El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1916-01-29
WAR PRISONERS
.UNSATISFACT
FARM WORKERS
Austrian Farmers Find
Them Lacking in Training
For Intensive Farming.
ARE WILLING AND
CLEAN, BUT SLOW

VIENNA. Austria. Jan. 29.-Aus-
" trian and Hungarian land owners
and farmers are not particularly
impressed with the value Of Russian
and Servian prisoners Of war as farm
laborers. Accounts from all sides gen.
orally support the old saw. You can
lead a horse 10 water, but you can not
make him drink
War Prisoners Unframed.
On the whole, the prisoner of war as
farm hand seems 10 have been a
failure. This is true for other reasons
than that the prisoners have a natural
aversion to work for their enemies one
Of the great handcaps has been that
the Russian and Serb farmers who
were selected to work on the Austrian
and Hungarian farms, were Tor the
greater part unframed in the rather
intensive farming methods employer
in the dual monarchy. Though the men
were shown how to 90 about their
work. most of them failed 10 unQef-
stand the reason why II had 70 De Done
a certain way Others who did under
stand preferred to be careless, when
not under the eyes of the OVerseer anu
guards But few Of the prisoners OF
war took any interest IN the WORN "a
triotie feelings appear TO nave Deeh an
That Austria-Hungary mad spienolu
croD this year is due TO unusually IaV-
orable weather conditions. with an
ordinary crop year and prisoners o.
war on many of the farms, the country
would have Jared badly, say those Ia
miliar with conditions It is asserted
that the accession in crop returns due
TO the labor of the prisoners OF war Is
hardly equal TO what the Russians and
SERBS held in Austria-Hungary VIII
themselves consume during the year
Good At Road Building
It seems, however, that the labor OF
prisoners of war was more productive
IN other fields OF endeavor- especially
is this true where the russians anu
Serbs remained altogether under the
control of the military IN DulluluS
roads and railroads no opportunity Tor
Sinking was given Each gang ha0 70
do a certain amount OF Work. results
were Immediately visible ana mere
fore susceptible TO prompt correctl on'
which was not the case N farming
The engineer troops under whose sur.
veiliance railroad work was done coulo
not be easily fooled by me pIlsonst.s
Of war. while the farmer, had he want
ed 70 supervise his involuntary Iarm-
hand closely could have done the Work
himself. Since most of the old reserV-
city people. no Improvement from tHd'
direction could be expected
German Farmers Fare Better.
German farmers who employed tsus-
obtained better results The handlcaps
of language have been sorely felt by
both sides of course. An Improvement
in this situation is now expected Many
OF the Russians and Serbs have learned
German and Hungarian sufficiently
well TO understand orders and be nn-
derstOOd in their turn It IS hkely- TOT
this reason, that next year the prison
ers Of war VIII prove of greater value:
The Russian and Servian prisoner OF
war is a very tractable person on the
whole. Hardly any complaints nave
been made against them h. the com
munities in which they worked and
lived, usually with the scantlest pro-
visions for their control Ihelr con-
duct has been very correct through
out and they have also earned the
reputation Of being scrupulously clean
in body and habit. Most Of them carry
in their minds so deep seated horror
of the filth of the Russian and Serb
fronts that the opportunity to use soap
and water is fully appreciated oy them /
The tro-Hungarlans nave been |
very mild in their treatment OF the !
men The best understanding exists as /
a rule. and what little trouble the I
prisoner of war has given is mostly I
due TO his dissemination to work for 1
or under. a civilian The soldiers psy- |
choloev is such that as prisoner o; /
war he prefers to remain under mill /
itary control