WAR PRISONERS COME HOME.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVII, Issue 266, 20 April 1915, Page 7

WAR PRISONERS COME HOME.

BRITISH WOUNDED FROM GERMANY. STORY OF HARDSHIP. Seven British officers and 93 men, who are unfit for iyiy military service—the first batch of the exchanged prisoners oi war—arrived at Utrecht this morning (says a correspondent of the London Express, writing on February 10), on the way to England by Flushing and Folkestone, where they will arrive to-morrow evening. > I came here to meet them and hear their impressions. It was a sad errand to visit the men in their hospital train. I was allowed to see them for a few minutes. They look as well as possible, but their severe wounds, in addition to their, captivity under the most terribly cruel circumstances, have ndt a little contributed to undermine their energies. Still they do not complain much. What keeps up their spirits is that they are going to see their homes soon. Both officers and men carry home the leading impression that the Germans are treating British prisoners with the avowed intention of starving them. While ttic French and Russians are well treated, the English are underfed, and hardly allowed any clothes. One said: "Our food was hardly fit for dogs, and there was very little of it. Do not be amprised that we _ are all 'bo thin. NOT ENOUGH FOOD.

"When we asked for more food, an officer said, 'Complain to your own people; they are depriving us of food.' "For the least offence food was withheld from us, and we were tied to trees and kicked. 'No smoking was allowed. Obviously the Germans are furious at the British people. They, acknowledge _it, saying, 'Had it not been for the English the war would be over, and we would be victors.'"

The prisoners were a little amazed when we told them about the progress of the war. The Germans had not allowed them to read anything but German papers. They thought the Germans had really been continuously victorious.

One officer whose legs were shot off at Charleroi told me he had asked an officer for a softer bed, as his was terribly hard. The lieutenant said. "If I give it and the colonel. knows I will have to resign." It was only when the news came that the prisoners were to bo exchanged that the officers were more considerate towards those leaving, evidently fearing their revelations.

The general conduct of the Germans to the British prisoners has been monstrous, and it is wonderful that they managed to outlive their terrible physical suffering, coupled with the humiliations which, were inflicted on them by the Germans.