Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-09-06
Herded In Filthy Cars
on Trip to Germany
Return Journey
Also Terrible, Says
CORRESPONDENT.

TO the London Times from its corre-
spondent here says:
TN Client in Bruges. Ostend and IN
Blankenberg I have gathered from the
lips of the exiles from Louva1n stories
OF their treatment at the HANDS OIL tiie
Prussians. The day Of the hornoard1nei'
of Louvain Prussian officer. accom-
panied by Red Cross nurse, enlereu
the city with the information that the
German troops were about to sheii II.
They advised the inhabitants to get out
at once by the two free routes. Twelve
or thirteen hundred people thereupon
took to fight, and we're permitted to
get as far as Rotselaer There they en-
countered the main German army ana
were arrested. the women and chlldren
being separated from the men.
After an anxious period OF Waltln ~
the women and children were allowed 10
proceeAl, but then began terrible Jour
ney that drove many mad and others 10
scIf-destruction. Like so many brutes'
merchants. brewers, lawyers. engineers
and representatives OF all social grades
were herded into cars which had served
for the transport of horses ana We're
inches deep in filth. Into each car ninety
men were crushed at the point OF the
bayonet. The unhappy prisoners. OF
course. had to stand and. to add to the
horrors of the fetid atmosphere. the
doors were shut and only fugitive rays
of light filtered through the chinks.
Without Food or Drink.
For two hours they were kept like
this at the Louvain station, after which
the train left for Cologne via Liege and
Nerviers. The journey occupied about
fifty hours, and the Belgians during this
time had neither food nor drink.
After such an experience said a
prOrnfnaDf business of I.Ouyain to
me, hell itself can have no terrors.
Once strong physically and prosperous,
the man is now nervous wreck ana
destitute. living on the charity OF friends,
their turn tomorrow.
Arrived at Cologne, the prisoners were
marched through jeerinS crowds to the
exhibition gardens. Men and women
surged around the pitiful band. hurting
at them vile epithets and shouting 'Zum
tod (lliil theul). Even children Joined in
kicking the prisoners as they passed
The Belgians could gather no idea as to
why they had been dragged off to Ger
many and feared the worst. The night
was passed in the open, and III the morn
ing the prisoners broke their prolonged
fast on small portions Of black bread
Ordered Back to Belgium.
Suddenly the German authorities
changed their minds; back the prison.
the motley column regained the station.
\ passenger train awaited them, but
each compartment for niEe people was
made to hold eighteen or nineteen. In
some ways the homeward journey was
more terrible than the outward For
TWO DAYS and three nights the unfortu-
nate inhabitants of Louvain jolted about
between Cologne and the capital of their
own country, again absolutely without
food. On rare occasions their guards eX-
hibited glimmering OF pity and per
mitted the prisoners to have a mouth
full of water.
lat the Care du Nord, in Brussels.
their compatriots smuggled food
through the windows. The train
stopped only a short time there and
was off again 10 Schaerbeek. Com
pIetely at a loss what to do with their
charges, the Prussian officers ordered
them out of the train and under an
armed guard marched them on foot
through Vilvorde and Pont Brule, and
on to AIalines.
Eat Turnips and Beets.
When crossing the fields the pris-
oners tore up turnips and beets and
ate them ravenously.
al Malines the officer in charge of
the escort told the half dead men that
they were free, and by different routes
they reached Client, Druges. Ostend and
other places in the territory unoccupied
by the