HUN METHODS.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 June 1917, Page 9

HUN METHODS.

TREATMENT OF PRISONERS. STORY OP ESCAPED AUSTRAIIANS. (By 0. E. W. Bean, Official \Reportcr with Australian Forces). British Headquarters, May 22. There reached the Australian lines" t(T 'lay two Western Australians who had been taken prisoner by the Germans when the Hindenburg line was first broken by the Australian troops on April 11. They were cut off, with 750 others, from all parts of the Australian force, after that magnificent attempt to seize and hold the Hindenburg line without the help of the artillery. From fthe first the Gsrmans starved these men, while working them mercilessly. They say that many of the prisoners are now falling so ill that even the Germans see that some can work no. longer. From the day the Western Australians were captured they never had one blanket. They lay on straw through the coldest nights. Their ration consisted of one loaf of bread between seven men, 1 with stewed turnips and two cups of coffee daily. French civilians and priests were constantly trying to help them with little gifts of food, but this was done at great risk. One woman who was caught giving food was knocked over tlie head by a German and taken away. They say that the Germans are deliberately trying to cause dissension between Australian and Britain. They were told by the Germans that they could writ© anything they pleased about hard treatment and short rations, provided thej» §aid in the letters that it \v •punishment for the English employing German prisoners under shell lire. Needless to say, this accusation, is utterly untrue, and was only made in order to give the German an excuse for using all possible labor behind the front. These Australians said that a French prisoner told them that he had been made to carry rations to the front line Hag—a breach of all international lam. The Australians themselves were sent within shell range in working gangs. They became thin from want of food. Finally, two days ago, they decided "we will have either bacon or death for 'breakfast." They escaped, made their way across a lino of trenches, and finally reached the Australian lines. They state that the German invariably asked them how England was standing the submarine campaign. BRUTAL TREATMENT. DIRECT EVIDENCE PROVIDED.' May 24. I have seen the two Western Australians' who made their way back to iOur lines after five weeks' captivity. There is not the slightest doubt that the Germans treated these men with deliberate .brutality. As they inarched through the villages the French attempted to give them food. A woman offered them a loaf of bread, but the guards hit her in the face and knocked her down. A little girl ran out with broad but was slapped on the face. A man offered them a bucket of water, but the guards upset the pail over him, am' throw it after him. The Australians finally induced the big Guards to let them gather dandelions, stinging nettles, and other herbs, which can be eaten, and they lived on these and on potato peeHngs. thrown out by soldiers. One Western Australian dropped on the roadside. Others are falling sick at the rate of four per day.