Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-10-03
PLEA FOR CIVIL PRISONERS
American Consul at Moscow Trying
to Return German Owls Home
Before Winter Sets In.
ALL ORDERED OUT OF MOSCOW

kCorrespondence OF the Associated Press.)
STOCKHOLM. Sweden. Sept. 2l.-The
American consulate-genersl at Moscow
which has since the beginning OF the war
been delegated by the German govern
nent TO handle German civil prisoners
in Russia. IL now making a determined
effort TO return these prisoners TO Ger
many 80 that they may not suffer the
hardshlps OF another winter In the In
terror OF Russia. Although these prisoners
have not been the Victims OF actual
cruelty on the part OF russian officials,
their condition has been indescribRbly
wretehed Hundreds OF them have died
from cold. starvation and disease.
A recent order issued BY Prince Usupoff
che governor OF Moscow, stated explicitly
that every German or Austrian Of non
Slavic origin. regardless OF age. state OF
health or any mitigating circumstances
whatsoever, must leave Moscow either
for Germany or for one of the interior
governments which have been chosen for
the intsrnment OF civil prisoners and
which already harbor over 10000 men,
women and children. KS
Means Certain Death.
Thls order meant certain death for
steal condition was such that even
short journey under the best conditions
would have been dangerous. John snod-
grass. the American Consul general. who
had made special study Of these cases,
appealed 20 the governor OF Moscow for
discrimination IN the execution OF the
order OF expulsion. but popular feeling
has rnn so high against the German and
a.. kaf =
stated that exceptions could not be made
An American correspondent, sitting In
che offices OF the consul general, watched
the stream Of foreign subjects who were
suddenly confronted with expulsion from
the country which they had learned to
consider their own. Most Of them, al
though German or Auatrian subjects. had
lived 20 long In Russia that they were
thoroughly Russian in their sympathies'
and some OF the women had even been
devoting their time to sewing and making
clothing for Russian soldiers For large
percehtaee OF them a return to Germany
where all their associations had long
been broken OF a Beciusion IN the inter
aor OF Russia were alternatives offering
an equally dismal prospect.
Crowded fn Cattle Cars.
Except III tANFcfht NanN1f "~Ai@~" -
mesa ard inflrmity do not interfere with
the deporting OF the patient. Crowded
into trains commonly used for cattle. al
most without food. soantily clad and In
various conditions OF disease and des-
pair. these miserable persons are sub
sected 70 a railway journey which lasts
for days, and In a great many cases are
forced to march overland for sixty OF
Heveflty miles from the railroad station
90 the camp where they are TO be In
aerned.
Tho sanitary conditions on these trains
are vie and there Is every possibility foI
the spread OF the disease. There is nj
assistance for the sick and there il nc
protection against Infection for those who
are well. on the march from the rail-
road 20 the camp. larse numbers hay'
frozen 20 death along the way. The 10
Of these people is one which Il would b
difficnlt to exaggerete
AR. snodgrass Is at present trying L
convince the governors OF the variou
provinces that their cooperation Is neces
sary. unless the condition OF oermal
civil prisoners In Russia IS 10 become I
national scandal