Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1914-09-11
NEWSPAPERMEN
HAVE THRILLING
INDEPENDENCE
Five Correspondents Who Sent
Laudatory Message Regard
ing Germans, When Free
Tell Of Actual Treatment, .


500 o. m-l--The party Of American
corresponding who accompanied tho
9ermnA army for nearly two weeks
across Belgium and into France
found themselves safe on Dutch soil
today after being held prisoners by
the Germans for four days under UNI
usual circumstance. The Associated
Prcss correspondent reached Rotter-
dam late last night
For the last week the party had
heen under surveillance az Aix-ias
chapellc whittier they had been
brought on train with prisoners
from beaumont. Belgium. The party
included Roger Lewis. the Associated
Press; Irwin $. Cobb. the Saturday
Evening Post and the Philadelphia
Public Ledger: james O'Donneil
Bennett and John r. Mecntcheon.
the Chicago Tribune, and Harry Han
sen. the Chicago Daily News.
Other War Service Men.
With them on the trip TO Alx-la-
Chapelle were three other correspond
cnts. Maurice Gerbauld. a Belgian
correspondent; Lawrence Stein Stew
ems, an American artist. formerly Of
Detroit. and Victoria Hennebeard,
King Albert's special photographer.
The party Of five Americans left
Brussels on August 2s with special
military passes and were the only
correspondents who were successful
in following the German army.
The party succeeded in ~marchIng
along with tina army. sometimes In
sight Of fighting. until Beaumont was
reached. Here the Germans had es-
tnblished temporary headquarters.
At Beaumont the correspondents were
held up by Commandant Mitton-
dorfer. whose suspicious against all
newspaper men had been aroused by
party Of three correspondents pick
ed up the previous day. who repre-
sented themselves as Americans al
though two Of them were Belgians.
The trio were taken TO a Beaumont
jail. The party included Gerbauld.
Stevens and Kennebeard and the ne
gro chauffeur All were arrested for
photographng and travelling In an
which unlawfully carried
a Red Cross flag.
sleep ON Stone Floor.
The American party was allowed to !
spend the night on the stone floor of 4
a Belgian school house which had 4
been converted into barracks for the
German troops The correspondents
were courteously treated by the sol +
diers who after the days 30 miles
march sang. danced and otherwise
them royalty until day
light.
The next day the Americans were +
kept waiting in the public square in
the center OF group which included
Prince August Wilhelm, the third son
u the emperor and other high mill
tary authorities.
After being repeatedly told they
we're not prisoners the Americans
we're locked up with the other three
arrested the day be-
ere stevens had already heen sen
enced 20 be shot as an English spy. |
III duii WIN DtHamite.
The jail was filthy and one side
vas stacked with tons of German high
rather uncomfortable
'ltuation, IN view Of the fact that
lther prisoners were constantly light
ng cigarettes under cover of their
traw bedding.
After a short incarceration, the
americans, through the Kindness of |
German lieutenant, were removed to
small cafe adjoining the prison to
which later they were followed by
he other three suspects who were
he cause OF their detention.
For two nights they slept on the
loor under q heavy guard and still /
Fere told that they were not prison
rs, but warned that they would be
hot II they moved one step out Of
he house After they had given
heir word Of honor that they would
ot attempt to escape. their guard
fas doubled. No food was supplied
he prisoners, their only sustenace be-
1g bottle Of wine. During their
the Americans receiv-
d an alarming visit from an intoxi-
aled German officer who called
hem English spies and insisted on
living convincing demonstrations of
ne sharpness OF his sword when he
card English spoken.
Strict Orders 70 Guards.
Finally one night the Americans
ere taken with hundred French
nd hundred English prisoners to
prison train, he destination of
hich was unknown. They were ask
] politely enough by the German OF
GERS 10 Walk alongside the prison
y and act as guards. At the same
me the officer said In an aside TO
lie German guard:
Keep your eyes open on those
merioans. II they move or step
ON the ranks shoot them
The train, carrying besides the pris-
lers several cars Of wounded Ger
an soldiers arrived at Alx-la-cha-
lie after two days slow journey. H
All eight Of the correspondence
ere packed into a single second class
'artment without food or drink and
the meicy Of Belgian snlpers who
eauently fired from houses as the
ain passed The party arrived at
x-ia-chapelle carefully guarded.
I'd was forbidden 10 leave the city.
The surveillance of the military i