Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1916-06-27
Stories of the War

Exchanging Russian and German
Prisoners.
The great task of exchanging wound
ed prisoners between Russia and Ger
many through Sweden viii be contin-
ued throughout the summer. The ex-
change applies only to those prisoners
totally unfit ever to serve again. One
glimpse at a train load of these mis-
cradle war derelicts leaves no doubt
as to their disability Missing legs
missing arms, sightless eyes, shat
tered jaws, twisted spines and here
and there the CLASSY stare which tells
it's own story of a burned-out brain
these are the evidences the Swedish
people see of the war that surrounds
them.
The transfer through Sweden is
handled entirely by the Swedish Red
Cross. or "Rofa Korset'', of which
Prince Carl brother of the King, is
the actual and active head. The
German prisoners are received from
the Russians at Haparanda at the
SeWdish-F4nnish frontier, only a few
miles south Of the sweep of the wrecks
OF men are taken south through the
entire distance of Sweden, journey
of three nights and two days, the pace
of the train being timed for the utmost
OF comfort. At Trelleborg, the south
eTnmoSt part Of Sweden, the ne-tine
soldiers of the Fatherland are placed
upon German hospital transports for
the short sail across the southern reach
OF the Baltic to the German port of
Sassnitz. From there they are taken
to Hamburg and held in detention for
one month as guarantee against the
importation of an yinfectious disease.
This quarantine period ended, the
men, most of them dependents for life.
are returned to their relatives and
homes
ers the operation is just reversed
They are received from the German
ships at Trelleborg and are taken to
the north through the glowing SUM-
shine and the mysterious nights of the
Arctic ATTITUDES, where soon the days
win fade one into the other with only
| a shadow OF twilight in between. The
work has begun this year with one
train a week in each direction. This
| month the number will be increased tc
| three in each direction. The trains
consists of sixteen cars and have 8
! capacity of about 235 soldiers. WGner
| the work is fully under way the rate
/ of exchange will be about 5000 pris.
oners a month. AS the percentage o.
totally unfit" among the men mus
| be comparatively small, some Idea
| may be gained as to the total mum.
/ Der OF prisoners held on both sides o.
/ the Russian German battle line.
1 The first train started north from
TreIIeborg with the burden of 23t
/ physical and mental def1cients -
/ CHASTITY assortment of parts of men
| AS they hoobled or were carried down
the gang plank Of the hospital steam
i er at Trelleborg the procession seemet
like a veritable outpouring from tn
depths OF an Inferno. It was plain I,
be seen that each man there had com,
j to grips with Death and had Tough
his way out Of that grim clutch onl.
at a terrible cost Of wound and scar
Paid faces and sunken eyes told tn
story almost as quickly as empt,
II sleeves and folded trouser- legs. Dow
the narrow steamer plank they came
awkwardly trying to manipulate tn
J unfamiliar crutdhnes. A right leg wa
missing, a let there, and in some case
q perhaps only foot was gone.
!. The de5arl1a ton from this strang
ship of broken men had been unde
! way for ten minutes perhaps wl1e,
, suddenly appear among the hurna,
fragments at the foot Of the gangwai
. man who had been entirely lost sigh
Of as he made his way TO shore. Bot
! Of his legs were gone and mis- hea
scarcely showed above the gangwa
& rails as he swung the remnants Of 81
body along between two sta1pby; httl