New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-28
GERMANS SHOT
DOWN PRISONERS,
SAYS KITCHENER
British Maltreated and In
suited, War Secretary
Tells the Lords.
LIKENS SAVAGERY TO
THAT OF DERVISHES
Asuuith Announces Britain Will
Demand Reparation for
Treatment After War.

London. April 27.-War Secretary
Kitchener told the House of Lords to-
day that British prisoners had been in
suited. maltreated and even shot down
by their German captors. In his state
ment 10 the House Of Lords on this
subject. ne spoke in part as follows;
81 have been forced with reluctance
to accept as indisputably true the NAL
treatment by the German army of Brit
ISL prisoners. The Hague Convention
has been flagrsntly disregarded by Ger
man officers. Our prisoners have been
stripped and maltreated in various
ways. and in some cases the evidence
ooes TO prove that they have been
shot in cold blood. Our officers, even
when wounded, have been wantonly IN
suited and frequently struck"
Earl Kitchener said that as sol
der he hitherto had always held oHi-
GERS of the German army in respect
hut constant testimony that has come
in. not only from our own escaped
prisoners. but from French, Russian,
Belgian and American sources, mas
brought It home to all who have sifted
the evidence that the inhumanity DIS
PLAYED by the German authorities tow
ard British prisoners especially IS be-
yond doubt
The Secretary quoted articles from
the conventions adopted at ne haGue
relating to the treatment Of prisoners
of war. and their fagrant disregard py
German officers. He added:
German Hospital Excepted.
"I think it only fair and right 70
saw that the German hospitals shoulo
he excepted in any charges OF delloer'
ate inhumanity. There have been IN
dications of a lamentable lack OF medi,
cal skill and, in individual cases, OF
neglect and OF indifference TO suHerine
ON the part of hospital orderIles' vi
tho other hand, there are statement;
from prisoners who have been re-
leased as incapacitated that their expe
r;ence in the hospitals did not form
anv ground for special complaint.
"Treatment of prisoners IN the de
tention camps in Germany varies con
siderably according 10 LOCALITY. Oli
mon. in most cases, suffered from th'
want Of food and have received diner
ential treatment as compared with theli
French and Russian comrades, and many
acts of violence have been complained
Of. I.atterly. however. there does appeal
TO be slight Improvement IN som'
respects, due. perhaps, to VISITS OF IN
spection made from time TO time
throuqh the American Ambassador.
Recently some of our officers nave
been subjected 70 solitary confinement
ir retaliation for the supposed treat
ment of Germans in this country. Inc
Hague Convention does not admit oi
such confinement of prisoners or war
except as an indispensable measure o'
safety. and | hope before long TO o0
tain some evidence OF the manner III
which these officers are now oeint
treated by Germany.
A Stain on German Honor.
Germany has for many years posed
before the civilized world as great
military nation. She has abundantly
prove her military skill and courage
But surely it was also for her 10 SCI
up standard of military honor anc
conduct which would gain the respect
If not the friendship, of nations. In
stead, she has stopped 20 acts which
will surely stain indelibly her military
history and which would vie with the
barbarous savagery of the dervlshes OF
Soudan.
81 do not think there can be {
soldier of any nationality, ever
among the Germans themselves. whC
is no. heartily ashamed Of the slul
which has been thus brought upon the
profession of arms. The usages o.
war have not only been outraged by tn,
infiction of cruelties on British
prisoners, but by contrivance which
must have arrested your Lordship's at
tenticn the Germans have in the las
week introduced a method OF placing
their opponents hors de combat by th'
use of asphyxiating and deleterioui
gases; and they employ these poison
Gus methods when their attack, accord
ing 70 the rules of war, might other
wise have failed"
Speaking on the treatment OF British
prisoners in Germany, Premier Asqultf
said in the House OF Commons:
"It is horrible story from every
point Of view one OF the blsckes'
spots on even German methods OF war
Continued on pare :. column