SPITEFUL REPRISALS

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2435, 14 April 1915, Page 5

SPITEFUL REPRISALS

GERMAN TREATMENT OF BRITISH OFFICERS. (Reo. April 13, 0.15 p.m.) Amsterdam, April 13. In accordance with their previouslyexpressed threat, the Germans have imprisoned 39 British officers in detention barracks. Germany, through Washington, recently inquired as to the reported differential treatment of submarine crews held as prisoners in England. Tho Note emphasised that the crews only exeouted tho orders given them, and therefore had solely fulfilled their military duties. It added that if they were treated worse than others, then for each member of tho crews held prisoner a British Army officer imprisoned in Germany would receive correspondingly harsher treatment. Sir Edward Grey replied that officers and men of the submarines US and Ul2 were segregated from the other prisoners of war, but were treated, however, with humanity. They we're provided with German books, had opportunities for exercise, and were not subjected to forced labour. They were better fed and clothed than British prisoners of equal rank in Germany. As, however, these men were engaged in sinking innocent British and neutral merchantmen, and in wantonly killing non-combatants, they cannot be regarded as honourable opponents, but as under the orders of their Government having committed offences against the laws of nations and contrary to common humanity.