MONS HEROES RETURN.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1541, 20 April 1916, Page 4

MONS HEROES RETURN.

BACK FROM GERMANY. STORIES OF PRIVATIONS

To thy shrill greeting of ihe syrens ami whistles of many Thames craft, the Oranje Nassau steamed up-river on the evening of March 6. with some 160 Hritieti on hoard rtfleased from Germany.

Of these about 10'0 were disabled British soldiers, a number of whom had been wounded in the battle of Mens. The majority of the civilians were wdinen—some married. with children; but mostly governesses in Herman homos —who had boon compelled to leave Germany under tiie recent expulsion order. Few of them had reason to complain of their treatment in Germany or during the passage home. They were two inexpressibly glad and relieved to see English sights and faces again.

Not more than 18 came from the camp at Ruldcbcn. Among these was a greybearded old seaman named Graves, whose home is in Boston. Lines. He has Iven a. captive in Germany since the first days of the war. “I was engineer of a steam trawler of Boston,” lie said, “and on August 22, 1914, we wore fishing in the North Sea. Suddenly -a German submarine rose some little distance away, and tlio commander gave us two minutes to get into a small boat. They placed three bombs on our craft, and we hud hardly been shut down under the hatches of the submarine before I heard the little ship blown up. SHAVED ON ONE SIDE.

“At Heligoland we were put on a cruiser and subsequently landed at Wilhelinshaven. There ive were driven into a field, together with a water-cart. They shaved our heads and beards one on side only—in order, I suppose, to praveiili any attempt at escape —and tor seven days we had no food (o cat. and only the wafer in (he water-cart, to drink.

“After that we were sent to Ruldeben. and there one of my mates died, fur want of nothing but proper food .and care. After a few months I myself fell ill with bronchitis and pneumonia. In March, 1915, I was allowed to go into hospital, and there I slaved until last Sunday, when X was told L was being sent back to England.” It. was noticed that a- few of the men had been provided with artificial limlXs. though these were thrown aside, one man remarking that they were “no good.” If, was suggested that the provision of these artificial limbs was hut another of the means hy which the Germans hoixid to create a favourable impression of thoir treatment of the British wounded. FATE OF RUSSIAN WOUNDED.

One of tJio nil'll related an astounding story of Gorman frightfulness towards Russian prisoners. About 2000 of those Russians wore taken practically into the firing-line in Franco. It was said that they wore definitely hoard of in flic neighbonrhood of Mau'bcuge. On reaching the Gorman lines they wore given spades and made to work at trench-digging. They were cruelly underfed, and after working for days and nights were often in a famished and exhausted condition. During the time they wore at the front there was some intense artillery fighting, and they found themselves in the midst of bursting shells. Many of them were killed and wounded. Some soldiers describe how articles of clothing sent to thorn from England were first cut up, especially when of wool, before being handed to the lawful owners. Nothing but official spite can have been 1 tho object. Gibers spoke of the shn.’.i.igly hard labour to which many prisoners were put. Some were ordered to build Zeppelin sheds,, but all refused. For this a year’s imprisonment with hard labour was ordered.