CRUEL TREATMENT OF BELGIAN SLAVES.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 6, Issue 281, 1 June 1917, Page 3 (Supplement)

CRUEL TREATMENT OF BELGIAN SLAVES.

REFUSED TO WORK TOR THE ENEMY.

MEN BROKEN' ANT) KILLED BY THE GERMANS.

h.-mo fresh details of the ~hookin" treatment of Belgian deportees in (Jert many have been received by the Belgian Government. The report conies from a number of men ex-apod from Germany.

Alter deciding how all men from 17 to ">."> years (J | ago in their village, except the few who consented to work for the enemy in Germany, were taken to n camp at Miicnstor, the report pro. coeds :

'" \Yc met in the c.mip a meat number of doportoo> from Mnns and the surround:ng district. They had arrived six week), before, and were in a most pitiable condition. Two of them died betore our eyes in one day. .Strong men of 20 to :il) were absolutely worn our, and walked like old men, with bout backs and shuffling feet. Tliev had undergone terrible experiences. •• Having refused to work for the enemy, they had been taken to a, punishmint cam j) (straflagor), where they had been compelled to work in the marshes during 12 days m the coldest weathet with only their shirt and trousers on, without food, during the whole day. "Olio day a patrol trained a machinegun on them and. as they still refused to sign an engagement, they were fired at with blank cartridges. Another day sold'ers threatened them with rifles and bayonets. YA'o only met a.t Mcuii-tor part of those who survived this treatmeant.

CHEATED Of THEIR WAGES. "There was in the (amp a labour bureau visited by all the employers of tho surrounding towns. Some of us, unable to stand the regime of the camp i'.uy longer, and hoping to be able to escape more easily if we were not under immediate military supervision, consented to work in the Mannesmaun munition factory at GeLsenkirehcn.

"Wo were promised a daily salary of 7s to Us, out of which 2s I<l. would be taken for our hoard and lodjiinji- We wcro allowed to correspond with our relatives in Belgium and to receive parcels from them. We were promised leave after two months in order to go to Belgium, and to he definitely re-Icai-ed after four months. "But, after a few work we soon realised that none of these promises would he kept. Our cards to Belgium never reached their destination, and our salary was not paid. They took 3s. for our hoard, and after six weeks at GeNenkirchen we were only given 7s 9d, one day's wage. We finally succeeded in reaching tho frontier at the, end of January last.''