SHOCKING TREATMENT OF BRITISH PRISONERS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2433, 12 April 1915, Page 5

SHOCKING TREATMENT OF BRITISH PRISONERS

GERMAN BARBARITIES REPORTS FROM THE ENEMY'S PRISON CAMPS (By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright.) • ' ~ (Rec. April 11, 3.30 p.m.) Loridpn, April 10. ■ .A White Paper, dealing with the treatment of British prisoners in Germany, shows that Britain'has constantly received proof of the enemy's inHminity, and protested .to America. The American. Arahassador and Consuls in Germany, frequently, reported ill-treatment, insufficient clothing and food, barsh . restrictions, cruelty to sick and 'wounded, " aiid the savagery of guards. A Russian doctor reported that in December British officers were treated worse than the others, and were openly insulted. . ..'■ : A. French priest, saw Germans kick British prisoners in the stomach and break their guns over, their backs. They were forced to sleep in marshy places and many- becamo consumptive. So Tortured That They Asked to be Shot, The British were almost starved, and thirty of them were so tortured that they asked to be shot. Major Vandeleur escaped from the camp at Grefeld and reported that fifty-seven officers and men were packed, without food, in an unventilated horse-wagon, in which lay three inches of manure. They wore unable to sit, and remained for thirty hours, while German officers and men brutallv assaulted and insulted them. The journey to Cologne lasted threo days and nights, and they were without foodthroughout. The officers were treated'fairly well at Crefeld.but the soldiers were treated barbariously. They slept on sndden straw, which was not changed for months, and froced to do all the menial and filthy work for the other' prisoners. , . Mr. Gerard (the 'American Ambassador at Berlin), reported l that the British wounded Camp were needing medical attention and extra food. Thoy received daily merely two cups of coffee, soup, one-third of a loaf, and only one blanket. The German Government refused Mr. Gerard's request for more clothing. ■'•■"' Other-instances of brutality: Six civilians -at the Itiihleben internment camp for civilian prisoners were sleeping in a space of 10} feet; twenty-three officers near Magdeburg were herded to gether and were gradually starving to death; prisoners at TJlm were prematurely aged, A Contrast—Luxurien and Comforts for German Prisoners. The above story contrasts with the report of Mr. Jackson, of the American Embassy at .Berlin, who visited detention prisons and ships in Britain, where the food wss the same as the British soldiers received. The Germans' chief complaint was that they had tro much beef and too little pork, white instead of black bread, and insufficient fresh vegetables. Their health was good, and they were supplied with books and uapers. Their officers could purchase hot breakfasts, three-course dinners, and .purchased wines and delicacies'.