Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-10-16
TREAT
MENT PRISONERS
BY GERMANS

ASSOCIATED Press Correspondence
PetrOgrad, Sept. 20.-British Red
Cross Commissioner Ernest Hart, in a
report to Prince Gutenberg. patron OF
all sanitary work in Russia, con-
trasts the good appearance and gen.
eral healthfulness Of German prisoners
Of war with the distressful condition
of Russian war prisoners returning
from Germany, at the time Of their
exchange at Torneo on the Swedish
frontier. Commissioner Hart visited
Torneo at the special request Of Prince
Gutenberg to witness the transfer,
towards the end of August.
His report follows:
I'm the large new school house at
Torneo found 247 invalid or disabled
men austrian and Germany most ex-
cellently accommodated, the wards
being large, airy and scrupulously
clean, the beds very comfortable, with
ample room between each, and the
food consisting of nourishing soup
with meat, another dish of meat and
wholesome bread in good quantity.
II spoke to several prisoners. who
were grateful for the treatment they
had received both on the journey from
Petrograd and at the hospital. They
were cleanly and physically in as good
condition as the injuries they had re-
ceived in battle permitted. That is to
say they We're we'll nourished. Where
their own clothing was deficient or
worn out they had received fresh
clothing including warm overcoat, a
cap and often boots.
Il saw these men sent away across
the border the same evening and the
arrangements for removing them by
wagons. stretchers and boat furnished
| with necessary conveniences and pro-
tected from the weather left nothing
to be desired on the score Of humanity.
/ also crossed into Haparanda and In
spected the arrangements Of the Swed-
ish Red Cross under DR.. Nauchkoff,
who spoke very highly of the COM
pleteness and humanity Of the treat
ment Of the injured prisoners of war
by the Russian authorities. 1t was
very clear that the Swedish authori-
ties did not hold the same favorable
opinion of the treatment Of Russian
prisoners by the Germans, and I was
informed at Haparanda that they were
sent out Of Germany in a painfully
dirty and neglected condition, often
half naked and half starved.
Il had the opportunity Of verifying
these reports the next morning, when
about $50 Russian prisoners arrived
from Germany. Several Of the men
were wearing the same cotton cloth
ing given out to them in the hospital,
with worn-out list slippers on. their
feet and no socks, and they had trav-
eled in this condition from Koenigs-
berg in Germany, through Sweden and
into Russian territory at Torneo.
Many Of the men were Hike scare
crows so ragged and filthy was their
condition. and one was clothed in the
uniform Of q dead French prisoner Of
war. They were thin ana weak and
said that they had been half starved
during the Imprisonment. They pro-
duced samples Of the bread that was
given them. It being extremely hard
and mouldy and mixed with potatoes
and even particles of straw. They
said little or no meat was given them
in the thin soup served out to them
daily. In addition they had been sub
jected to severe punishment for al
legged breaches of discipline despite
their MANNED and disabled. g condition,
the punishment including their being
compelled to stand on barrels for hours
at time. or being tied to posts with
their arms above their heads. They
were also frequently struck by their
German guards with the butts Of their
rifles or the fiat of their swords.
"One Of the worst features Of the
condition Of the returned Russian
prisoners was the number Of cases of
tuberculosis. These numbered some
sixty out Of the ESQ men returned and
was told that the usual number was
about 20 per cent. The cases of
tuberculosis among German and Aus
trian prisoners, on the other hand.
| were only I'VE. to six per cent. out of
the total OF 1850 already exchanged.
Some Of the returned Russian prison
ers had lost their feet while in prison
in Germany. from frost bites due. 70
exposure. There have been no such
cases among the German and Austrian
| prisoners in Russia. and I have had
the opportunity Of seeing and convers-
Ing with these prisoners in Moscow
ana other parts Of Russia. which I
have visited during my journeys in
Poland. Galicia. Mid Russia and the
Caucasus"
4