Reported Shooting

Hokitika Guardian, 23 April 1917, Page 1

Reported Shooting

LONDON, April 21

The “Daily Chronicle’s” Amsterdam correspondent lias obtained from a reliable cource an educated German deserter’s statement of the shooting m ■British prisoners. The deserter says that in June, 1915, be saw ten British prisoners captured. A German Sergcan-Major of cavalry named Xieme was ordered to take the prisoners. Tie only went a short distance ami then said: “We do not want to be bothered with these fellows. The ten British prisoners were then placed in a line and shot. On another occasion two hundred British prisoners token at Loos were sent to Frankfort, but only eight arrived, the remainder being shot. The deserter said he had heard of worse cases than these two which were within his knowledge. Ife added that responsible officers did not order- the shooting of prisoners', but in one instance a lieutenant was sentenced for doing so and merely received five days in prison, but Guard sergeants often ordered the shooting.

German Strikers.

BERNE, April 20. Three thousand at the St Adell Company’s munition works at Nuremburg struck on Thursday declaring that the food was not 'sufficient. AMSTERDAM, April 20. Twenty five thousand munition workers continue the strike at Berlin wmeu affects the output. A semi- official report from Berlin announces. revolts at Madgeburg following the demonstrations by youths and women.

Hindenburg on Strikes.

LONDON, April 2d. A wireless from Berlin says that General Hindenburg has sent a micssagge to the War Office regarding the Berlin strikes. He admitted that the population had been hard hit by the decreased bread ration and did not doubt that the authorities would fulfil their promises respecting the collutjon and distribution of foodstuffs, therefore ' he was unable to see why the workers., should use. the food situation to justify strikes, while the position on the West Front demands the undiminished production of war supplies. “This task,” he says “takes precedence of all others. Every strike weakens the defensive force and constitutes a crime / against the troops, especially the men in the trenches, who must bleed in consequence.”