Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1915-02-10
OF INTEREST TO
SCANDINAV|ANS
News Gathered in the Father
land and Elsewhere.
sven HEO|A At THE FRONT
Swedish Scientist and Explorer Tells
Of Experiences With the German
Army In the West.

" eAPST'e"Seo WIN TIC aeTUdn
Army In the West.
+ + i. + + !. !. !. !. + !. j. + !. j. ]. +
j. SWEDEN. +
+ + i. !. i. !. i. + i. i. i. !. J. !. j. !. !.
The we'll known Swedish scientist
and explorer, DR.. Sven Hedin, is one
of the few foreign correspondents
who have enjoyed the privilege of be-
ing with the German army almost
from the beginning of the war. His
journey to the German front in France
was much noted in Sweden and was
considered special distinction con-
ferred upon him by the German kai-
ser. In letter to the Sydsvenska
Dagbladet (Malmo) DR.. Hedin relates
some of his impressions. He travelled
by automobile from Berlin through
Frankfort and Coblenz and speaks of
the tremendous transports of men,
horses and material moving westward.
German thoroughness is noted in
everything being ready, up to safety
pins, bandages and ounces of medi-
cine In the thousands of cases in an
ambulance train. On the journey
from Berlin to the artillery positions
under fire, Hedin found, in spite of
the great strain, everybody quietly at
tending to duty. DR.. Hedin goes on
to say: "The troops and provisions
were brought up over fifty different
military routes into Belgium and
France, but there was also a continu-
GUS stream in the opposite direction
the wounded and the prisoners.
have seen how the prisoners were
cared for and have spoken with many
hundreds of French prisoners. They
spoke without exception of kind and
humane treatment. They receive the
same healthy food as the German SOL
diers. l have been in an encampment
where the French prisoners cooked
their own food. They had requested
more vegetables and less meat and
the request was granted. At one time
I conversed with some prisoners that
had just been brought in. They were
deeply depressed and asked me what
fate they had to expect, showing their
wounds and speaking with tears in
their eyes about their wives and chill
dren. told them they might first ex-
pect kettle of boiling soup and a
fresh loaf of bread; then a physician
who would examine and bandage their
wounds. Their imprisonment would
not be in idleness, but with work, and
after peace they would be restored to
their families. It was touching to see
the Joy in the faces of those poor SOL
diers, who had spent weeks in the
cold and humid trenches dressed in
their red trousers and blue coats
With dismay have seen in foreign
papers that French prisoners we're
badly treated by the Germans. Upon
my honor will state this is a lie. Be-
hind the firing line the life of every
Frenchman is out of range, as far as
human power may save it. Out there
in the rifle pits German and French
soldiers kill each other, but here be-
hind the lines the German soldiers
are treating their antagonists as
comrades."
i. !. +
A Swedish Finnish skipper has the
following story to relate from Petro-
grad regarding his capture by the
Germans: Il was taken prisoner of
war at the same time that my small
schooner, which carried granite out
of Abo, was conflscated by the Ger
mans in Vismar. My crew and myself
were told that we might have the
privilege of choosing any town in Ger
many wherein to spend our captivity,
provided it was sixty kilometers away
from the sea. chose town further
inland than any of my sailors, tigur-
ing that would throw the Germans off
my guard and give me better chance
to escape. AS soon as was taken
into the regular night train leaving
Vismar very simple plan of escape
occurred to me. While the guards
were busy getting supper, which was
passed in through the windows of the
train by some friendly peasants at
the first stop outside Of Vismar,
crawled through the opposite window
and ran perhaps two miles back to
the docks. The night was dark and
although l heard voices 1 saw no one
and no one noticed me. On the docks
found that a pile of my own granite
had been dumped and finding a rude
sort of tunnel under this l squeezed
myself into it, where I was cramped
and uncomfortable, but where l was
safe for the time at least. AS soon as
it was light l jumped into the water.
It was cold as ice, but I managed to
pull myself out and roasted for an
hour or two on beam under the dock.
Then I saw Swedish ferry from
Trelleborg coming toward the pier.
swan out to meet her. I was seen
by Swedish steward who was Dump