent to the Strafebarackem are continually drafted. It is held wards the wounded in his charge, the Allies-confessedly to prays to coal fully at these points or to grounds, where a scattering of and "were not permitted to as rivance by their captors that But on the full court the parallel they are not naturally allies lay down post stations of their uniformed fixares saunter or eit smoke, to play cards, they could the British prisonera show no holds. The German medical and but between the British them awn. It might be said that there sbout the Officers Prison at not l'ave hot water for ter, and eigerness for asob ocupatione, marei, g staff at Montigny-les-Metz osives. Iriah prisoners were was so territory in which they The following article is cor-Crefelt, from the point of view were not permitted to attend or which vary from agricultural were indeed worthy comrades of offered differentiation of treat-ould place stations, but he tributed to United Empire, the selected for neutral consumption play gamer, football, do; that | labour and factory work to em: the doctors who left their ment. Irish cfficers were invited thought it would not be impossible organ of the Colonial fastitate,, by the compilers of this specious they were locked up in this sense ploymens on the railways and in stricken charges to die like flise, to join the German Army, and though somewhat inconvenient, by R. Hamilton

propagands.

"False, like the of the terms for refusing to the mines. To avoid being sentantended except by following" given certain minor privileges." for Germany to get coaling, There was a story current at stories of brutality on the part of volunteer for work." Other, pic to work amps such as Bistror, prisoners, in Wittenberg and it is common knowledge how the statione somewhere in the East, the Cape in the early decades of German soldiers, of the last for turee show & football match at British prisoners are said to have Gaidelegen." "We owe you your traitor Roger Casement visited and also in the South of Spai the legs centers that the parade war of the German people, and Cell, a boxing match at Rable destroyed their slothing, eat their lives, nothing morr. And even the Irish prisoners to try and win that would serve to bring their ordered of a certain regiment all the countless statements in ber, but there is to mention of boote, sad hidden their naiforma, this is a concession on our part, recruits for bis rebel army. All vessels right home. The 'chviodi

"All dem wid shoes so disparagement of Germany which Col. Branger, the Commandant So German sushorities informed said Dr. Orth to a wounded honour to the gallant Irish boys disadvantage stockin' stan in de front. All the English and French cables at Gardeleges, forbidding, DE- American visitors. As it is report-Frenchman, whose leg had been that out of all the hundreds unhappily, another war broksoot dem wid one shoe or stockin' spread throughout the world, are der pain of severe punishment,"

ed that the prironar at Baistrup needlessly ampatated. "Nicer-incarcerated but forty six could we would find ourselves in this stan at de back. All dem wid the newspaper reports of the bad either football or boxing, when are principally fed on beet root sary or unnecessary, that's our be found to accept the tempting positior, that Germany would no shoe an' no strokin' step'in de treatment which Germany meted the hard-worked British doctors and kohlrab, and are given meat business, another argued. "Any-chanos of escape from imprison have large supplies of coal on middle.” The tale comes back to out to the prisoners, writes tried to encourage the men to from diseased animals," this is hoz, the Krigsfreiwilliger willment on such terme. What the neatral territory which we could mind as illustrative of the method | Backhsue. Well might the take interest and exercise in cat- hardly surprising. Moreover, the remember ne, and that's what we Irish prisonera thought was proved not toooh. It would therefore, be devised by Teaton diplomats to neutral ask with Pilate, "What is door games. A charming old idea was certainly current song want. You may think yourself by the fact that the German foolish on our part to force them make favourable impression on truth 7" But the above details castle set among trene is given as the rank and file that working lucky to get off so cheaply. One guards had to come to the rescue into that position. Ultimately neutrale sad on certain sentiment are not newspaper rumoure, they presumably-the prisonera" { meant giving "aid to the memy, leg is not much. If it had de-of the tempter, or his indignant the paragraph had been deleted. mongeza in other countries by the are taken from the cfficial report quarters at Transaits, but you and therewith risk of forfeiture of pended on me, you would have and insulted countrymen would (Applause.) publication of a profusely illus on the prison foraished by Mr. may turn the pages in vain for pay. However this may be, it is lost both. Moreover, it is not have torn bim limb from limb, Mr. J. T. Cargill paid tribute trated sifasion entitled" Prisoners Michelsor, American Consul" at tach a "black hole" as the prison certain that the work is always only what has been doce but even Conditions to-day would appear to the speeches which had been of War in Germany." It opens Colegar, and the sworn statement at Drrots, where a corporal and hard, the food and accommods more what remained undone that to have bettered considerably, but delivered by Sir Albert Stanley with an elaborate introduction by of a British for after he had five men were incarcerated b-tion varying only in badness. At has caused untold soffering, this, as a study of all available and Mr. John Hodge. It was, be Professor Backbace, who is, the escaped from that prison. Major cause they failed to accomplish Euder Zollhaus "ata.m. they Here again there are praiseworthy evidence makes notably apparent, believed, the first cocasion da authority responsible for the Vandelear's personal evidence the daily task set there, on entire obtain a ration of gruel, and exceptions, particularly at Oot is in great part das to the pri- which the President of the Bard dietetic alauds whereon the feed-etirred up even the most pbilos-ly insufficient nourishment, in the twice a week they have a ration tinger. Wesela has a good hos-soners themselves. Men have of Trade had spoken in "public" ing of prisoners at Rubleben, ophic of Whitehall officials to work camp at Belzow. Thin of Fre"-in. citer worde, of pital. At the Alexandrinenstrasse, wrested good from the most ad- and he had given them an extreme for instance in nominally based, formal protest. In reply the prisor, where the men were locked barat beans and acorne. "On Berlin, a doctor dressen the vered circumstances, provedly interesting and illuminating Clearly and explicitly it re-German military authorities issued up for seven days, is an unused this cabarance they are supposed prisoners wounds every day. At themselves heroes againet incon- address, showing that he hac fater," so tho Professor - a detailed denial, and Mr. Peak-mortuary constructed of boards, to work till ucoz." French pri- Cassel the sick are humanely ceivable odds. Half the pictures studied the questions very care- noanoes, "all the calumnies sniff himself could not have floor space approximately eight soners at Offenburg are allowed treated, and there are two mureer, these German propagandista fally, and knew what was talking which our enemies have spread bettered the pained reproach and feet square, with a gabled roof 75 to 100 grammes of bread per a rare enough feature in the man's would send forth to prove Ger- about with regard to questiona ak abroad regarding Germany's pseudo-righteous indigestion of ten feet higb. The only window diem."-isom 2 to a trifle over 3 le zarete. Ohrdraft, and in vari-many's "chivalry" prove upon present engaging the attention of treatment of ber prisoners." this amazing document. It stig had been closed with black tar ounces-and to sharpen the sauce cas ether camps, it is considered examination only the indomitable the Board of Trade. He had Rather, we are told, everything is matised the Englishman's evid- paper. The only ventilation of hunger hear from their resufficient that she wounded oan spirit of the prisssere. They referred to the fact that they hadh done for them that the most spcs as "Partly untrue and partly possible was through the cracks latires at home of Prussian priend fer a doctor, Bat it is not have beautified their hideous taken over the control of railway hamane benevolence, advanced immeseurally exaggerated. But between the boards... darkness goners employed on the railway at exceptional to find circumstances habitations, made gardena in the of coal mines, sad peirch supply science, and chivalry (10) can his tea incay stands by no means was one of the specified conditions Le Gere; on a diet of whee bread similar to thore existent in the wildernesses of desolation, turned and in regard to the latter ma compass, in these best-of-all-alone. There is authentic evid-of the state of arrest." Their (800 grammes se against 300 at Sader-Zollhaus Arbeitelager, their enforced inactivity to ends warned them that they need not possible prison · campe. The ance of many instances of efficere, food was bread and water, except most given to the Allies' prisoners under Gastrow, where the sick that aball make them more expect practically any petrol fog- cynic may murmur, "Methinks prisoners of war on their way to on the 4th day, the only one when in Germany), 300 grammre of and wounded are left to the care valuable citizens of their own private purpose after this month the lady doth protest too much." Torgan, both from officers, blankets and mattresses were freeb meat, 800 of vegetables, of roughly trained comrades, with beloved countries when a more during the course of the war. Es But as a sample of enemy window soldiers, members of the Red faraisbed." Besides this "arrest" balf a pint of wine, with a fee, a civilian doctor vaguely in the kindly fo:tone thall bring them (Mr. Cargili) had been left with

*various background as possibly procor- release. Then, to quote from the the impression that a good deal. points. It has distinct points, American Consul-General. “Sol with "disciplinary treatment" extrae." The puzzled neatral may well grest had teen the misery of our by solitary confinement, by the

in Saizerland, "Sarely it will be said pointed to the necessity of shake a bewildered bead as he journey," an interned Baptist stoppage of correspondence, and belligerent country to Earply Explanation! Germany has a sonice of pride to them in later doing what chambers of commerce turns from its well-ordered pages Minister wrote, "that solitary co-such few privileges as may cmcially the food for their men wealth of explanations and days to state that in the face of had been asking for for many to, let us say, Lord Northcliffe's £cement in a criminal's sell was nominally be permitted; also by "in the enemy's bands "!

excuses to euggest and preffere physical and conscientious [sic] years the creation of a separate criminatory phrase," the bottom-{s positive relief." The writer the forfeiture ci parcels. The In addition to bad food, bad them coccurrently with denial of obstacles "They feared God, Hon-Deportment of Commerce srd less pit of the German prirou was in Germany when the war last has more serious consequences lodging, and beary tasks, the any need to explain. Were cared the King and loved their Industry. (Applause.) Mary camp," or such mild expostula-broke out, and was kept at than mere withdrawal of a character of the workitself bea to prisoners ancomfortable in process country." tions on the part of the ex-Foreign Cologne. "My views then," he possible pleasure, when food be taken into account. It needs of transportation? "Accommoda Secretary as that British prisoners canlesser, "were, alas! in the questions are taken into con no expert knowledge of mining tion even for German soldiere "it is feared, are undergoing main pro German." The evid-sideration.

to realize that among ganga foffered grest difficulties." Were great bardships." The most ence of this civilian, therefore, is The Professor gives elsh rate poskilled workers forced to labour the sick left neglected in the COALING STATIONS cursory examination and comthe more valuable in confirmation food tables, “recommended as below ground in ut er ignorance plagos camps? So pablic an

THE ENEMY, parison of the Profeacor's dis of statements made by combatant suitable for prisoners." The of methods and conditione, the evil this that even Prot, Backhaus coures, German photographa în prisoners,

"recommended" is an inspira- percentage of accidents and For cannot treat it with the coutume A Department of Shipping this and other publications' There is no need now to labour tion. There has never been short- gonal injaries must be excessively licus disregard of silence. Plno- and what documentary evidence the tragic tale. We know, and age of food tables and menus. bigb. It would be easy to give eible excuse must be procured.

of subjects. It only pointed is forthcoming in the Allies the neutral world maat koow These have been applied as sensational accounts based on the "A portion of the prisoners of official publications, or the Re-ale" that Germany in the Bush lavishly to neatral and enemy reporte of men who have returned war from the East proved to be matters which

Several of the more important to the necessity for having a Commerce znd were before the Ministry of ports of the Croix Rouge, must of initial victory trested her luck officials aa the food advertised from Germsa prisons. It is infected with cholers, typhur, Associated Chambers of Com Industry, and it recurred to him give foriously to think,

Max Nordan asserted that the careless disregard with absolute led to the prisoners concerned, gange of workers are kept segre devastating spotted fever. This were under review at the meeting had the very type of man

lees captives with more than therein has been sparsely farnish ecfficient to say that often the dysentery, and above all with the merce at their meetings recently that in Sir Albert Stanley they Englishman believed anything cruelty. Teuton denials on the Look where you will through the gated from their companiona in latter disease is particularly of the directors of the Glasgow out for the position. (Applause.) be saw in print, and would sccept ground of impossibility, having Blue Books, Belgian, and Russian the camps. At limburg pre dangerous on account of its Chamber of Commerce.

He had had a long business a fit of delirium if it appeared to regard to the mentality, up- Reports, Croix Rouge Commission cautions were taken to prevent extreme infectiousness and its

Mr. James W. Murray, who sining, understood commerce in footnotes. The couple of decades bringing, and social status of the statemente, the evidence of liber. the men who worked in the lead often fatal consequences for Ger- presided, gave a report of the procolitician and, least of all, more a way that no professionsk that have elspeed since the whole class of German fiere," ated men, the guarded letters of mines from even being seen by mane who caught it." Typhoid ceedings generally detailing the publication of "Degeneration Bre in themselves damnatory. the prisoners themselver, there is the other prisoners. They were or typhus has been reported in resolutions, adopted. On the of the professional lawyer på Lave educated, in part at least. Sach mentality and upbring- the same liberality of food-tabler, marched out before daylight, and the camps at Altdatom, Cassel, principal questions of nationaliticans (laughter) could pos the too credulons Briton. If the ing" did tot prerent officers from the monotonous complaint of lack did not return tilil night that they Chemofis, Erfarth, Gardeleges, interest he thought that they sibly do, and he thought it would avants of recent years have rat neing cffensive language sud ill- of food. "Mr. Starving" is no might again hide their tragedy. Gottingen, Langensalzs, Uhrd might congratulate themselves be very great step forward done so we are, in very truth, in treating their hapless victims. Ir stranger to our men. The And there are blacker pagon yet. raft, Sagan, Sohneidemahl, Witz that Sir Algernon Firth had if this new department Em parlous condition.

This is not did not prevent German doctors British did not look like well- Very little is known of the unfor- lar, Wittenberg, Zersen, Zerbat, consented to remain in office as created, with Sir Albert Stanley the esse. Moreover, the popul- and nurses from mutilating and sourished men," Mr. Michelson tunate man whose ill-fortune it has according to reports published in president for another year, as they 11 the bead of it. (Applauze) arity of the snap shot camera has torturing wounded men. It did wrote in his report of Wehs, a been to be sent to working campe the Blue Books. The tragic were very lucky to have at the Bat Mr. John N. Hodge had been admitted thousands of amateure not prevent German Bed Crose cautions comment after the pre- in the enemy-occupied Russian stories of Gardelegen and Wisten-head of anaise s man of such the success of the meeting; he to the secrets of the dark-rocm, "ladies" from refusing even the vious remark: "They complain districts.. What is known is hy berg have been made public. ability and energy. (Applause) was a typical labour mas, with a and thereby to the knowledge that cap of cold water to their ed impressively that they were no means reassuring. The pages Both demonstrate that the causes Among the resolutions deals with strong forea of character, and a camere, or its printed outpat, suffering enemies. It is, there- perpetually hungry." If it is not of. Croix Reage reports, official of the outbreak were preventable was one which referred to the appeared to have the faculty of can be ac manipulated as to lie fore, not surprising to find that true that a prisoner wrote to say papere, or German propaganda at the inception: s lack of even anomalies produced in the looking at both sides of the most profoundly. A glaring ic-German crowds should about to the food was good and plentiful alike may be searched vaiply for elementary sanitary precautione, incidence of excess profile tax question. If they had only stance of trash made false is British officers "the particular and be was quite content, adding, information" concerning, for in- overcrowding, +hown in one of the pictures of kind of Schweinhunde

inet ficiency of which inflicted grave injustice as mongst the leaders of labour they P.S.-Abe has been shot be- stance, Stralkoro or Hailsberg, food, fuel, and clothing. The between thore sulje: to it, and men of the sme type he did not Munster Gefangenlager, which believed the Englander to be" cause 'e said it was'nt," corres- Men are drafted there to work dimensions attained

by the forged upon the Goverment the think there would be any great gives under the title of Cham and that the inhabitants of pondence such as the following in the mines." They must be spidemic in sech case were also desirability of such amendments difficulty to arriving at something pione for liberty and civilisation." Wittenberg should amuse them came to hand with too and fre strong-sinister spaugh this fact preventable. No effort was made of the Finance Acta se would sa like a good understanding Various African natives, including selves at a safe distance by quency. A servant girl, hearing in eor junction with official into improve matters. There was far as possible remove

such between labour and capital. & Kroo boy! The ponderous insulting the dead when carried that the prisoners were starved, atractions to furnish them with lack of supplies in the town of anomalies, and secure a more (Applause.) Professor jibes at the blacks as to burial from the plague-stricken wrote to her brother Edward in sheepskins and strong boota-for Wittenberg: yet for months the equitable distribution of the Mr. J. A. Roxburgh agreed "Bghters for freedom and civilias-pargatory of their prison camp. 1915: Just a few lines hoping they are employed also, and it stricken camp was starved of the burden of the tax. He remarked with Mr. Cargill that thespeeches tion," but offers no explaration of If ill-trestment we meted out same will find you quite well. I would appear mainly, to coo barest necessities. Gardelegen that his information was that the were the best arguments they the Kroo boy's presences non- to officere, how infinitely more should like to know if you have stract trenches on the German could supply caresses of sheep to Government were fully alive to could have for the creation of fighter, probably taken from an awful were the sufferings of the mot Mr. Slarvey or Mr. Getanoff," front against our Russian allise, hang up outside the canteen, but the anomalies complained of, and Ministry of Commerce. interned merchant vessel. In rank and file. Well may Ernest and received in reply: Daar There is not even direct com-only to make deceptive stow and that they would be rectified as far Among other matters coming this connection it is well to reDaudet describe the journal of a Flo.... With regard to Edward munication with these poor souls, mislead the American visitors. as possible, he hoped in the near befor the meeting was the report member that the Germans, who, wounded Frenchman 14 G. I haven't seen him since last lost in a Haden one can only con- Possibly all criminais and some fulare.

of the deputation to the Board of it would seem, invariably oon" martyrology."

August, when he told me he hadjecture from the fact that their defender, as did even the guilty sider themselves the exceptions

Mr. F. C. Gardiner spoke of Trade with reference to the But three are not the pictare left little Mary to your care, so do only hope is broken health that wretch Wits, who paid for his the resolution dealing with establishment of a branch office that are to prove all rules, did not Prof. Backhaus and bis colls your best for her. Give her all must prohibit their employment evil administration of Anderson shipping, which, he said, was in Glasgow for Was Rigke Tow disdain to make use of the services barators have selected for the the home comforts and nourish- { at such work.

ville with his life. But it remain one of the most important sarandë, of coloured troops in African edification of the neutral public. ment you possibly can so sa to If the treatment of officers and ed for an Emperor of Germany to questions off-oting the trade after Mr. W. T. Maclellan explained campaigns, though obvious.res-They display a busy scene of censuse his saziety. I suppose all at men represents the positive and decorate the man who fanked the the war. They had taken exception that they bad laid their viewa be- sons precluded such use else sora examining orderly boxes of home will belp you." All a comparative degrees of badnom, risks his position entailed and to one clause of the resolution, fo e the officials in London, who where.

letters at Parohim, but not the home" has helped, and it is that socorded to the sick and deserted his post. A worthy that which stated that for the expressed a mpathy with the ades, The advertising Teuton has jailors using " & cadgel or an ex- owing to such individual and wounded amuredly touched th recipient of the Iron Cross! period of Ave years after the bat gave them little practical an- mede lavish display of pictured sinew lask." There is no picture collective efforts that any British perlative. The bombastic ▲ sorry story all this, even declaration of pesos no enemy courageacat, However they bad evidence," with accompanying showing prisoners at Ben sen soldiers have neoaped the slow statement of Profanior Bokhaus among the tragio zading History steamer should be allowed to use been asked to prepare a meanOU commentary to emphasise the tied to a post, Enwian prisoners, torture of calculated starvation; in that “the work of German of rs of prisoners of war. Bet paling sessions in the British wadam stating clearly the hand perfection of German methods of are shown dancing at Userk, but for though the Professor calls the medicine in the Prisoners of War shoes in a brighter side, which in Empire. He pointed out that for the wish, and that "a treatment. "But there is another not undergoing punishment with food supplied "ample" all avail- Camps takes its stand worthily on surely being writ by a Greater there was a lack of definition done, and he was side to these so excellent pictures." Fout et du po'eau," at Cottbus, sble evidenos negatives thin se * level with that of the German than any earthly historian in about tha: elease. The proposal Glasgow.

Bomehow, I never saw that part Langensaiss pictares display sertion, of the osmp," asid an exchanged French and Russian surgeons, a

doctors and medical corps in the letters of gold en an Imperish- would not affect the Atlantic favo If these evils pertain to the big - field. For pace we are in Dio. able Page-the prisoners, the men trade or South American trade, prisoner drily, when shown an group of Bassians and French, a camps, where publicity might found ement with the Pro- themselves, 20

man who Let

the Eastern Alinatration of the Kriegsgefan Foila pipe in hand, a detachment &ford some measure of protection, emor. It dow

in the "stralian trades. Tha; enlager wherein he had spent starking for work, but do not show and official tours of inspection whole

was to coal to Japa, L

+7

"י

Industry,

questions have been left untouch- 63. including that of shipping, which should be one of tha principal duties of the Board of FOR Trade, which indicated _bow impossible it for the Board of Trade, and especially one man, to knowledge of such a complexity be able to have a clear grasp and

and

got

cat