Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1916-12-01
TRADING WRECKS OF MEN FROM WAR
PRISONS OF GERMANY AND RUSSIA
Correspondent Witnesses Repatriation of Teutons and Departure
Of Russans--ConsumptNes Selected by Germans From
Various Camps to Avoid Injecting Other
Released CaptWes

| ~ AIifiithH tOuTISiS VINO nav
yoyaged to or from Sweden by tn
IrellebOrg route. The Aeolus is round
ing the long breakwater; at her fore
masthead she flies the Red Cross flag
ana like all neutral ships that trave
these precarlous worId-war waters sh,
mas her national colors-yellow eros,
on blue field-painted on her sides
She also wears full gala flag dress
but the little port Is tagged, so are the
great steamer ferries that transport
whole freight trains between Sweden
and Germany, and tagged, too, Is the
German trawler fleet within the break
water
The usual agitation that accompa-
MES steamer arrivals the world over
seizes those on shore. including the
two score of white-dressed young girls
and matrons who garrison certain long,
low, gray sheds where hower-bright-
ened tables have been set for 300, in
Guiding also the local landsturm band,
which goes into battle formation be-
side the landing stage; including also
sense of duty and importance includ-
Ing also the inevitable prince who is
TO be the orator of the sad, happy oc-
casion, and who, | dare say, is think
ing hard of those well-chosen words
he is about to deliver. A pathetic
touch, it seems, that there are no
friends or relatives TO welcome those
sorry, broken war tourists. And then
follow few moments which even
hardened war correspondents won't
forget, as the little Swedish hospital
steamer creeps shoreward and moors
at the quay.
II is as strange ships company as
you are likely ever to see locked. The
exchange prisoners are massed on the
fore and after decks, and line the |
'ail, some eagerly leaning over toward |
and and liberty, others too far gone, |
sunk In apathy from which seemingly |
nothing can arouse them. The over
majority are Austro-H unga-
ian soldiers; there is sprinkling of |
'fficers and of Germans.
When they are within fifteen feet
# shore the landsturm band begins
'laying the German national anthem,
He'll dir i'm Siegeskranz," which is
LIKEWISE GOD Save the King" and my
COUNTRY, TITS of Thee" those on shore
dining in discordant chorus. 1t is in
eresting to note how the magic of
lusic stlrs the souls of the sorry
risoner crew; how military discipline
Iowly triumphs over physical and
rental suffering. The few Austrian
Ulcers on the deck of the Aeolus are
lie first to salute and stand snappily ,
attention. though several are
ropped on crutches, together with the
of German prisoners whose /
on discipline Is the quickest to re- I
ssert itself. The lame, halt, and blind, {
lie one-armed, and one-legged, and the {
lralyzed, including one htdeously mis-
lapen gargoyle hung between two S
utches-these Germans all react as t
lie man to the patriotic air and t
ruggle to straighten up, and some of t
em painfully succeed in stiffening b
gidly to parade posture and salute c
cir flag in regulation fashion, while II
e worst damaged. for whom this Is I
physical impossibllity, salute with Il
lid heads. some only with their eyes. a
The less damaged Austro- Hungarian s.
ldiers (deleted by the censor) Joined CT
cir German comrades In misfortune. n
d were moved to spirited enthusiasm p'
len the Landsturm band next played la
? Austrian national anthem, which 81
WHY affected even the most seriously bl
ppled and reused them from their W
nd stupor. Austrian caps, one after Ell
, other, were dotted; barred. bowed in
ads were thrown back again with
nething OF pride; these frowzy. shah
wrecks of soldiers, (deleted by the iii
IsOr). being of softer metal than the 70
rmans, We're many of them moved to ba
RS by the tune Of their national an so
IN. M.
They were not allowed to come Re
ore at once. There was still some nj,
cial ceremonial to be run off. While no
men on shore tossed flowers. cigars. 70
tlEultttts u luelu, WnlCn the m
'sically able eagerly grabbed after. Ru
Swedish national anthem had stin TN,
be played and sung as a deserved sat
ute to the good neutral offices that co,
made possible this humane ex- for
nge of prisoners; the prince of On
bus, gray-haired and gray-bearded. hir
wearing the field gray uniform OF lat
olonel of PruSsian Uhlans, blazing Ion
orders, there as the kaiser's per- mol
n representative. and owning half his
Island of Ruegen on which the pris- Inn
RS We're about to land. had still to =
INT an improvised rostrum powered ra
! pine branches and deliver his adj az
- of welcome. -
Welcomed by Prince. son
Comrades" he said In that husky The
( peculiar 10 German officers long tioI
lstomed TO command. sin the name on
he kaiser and all Germany well and
e you. returning heroes, to home wal
y The damaged heroes continued cou