PRISONERS IN TURKEY.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 April 1918, Page 7

PRISONERS IN TURKEY.

I BRITISH SOLDIERS ILL-TREATED. SCENES FROM "INFERNO." TOWNSHEND'S JOURNEY NORTH. Melbourne, Feb. 14. Senator Pearce, Minister for Defence, lias issued a report concerning the treatment of British prisoners of war in Turkey. The memorandum was drawn up by the American Consul stationed in the district of Adana. "The expedition against the Dardanelles," he says, "resulted.in few prison, ers of war, and such »s there were were delivered by the Turks into the hands of the Baghdad Railway Construction Company, which employed them in and about the town of Belemedik in the Taurus Mountains. They were under the supervision of Chief-Engineer Havrocordat (Austrian subject), who saw to their comfort as far as possible. In the fall of 1910 they were well supplied with clothing (save for a few minor necessities), had what food was obtained in the region, enjoyed much freedom of movement, and for the most part were in good health.

Several who were in a disabled condition because of a former wound requested to be exchanged. Up to the end of May a large number of the original British and French prisoners from the Dardanelles remained in B'elemedik, preferring to woric for the engineer in question rather than risk bad treatment in the camps at Afion, etc. "There were cases of ill-treatment reported to me from the subordinate engineers .specially from a certain fanatical German-Swiss. But this was the exception. The prisoners here received large quantities of clothing and comforts sent by the American Embassy at Constantinople (some at my solicitation), and their packages sent by relatives and friends in England. No" other prisoners succeeded in getting the'packages sent them from home. The prisoners received medical attention from two British doctors.

GENERAL TOWNSH^ND. "The first officers who came from Kut El Mara (General Townshend and party) arrived in Tarsus early in June, and con. tinued to pass through that city and vicinity on their way from Baghdad northwards. They were in most cases well looked after. Upon their .arrival Mr railroad they were transferred to German automobiles (lorries), and taken to Bozanti, the terminus of the line from Constantinople, and went thence to their destination. "Early in July the' first batch of soldiers (about 20 men) arrived in the district. They were placed in the Turkish hospital, and were in terribly low condition. The military governor, Hemzy Pasha, finally permitted me to give the prisoners who survived money for clothing, food, etj. The distribution was made by an American.

HAD TO SELL CLOTHING FOR FOOD. "The great nass of prisoners from Kut remained south of Bas-ul-Ain for a long time, but the majority of English (as distinguished from native) prisoners were sent to work on the Baghdad line in the district of Adana when they arrived in July, 1916. They were compelled to march overland from Baghdad most of the way. Exhausted, though they already were, practically no provision for their feeding was made. Most were compelled to sell their clothing and kits to purchase what little food could be found along the wayside. "I talked with German soldiers, who had given them something to eat. They described how the English would bo compelled, famished as they were to lick the plates after the Germans had had their meals; yet their stolid, quiet resignation to their sufferings was remarked by everyone. Indeed, this may have been disadvantageous, as had they clamoured more the Turkish authorities would most likely have seen to it that they received something. "I arranged to have them supplied with such undergarments, shirts, and native shoes as could be procured locally. The men were given extra rations, and allowed to rest for a short period before being sent to work, but the railway engineers were to 0 impatient, and sought to drive the men to work before their condition permitted it, even using unnecessary severity in some cases to endeavor to get them to work. "Early in September over a thousand English prisoners were suddenly transported from Bagtche and other points Bouth of Adana northwards. They were put in railway cars that went as far as Kulek station, north of Tarsus, and then had to. inarch for several days over the Taurus Mountains on foot to Bozanti station. When it is remembered that many of the men were very sick, that all were in an exhausted condition, and none had received any rations for the journey, and no food was given them at any point on the way, the sufferings and hardships of the men'j may be imagined.

MANY PELL, NEVER TO RISE AGAIN. "They were driven along by the 'butt of a gendarme's musket. Many fell by the wayside, never to rise again. A few succeeded in taking refuge in the German and Austrian military camps in the Taurus,_ where they were succoured, and where I was able to send them money. The first great body was, however, driven on across the mountains at the butt of the musket, many falling by the way; and their passage resembled a scene v from Dante's Inferno. This comparison was made by an Austrian officer.

AMERICAN CONSUL INTERVENES. "I hurriedly appealed to the military Governor of Adana, and was able to persuade him to place about 20 men in the hospitals of Adana, and a like number in the building of. the American College in Tarsus. There the American physician and his trained English-speak-ing assistants were permitted to look after their food, render medical aid, and give those able to travel money and rations for their journey to the concentration camps in the north. "Despite the best care the majority of the men were too far gone to recover, and more than half of the original arrivals died in Tarsus and Adana, where they were buried in the Protestant Missionary grounds after an English burial service had been read over them. No distinct mark could be placed over each i separate grave, but a record of all the men who died and are buried in Adana ia being kept."