SLAV PRISONERS IN ITALY

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 283, 19 August 1918, Page 6

SLAV PRISONERS IN ITALY

WELCOME FREEDOM FROM AUSTRIAN TYRANNY HOW THEY HEARD THE TRUTH I have just paid a visit extending over several days to various, forts and concentration camps in Italy for prisoners of war in order to establish a comparison between the methods of treating prisoners in Austria and Italy (wrote tho Milan correspondent of tho London "Times" in a. recent article). 1 found myself for the most part among friends, and friends devoted to the cause of tho Entente and asking to prove their devotion at any price. A great air of festivity roijrned in certain sections of these camps. The Rome Congress marked a change in the Italian attitude towards Austrian prisoners in Italy, who now for the first iJmo had been separated according to race, and those who aspire to the vindication of their nation's liberty by tlio arms of democratic peoples were at Inst freed from the odious contact of those whom they have nover ceased to proclaim their tyrants and persecutors, the Germans and Magyars. This whole-hearted, adherence of the JugoSlave is perhaps the greatest triumph which the Entente has achieved by its recently manifested distinction between the Hapsburg Government and the Hapsbu.rg governed. ■' ,

Of-these among tho Southern Slavs, the Croatians and Slovenes admit franklythnt they were induced to fight at the beginning through the moral persuasion of two lies —first, that Italy sought the conquest of these peoples, therefore better a known tyranny than an unknown; secondly, that Italy sought to oppress the spiritual functions of the Pope; 'therefore, as Catholics in fighting forAustria they were fighting for the Pope. Great ha« been their amazement on finding that -Italy only desired for her neighbours that liberty whicli she demands for her own sons, and that the Italians fighting Austria were as good Catholics as they themselves. ■ Dawn of New Era. The sanction of the Itai-.an Government to the Rome agreements has. given them new hope. Almoit 'half of these Austrian subjects on entering the Italian prison camps asked as a supreme favour to be permitted to throw away their caps, which were to them symbolic of Hapsburg tyranny. You therefore see great numbers of them proudly sporting odds and ends of Italian uniform, anything which makes them seem to themselves less Austrian. They have decorated innumerable rooms where they have passed their imprisonment with flags and coats of arms of the Allies, and every evidenco of their allegiance to Austria has fallen from them like a mantle. This in spite of the fact that they knew they were surrounded by German and Magyar spies, and that it meant the ruin of their lives if Austria won the war, and perhaps risking tho Government subsidies to their families during the war. And yet they have persevered. A proportion of the officers represent the iron - system of. cn-ste government by which Austria is held together. Tho number of Germans and Magyars among them.is, of course, out of all proportion; to the 'men., Even here, however, independence, is. the greatest boon. ' All I officirs are now being sent to one camp. Two whom I saw were insisting with the greatest vehemence on remaining where they were, on the ground of being Ukrainians and therefore members of an already liberated people. There is no need to eiate to the Allies of Italy that her iprisoners of war are treated with the greatest consideration, such as was contemplated by the civilised men who framed The Hague Convention in this regard. Tho Italian Press has often complained; that.these enemy hostages were treated better than tho Italian soldiers themselves. Those who have control of Italy's, prisoners of war say that, "whatever may be our victory, our great triumph will be what those who have been in our power say tilxjut us."

In ono sector where 30,000 prisoners have been confined only one in 500 has eve: been ill. The only officer who died was one who killed.himself on learning that ho was.to be transferred to another prison. ' ' \' ' : ' / Employment of Prisoners. '

There is now a great demand for prisoners for all .varieties of work, from fishing to shoemaking. They aIL receive 65 centimes (about 6(1.) per day from the Italian Government, and those who do piecework a great deal more Their food ■Iβ the same as that ot tho Italian soldier at the front: Black colfee, with sugar, in the morning (.in spito of the great sugar difficulties in Italy at the present moment); at noon, rice'; and vegetable soup or pasta at night; or pasta, meat or fish, and over lib. of bread per day.. (Your correspondent, together with most Italian citizens, receives only one-third of this ration per.day.) Well-filled canteens, with •everything at cost price, are at the disposal of>the enemy prisoners. Although tho climate of Italy is bo much warmer ■than their own, .the Austrian prisoners have received from 401b. to 501b. weight of wood per day throughout the winter months for every workroom and dormitory. Cigarettes are at cost price. ■ The" contrast between the humanity ot the Italians and.the efforts of the Italian Government, who have oftercd the most liberal hospitality, oombined with the/ heavenly clemency of tho Italian climate, and the undeniable evidenco ot how Austria treats. . Italian prisoners comes home with a shock to those who visit Nervi and other Kiviera health resorts iii these days. The Count Against Austria. Austria cannot be blamed for her often Tigorous climate (although there is no reason why she should put her southern prisoners where S'i degrees below ?oro is. the average winter rending), nor can she be blamed fov a food famine which lias 'left no corner of her territory untouched; but the whole world must rise up against her for her inhuman .treatment of helpless prisoners and nor complete disregard for her signature to The Hague Conventions. She employs all Italian prisoner* who can stand an their two feet, often under fire. These receive no recompense whatever. Those who work for private; masters receive what caprice- dictates to their overlord?. No Italian soldier ever had fuel furnished him bj-' the Austrian Government. As to food, whereas Austrian soldiers receive bread, polenta, carrots, and m.'at every day, Italian working prisoners receive in. the norning imitation coffee without sugar; at noon, 5 or G, p.m., carrot shavings in salt wator, a herring (without dressing), or sauerkraut i\ ounces of bread, and (not always) twice a week, less than 2oz. of meal. Hospital fare is very litllo better, • and, what ought to go down to tho eternal discredit of'the Hapsburg Monarchy, no medicine and no attention whatever in the hospitals. As no medical dressings are provided, prisoners are reduced to using the linen, wrappings of their packages from home to dress their wounds, and innumerable havo been tho cases of frostbite which Italian soldiers have received while in bed in Austrian hospitals. 'Let all the world judgo between them.