Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-04-03
Men ofL-I5, Captured BY
British, Disclaim Respon-
sibility for Death Of
Noncombatants.
nl GEORGE; r.. %IIISoN

SOjtSOHfOutOfftS.
Hh GEORGE T.. ALLISON.
CHATHAM. ENG. April BY cour-
i'sy of the British War Office. | visited
J the military barracks here to-day. and
for more than AN hour conversed freely
with the crew % the LIS, the German
Zeppelin brought down off the coast OF
Kent by English fire during the raid
of Friday night.
On my arrival ~ the barracks ! was
, Immediately taken Ia sec the crew
whom found in what is called the
garrison detention rooms. sort OF
local military prison in which ordi.
nary soldier defauitcrs arc detained for
minor barrack oncuses. These quar-
/ tiers are spotlessly clean, well aired and
spacious. ! was given perfect freedom
10 inspect tho cells ia which the pris.
oners arc Quartcred Each room is
abou; ten By six feet, and contains an
iron hcdstead with \ mattress. two
blankets and pillow
During the time OF my visit ra,ions
similar TO those given British soldiers
I! in barracks We're served out TO the
captured Zeppelin crew.
My interview with the men took
place in the corridor, and the prisoners
were brought out in pairs They We're
all young men. varying in age between
twenty and thirty. only one had suf-
fercd from slight wound In his wrist,
while another seemed 20 be suffering
from the shock OF immersion. The re-
mainder were unhurt and were sur
prisinvly cheerful.
TWO mechanics still! wore their
leather clothing. hut others. who had
discarded their heavy apparel as the
Zeppelin struck the water. were wear
ing WOODEN sleeping suits provided by
the British soldiers who had effected
The rescue and capture. \ few wcy.
still barcfootcd hut during my visit
tn. military tailor took the measure
men,s for a full rch, for all III. pris-
oners.
SATISFIED WITH rRE.ATMENT
FROM BRITISH OFFICIALS
.. the six 7 personally interrogated,
every man expressed himself fairly
satisfied with the treatment received
fro mtho British officials !, IS s!gnin-
cant TO note that, despite the fact that
assured them that l represented a
great neutral news service each mem.
Der o. the crew with whom talked
asserted that his work was entirely
connected with the Zeppelin machinery.
and disclaimcd any responsibility for
dropping bombs.
Five oU; OF the six denied having
previously been over England on Zep-
pelin raids but one stalwart Teuton,
wearing only shirt and leather
breechcs and leGsings frankly said
that this was his third trip. All talked
freely when assured that they were
speaking 10 the representative OF an
American news service. and one laugh
Z insly remarked that ~ spoke but little
English, which nc had acquired on a
short holiday trip 10 New York.
To the pertinent inquiry as TO wheth-
they were aware they had Killed
!monensiyc nonconba;ants, women ana
children, each stoutly asserted that he
was aware or nothing, save thar he
WAS obeyIns orders and doing as hc
had been told by superior officers
1t was obvious that they welcomed
the chance 10 talk. hut they yolun-
teered no explanations other than xiv
ing plain answers To AL my queries he
y"nd ii statement as 10 their general
welfare and thci, trca,mcn, since their
capture. In fact. they made /, plain
that they would say nothing that nigh,
incriminnte themselves or re used
against them
On leaving the mems quarters. wac
taken TO the officers Apartments. rhe
LIS carried a crew OF sixteen men
and two officers. one man was
drowned. but all the rest were captured.
The commando was I.i.utenant-Com-
mander Bruthaupt :, tall. 1.-THE. fair
haired officer, who told mo he had
learned to handle a Zeppelin since the
outbreak Of the war. though he had
been an aviator prior to that time.
Later ] learned that, ironically enough
he was first taught ~ rs at The Hen
! don aeroirome, I.ondon's great nyins
school where ne obtained his PILOTS
certificate
lAILONED 70 RETAIN
HIS IRON CROSS