Evening journal., 1914-12-26

Vilroncls OF war; up 10 now, their num-
Der is more than $4,000. L saw how
they are treated and have spoken 10
several hundred French prisoners With
ont an exception, they all spoke, filed
with gratitude of the mild and humane
treatment by their captors. They get
the same nourishing. warm food as the
German soldier geia. Just today '
visited a camp in which the French
prisoners could cook their own meals
They had asked for more vegetables
and less meat for soups, which request
was instantly complied with. This hu-
name treatment caused no little aston
ishment with the lrenchncn, as they
expected something much different. Once
had conversation vi th o number OF
prisoners at an ARTILLERY stand, who were
made prisoners few hours before. Some
Oi them looked rather crestfallcn, ask
ing what Fate would have in store for
them. They showed me their wounds,
speaking OF their wives and children
with tears running down their checks
J. answered them that the first thing
waiting for them Wns "a steomng hot
soup bowl and bread then doctor so
examine and drcss their wounds. Then
] told them that while being kent pris-
oners they would not be- doomed ~
ldleness. but some kind Of work would
bc given TO them. until ultimately. fhev
would be sent back go their native
country and their family. when peace
would be swayinr It's sccpifo over IN.
rope again. II was touching sight.
when, by hearing this their cnroworn
faces frightened up, changing from
gloom TO happiness, after they had
/ spent weeks in damp trenches and
standing there in their soilcd blue coats
and red trousers.
With doubt aud sorrow, have I read
IN foreign papers, that the French pris.
oher were kept, 10 say the leaht, in
very rigorous confinement.
With my honor, ] stand for IL, that
is base licl
"Behind the firing line not one French
mans or another mans life is in any
danger, 50 far as science and human
help can save. I have not heard ono
single German officer speak with bitter
ness or hatred over France. All, with
out an exception. bear an honest. out
| spoken sympathy for this grand and
beautiful land. Out there in the trenches
/ lie the German and French soldiers. kill.
/ ing each other with rifles, guns, gattling
guns aud bayonets, but here, behind the
firing line the Germans offer cigarettes
! 10 their once enemies thus showing
them IN admirable cheyalicresque COM
radcship.
mol There is 10 hatred against
/ France in Germany. Germans would
never have touched single French city
on French soil, nor have sent one bullet
lacross the frontier if it would not have
! been compelled TO against its will Ger
many never wanted anything, but to
live in peaceful friendship with its neigh
Dor ON the west. France would have
/ had countless more years to look for
ward TO in peaceful developments and
security, il some adventurcrs without
any conscience, would not have driven
her 10 this catastrophe, which now, like
a thunder cloud, hangs over its land.
scape, SO dearly beloved all over the
world.
"FTance is bleeding, and is bleeding
itself to death Tor its friends in the
Triple Entente.
"Who is to blame, that is the dis
astrous thought, Tor Reyanche,' now
/ - years old, was kept alive? Were
not Alsace and Lorraine German for
many centuries, until Louis XIV, robbed
them, az the same time devastating hum
dreds OF German cities and kilometers
of territotry. Who is to blame, that
the industrious and thrifty people were
plnneed IN far greater misfortuney
rs there one who would believe that
French craftsmanship will allow itself
to be dredged into a new 50-year per-
iod OF French armament and artiicially
stirred national hatredg
1T is most probable that the reused
German nation with its powerful re-
sources, viii bring about a condition OF
safety toward the west by utter force.
"Where is The French patriot who
dares, before it is too late, TO stand
before his people and say that it should
Join hands with Germany for existence
sake? No, France allows itself to be
melted by its friends (?). and doesn't
consider that Germany, which is fight
ing for its very life, will continue 20
fight to the last drop Of blood of man
and horse. And here on the front il
is not very hard to find out who has
TO give way first.
Hopeless, too, seems to be this fight
iiermany's enemies, when one sees
tn ease with which Germany was able
20 raise a loan of 100000 marks
within its own borders. IL is my perso-
nal conviction. and have heard it from
men OF highest authority, that a like
sum could be raised at any given 4imc.
Germany is immensely rich. Germany
won't think of peace until it has been
victorious on both fronts One has to
consider, too, that this immense sum
stays in the country. Some days ago
the troops at the place where 1 am at
present had their pay. The next dav
} 25O.OOO marks were sent home through
the field post by registered letter, and
this is only small place on this gi-
gantic front.
II can give to the neutral states
the only advice; To read the reports of
the papers about the progress of the
war with critical and common
sense.
"Never before has the world witnessed
such mass of printed lies as in
/ this war. Germany is the target Of
defamation and systcmaticallv ar
ranged report of lies. lies and lies again.
One can hardly believe his own ewes
When he secs the reports of certain
papers. They do not even shrink back
from slandering the Kaiser in the most
dctosiablc form. ! have seen the Kaiser
out here and know that he sticks TO his
E post as an example for his soldiers. and
his whole army worships him. / know
and ] can youch for IT, with NV honor
that the Kaiser has employed all avail
able means that were in his power. 20
stay this terrible war. Peace or Fuied-