ENEMY BRUTALITY.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16421, 15 January 1919, Page 8

ENEMY BRUTALITY.

AUSTRALIANS' STORIES. LONDON, January 2. Stories which cause Australian cheeks to burn with shame are told by Australian officers who were prisoners in Turkey. Lieutenant Poojo was brought down, in his aeroplane north of Jaffa. He was not maltreated, but saw his observer, Hancock, kicked by the t . Turks. They took five weeks to reach Constantinople, where they were compelled to pay exorbitantly for food, and were locked in a small room for a month. It was a continuous fight to get sufficient food. They were transferred to various camps alive with vermin, as a result of which Hancock got smallpox. He was medically neglected, but recovered. _ Lieutenant Vautm says that the officers were frequently forced to sing in the streets and bazaars for food, the populace throwing them scraps of filthy bread. He was confined in cells for ten days at Constantinople for no reason, given no food, but bribed the warder with A sovereign to brine him a loaf of bread. When he was brought down, however, the German pilot treated him in the kindliest manner, anil presented him with an inscribed watch. Lieutenant Stornmouth was one of 1/ captured on August Bth on Galhpoli. Only six survived their imprisonment, which was ceaselessly harsh and tious. Officers were robbed right and left, and are unanimous that Musloon Bey should be hanged for his diabolical practices. It is understood that he and 17 others are now awaiting trial at British hands. •nvu Many Australian officers from Holtminden prison camp confirm the worst stories of brutality, for which the commandant, Colonel Niemeyer, has been I indicted by the British Press. Lieutenant A. Marshall, a Tasmaman, captured at Bullecourt, states that the attempted murder of Lieutenant Couston is indefensible. Couston wassho in the arm, and held up his hands, but the sentry fired four more shott, until he smashed his jaw. Couston was left for dead, and the sentry was given a fortnight's furlough as a reward. Nempver frequently stopped the mails, stole their parcels, and left the officers to starve. He ordered the prisoners to the cells for no reason. As, for instance an Englishman was kept in the cells for 120 days for not removing his • . the commandant s presence, and was then court-martialled and sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment. T ieutenant Lyon, a West Australian, with a number of Englishmen, escaped hi dizeing a wonderful tunnel 50 yards bng fnd 12 feet deep, but were recaptured. —