MURDERED IN A HUN COMPOUND

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 68, 14 December 1918, Page 8

MURDERED IN A HUN COMPOUND

SCOTS GUARDS Jf AN SHOT IN COLD , BLOOD.

The murder of a British soldier by'a Qcrman soldier in a Gorman compound on January 17 last is described by a British prisoner who has arrived in Holland.

The murdered man was Privato Barry, of the Scots Guards. He was in a receiving compound utSennolnger, used for men proceeding on and returning from "kommandos." In this compound there wore sixty-two prisoners of war, of all nationalities. It is in this place that men aro bathed and searched, "At about 5 a.m. on the morning of January 18," slates the man in Holland, "a German soldier entered the room and ordered eight inou to draw the coffee from tho camp, which is about 500 yards away from the receiving compound. Seven prisoners of war complied with the order, but as the English cannot drink tho Goi'mnn coffoc, no Englishman wont forward to draw the coffee for the twelvo Englishmen there. "The German soldier ordered Private Barry, Scots Guards, f<> fetch the coffee. •Private Barry said that thoy could not drink tho coffee. Ho ordered him a second lime, ami Private Barry again refused. The sentry then attempted to strike Privato Bary with tho butt of his rifle. Private Bnrry pushed the rifle down with his two hands. "Tho sentry then ordered the remainder of the prisoners to the other side of thu room, then turning about he walked to the door, a distance of about ten paces. On turning about again thoro were, two Frenchmen standing in front of Private Barry in the line of lire. Ho ordered these two Fronchmen to get over to tho left. He threw open his ovorcout and came to tho aim; as the aim was not comfortable ho cleared his shoulder of. tho overcoat. He then camo (o the aim a second timo and fired, hitting Barry in the left side. He died in about four minutes.

"Tho twelve British witnesses, whose names and regiments aro in my possession, nre- prepared to swear that this action did not tako placo in tho heat of tho moment, but wae absolutely dolibcrato on the part of tho 'German eoldicr.

"1 myself went to this room to lake a lintli, and I naiv Private Bnwy's body lying on the floor as it had fallon, with (ho exception that it was then covered with a greatcoat. The body was removed before we were admitted to the room, but tho blood was on tho floor whero he had fallen. Ono eye-witness reconstructed tho whole action for iuo. I niynelf paced tho distauco from whore Private liarry fell to the doorway from ivhere tho German coldinr had fired; the distance- was ten uuoes."