The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1914-09-05

aeon.
CLAN guard. "they have been
under shrapnel."
Shrapnel 10 hell fire In a fight.
u drives hardened soldiers In
sane. 10 II any wonder that
soldiers who have nothing to
win or lose hate and fear this
war;
by virtue OF the war department
pass which admitted me. | begin
to talk with the prisoners. One. n
workman from northwestern Prus-
STA. proves the most laxative. He
Is n trades unionist. inteliigently
anu-military.
we did not wish TO come" he
said TO me as he leaned against n
post In the great parade yard. but
In the CONSUMPTION countries who
cares what a workman wishes :
When we modified. our officers
said a battle was Just like the I'M
perial maneuvers. That In not true.
With the first rifle fire there came
upon MS . fierce fear.
AT each round men fell-men one
knew. Before our eyes they died
horribly. For whatY when the big
guns. field guns. howitxers. quick
firers were all booming and banging
together. then | knew the people
should be able TO prevent wars.
we fought without knowing why.
Our officers told us how Austria
had beaten Servia: that Russia and
Japan were fighting: that the
French president was assasslnated.
mune. Therefore. said our officers.
we must cross Belgium In railway
trains In order 10 fight on the IRON
tier and save Belgium from the
French invaders.
How should we know the truth ?
Until we saw the infantry at Tire
mont. none suspected that we
fought the Belgians. Then our off
GERS told us we must hack our way
through. That II the kaiscr's word.
~Our officers ordered that we
march until the whistle shriilcd
Stop: that we fire at tho enemies
ears Our officers boast they will
lose a million men TO develop the
plan OF campaign. This Is an Off.
GERS war.
when we were taken prisoners
by tho Belgians we were too tired
TO care. Not for seven nights had
we enjoyed rest ] and all the
others waited to be shot when we
surrendered. Instead, we were
marched TO railway and given
seats In a train: four prisoners 20
one armed guard. and the Belgians
gave US water.
For a week We had fought these
people. A week OF cavalry battles.
f29 miles march In eight days. The
gun horses died OF thirst. And our
captors gave us pannikins OF water.
Other guards brought us bread, 20
each prisoner two-pound loaf. For
IL days we had had no rations. only
small piece OF sausage and two
spoonfuis OF peas
"Our commisariat broke down be
fore this campaign was begun. The
officers had their menu. the troops
went hungry. We are as nothing in
the kaiser's war. Did I not tell you
one million OF us are to be killed
to test the plan OF campaign?
But an emperor greater than
the kaiser said that battles are
won with legs. HE knew. Es-
haustion ended our endurance.
II was the starvation rations
that brought about our down.
fall. When we had eaten and
drunk the food Of our captors,
one Of them said: There 10 no
beer here; take these clgarets.
A smoke will do you good.
Wherefore should we make you
suffer7 This 10 the kalsers
war
80 they brought us here to Bru-
ges. On the first night came an
officer with cards in his hands.
Then we said each TO the next:
Here IS the man who will order us
to be shot To each prisoner the
officer gave a card--a postcard.
Write home that you are alive and
safe, he ordered. Belgium does not
make war upon women Therefore,
we did as he said. being thankful.
and for two days we slept. Not for
week before had we known real
sleep.
"The Belgian field army are not
flre-eaters. They are workmen like
ourselves In times Of peace. But
each soldier knows what he must
do, and why. Therefore. we did not
dIslodge them. The German army
ls different. THERE no one dare
think for himself. The officers are
tools OF the general staff, the
soldiers tools OF the officers.
when our officers are picked of
by the enemy we must throw us
our hands"