BACK FROM THE SLAVE GANGS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2989, 29 January 1917, Page 5

BACK FROM THE SLAVE GANGS

AUTHENTIC NARRATIVES OF : DEPORTED BELGIANS . INCREDIBLE CRUELTY ■KICKED AND STARVED BY THE HUNS (Rec. January 28, 5.6 p.m.) London, January 26. '..' Tie' Belgian Government has secured jthe first authentio narratives of the islave raids from the Ghent deportees. JThese show that the men were marched ho the station Between troops in. the of November, herded in wagons, travelling without food all laiglit. The only food they had in twenty-eight Hours was a bowl of rice 'meal. They were thon marched in •ihe darkness to a farm, where 650 of Sthem were herded in'barns and sta.hlcs. ffhev slept on straw, whioh was placed lon the bare ground.' Only on tbeir Khird day did they get hoards on which Ho Bleep.' Half, the doporteos were exhausted by their journey, and as their (quarters were not heated, one victim Ullapsod the first day, and neaTly died' tof cold. After a meal of bread, cheese, fend-rice broth, they went without food sfor twenty-four, hours.. Summons to Work. . 'At five in tho morning a bugle call Summoned the men to.work, but they ,were so worn out with hunger and .fatigue that they refused, and the ■order was postponed for two hours, fwhen half the number agreed to work. TThey were given picks and shovels, but i»s they saw the German military pioneers working ahead they refused to go [further, pointing out that they had heen promised proper food and lodging, and that Ihoy would not be employed in. war work. The men were *hen marched back to the farm. _ Later, when the deportees again (refused, an officer informed the Ger3nan pioneers commander, and the lat--Iter ordered the Belgians to begin. "They refused, and two 1 German officers rode into the Belgians, whipping thorn, while the soldiers kicked them. The German commander hegan to parley, without success. loaded Rifles Levelled. Ho Ehen , ordered a file of twenty' soldiers to load and present 'arms. Some of the Belgians, overcome witli fear, yielded, and.the rest followed. Work began under . most unhealthy conditions. Their clothes were drenched.with Tain, and '•'there was no means of drying them. They became weaker every; day. .'They ate. raw cabbages and potatoes, and were glad to cook a' hedgehog. The weak fell exhausted, and the .-strongest sickened. The complaints of tiold and hunger were unheeded, despite 'repeated promises, and men grew seriously ill. Every day some of their Comrades died in thesofireless, tfSdless stables. Their- sufferings lasted a •week, and then the Germans, evidently •realising that it was useless to employ men under such conditions,'. allowed them to return home. They arrived St Ghent after a journey of twentyteight hours without food or drink.— •Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.