The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-12-26
Specie, Correspondence 70 TIE evm.

SSSN'S'
LONDON, Dec. 1l.-Prisoners Of war
were abandoned to their fate and left
to die without medical attendance when
typhus swept the wittenberg camp In
Germany. according to the accounts OF
seventy-three exchanged British prison.
es of war who have just arrived In
England after fourteen months In the
enemy's hands.
Mere wrecks Of humanity. some OF
them with both legs. both ARM or an
arm and a leg missing. the prisoners
presented a pitiable sight when they
landed at Tilbury. where a crowd OF
sobbing women awaited them on the
pier.
One thousand six hundred prisoners
1000 Russians, 500 French and 80 Eng
lish-died In the camp. the men said.
before the typhus was stamped out.
When the disease became serious the
Gernan guards ran away-Eimp!y kept
guard outside. They sent the food over
chutes into the ground TO the prisoner
cooks. Some Russian doctors tried to
do what they could. but were unable to
handle the thousands OF cases and men
died every day In patches.
Then six British officers Of the Army
Medical Corps. who were prisoners In
another camp. heard Of tho epidemic and
volunteered to 60 to Wittenberg and
treat the unhappy prisoners. Five out
Of the six caught the typhus and three
Of them died.
Mr.. Gerard Heard Grievances.
All the prisoners are loud In their
praise Of Ambassador Gerard. ut was
a treat to see Mr.. Gerard at work." said
the men. He came straight to us and
asked for particular cases Of cruelty (:
he got them and learned the truth.
From that hour Improvement began.
wittenberg Is a hundred per cent. bet
ter to-day"
Prisoners from the Limburg camp de-
clare that Sir Roger Easement IL actively
pursuing his campaign to try to per-
suade Irish soldiers to sc over to the
Germans and enlist In the Irish Legion
which tho Germans are attempting 10
raise from among the prisoners OF war.
Two prisoners from Li~mburg--Lance
Corporal Mahony Of the Royal Irish
Rifles, and Private Higgins of the Dub
lin Fusiliers-told me q story OF Sir
Roger Easements activities In that camp.
Mahony was moved to Limburg from an
other camp. I'VE were told" he said,
that all the Irish were to go together
and that W. would be better treated than
In other camps. Then Sir Roger Case
ment came and visited US. He told us
that now was VI chance to strike a
blow for ireland. He promised w all
kinds Of things II we would Join the
Germans. We were being starved at the
time. Nc parcels we're coming. for peo-
pie at home did not know where we were.
Our food had been cut down to half.
"The Germans made no secret OF their
intention to starve US into Joirins them.
Sheer hunger drove fifty Of them. some
of them English and Scotch. to submit.
We hooted the first two out Of camp. The
others we're taken right away.
"A month & Sir Roger Easement
began his campaign again, One mar
arrived rs his agent. Two Of the soldiers
who had Joined him came to camp In tho
uniform Of the German Irish Legion.
They were now under-officers and the
German Guards saluted them. Each Of
us WA taken before tho Casemsnt agent
under an armed escort. We were again
urged to Join. None OF ms would do 1t.
but thirty-five promised to think the mat
ter over or asked for further information.
| They were placed In q room by them
selves. But remember It was sheer hun
ger drove them to Join. Tho two who
came back for tho new campaign looked
very ashamed OF themselves"