The Ekalaka eagle. [volume] (Ekalaka, Mont.) 1909-1920, 1916-11-10
WAR PRISONERS
EXCITE BORDER
GERMANS TUNNEL WAY OUT
OF ~LETHBRIDGE PRISON:
ESCAPE TO STATES.
Make Forced Night Marches Across
Line Into Montana, Where, Being
Political Prisoners, They Are Safe:
Recalls Andersonville ESCAPE.

All the towns On the border are ex-
cited over the sensational escape of
Is German prisoners of war from the
detention camp at Lethbridge. The
men tunneled their way out of the
prison, the incident being not unlike
he escape of the Union prisoners
from Andersonville, an episode that
stirred the whole of the United States
in Civil war times.
Work on the tunnel was commenced
more than four months ago. It was
started on the prison side in a bunk
house III which the prisoners slept,
and which had an earthen floor. The
work was done in shifts by the eigh-
teen men who escaped. the fresh earth
being carried out into the prison
yard IN the pockets of their clothing.
About ten days ago the tunnel was
practically completed, with the ex-
ception Of a thin crust Of earth at
the outer end, well outside the prison
walls. One dark night, after the usual
. O'Clock inspection, the men decided
2 make the break for liberty. They
pushed up the crust at the end of the
tunnel and walked into the open,
striking south for the boundary.
Tunnel Month Tells Story.
The escape did not conc to the
knowledge of the officials in charge
until inspection the next morning.
The missing men, Of course, did not
turn up for roll call. Their clubhouse
was visited. The open mouth Of the
tunnel explained tho conspicuousness
Of their absence.
Details Of the Northwest Mounted
Police were sent out in every direc-
ton to apprehend the fugitives, who
had put 80 miles between them and
their prison before The fact that they
had escaped became known. They
were hidden in some wheat stacks
while the mounted police were riding
around them.
The next night, after the darkness
came on, they completed their trek
across the line. When they crossed,
the police were only a mile behind
them and on their trail. Once across,
however, they were safe. As they
were prisoners Of war they cannot be
.eXtradited.
Several Of them found employment
with threshing crews operating in the
northern counties Of Montana. Two
OF them went to Great Falls, where
they found employment in the
smelter.
One of the men who escaped owns
a large farm near Bassano, Alberta.
1t is possible that his property may be
conflscated if he does not return.
Stirs UP Canada.
General Sir Sam Hughes, minister
of war for Canada, has appointed a
commission to investigate the escape
of the prisoners, and this commission
is now sitting at L~ethbridge. It is
probable that the commission will
recommend the transfer of the de-
tention camp to some point further
north, on account Of the proximity of
Lethbridge to the boundary line.
Only prisoners of war were in de-
tention at observation-disclosures and
Austrians whose sympathy for their
countries became too pronounced, and
who might serve against the allies in
the event they got out of Canada.
The camp was established early dur
ing the war, and several hundred Ger
mans and Austrians were detained
there.
The prisoners say they were we'll
treated and comfortably cared for,
but they did not like the idea of being
confined.