El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1916-06-10
Many Reach The French
Trenches Every Night, Say
French Amy Men.
THREE TELL WHY
GERMANS DESERT
French Artillery Fire Drio-
ing Men Insane, Declare
The Dcserters.

DARIs. FRANCE. June Io.-The
- number Of deserters from the Ger
man armies fighting around Yer
dun is assuming large proportions. Al
most every night some OF them make
their way into the French trenches
Three German infantry men who were
thus taken prisoners by the French
near a listening post In front of the
trenches. TO which the trio had crawled
in the darkness are typical of the many
who nightl-- desert. il is claimed by
French Offices
The first. a wholesale dealer in leall-
er from Leipzig. was 40 years and had
been wounded once while fighting on
the Russian front
Delighted Over Escape.
He declared himself delighted at hav-
ing succeeded in making his escape. as
the Smelling Of the French artillery
was driving him nearly insane. He said
that when he left home he was conf
dent Of Germ1ny's final and decisive
vivtory but now ne realized she was
doomed TO disaster.
Ny own business" he said. lis
ruined I did most Of my business
abroad and some Of my best customers
lived in Faris
Now all Europe hates us and IL
would be foolish 10 hope that we shall
be able to win back our old markets
Who will care TO do business with Us
after the war The best thing we could
do would be to sue for peace immedi-
ately on the best terms Obtainable. but
our military leaders viii never permit
that We must go on 70 the bitter
end
The second prisoner was a young
student OF the 1916 class His father is
a teacher in a small town in Alsace.
He told how he had happened TO be-
come enrolled in a regiment consisting
OF men twice his age.
Promised Glory at Verdun-
When II was decided TO attack Yer
dun he said. the German military au-
thOrities called for volunteers. In order
to help along recruiting they depicted
TO the young people how they would
cover themselves with immortal glory
at Nerdun and how the triumphal en-
try into the fortress and the resulting
fail Of Paris would remain an event
which would never be forgotten by
those to take part in it
Many OF us were tempted BY offers
Of some office at home when the war
was over as a reward for coming for
ward when IL was necessary for Ger
many TO strike a decisive blow. I was
one of these
we were also told that we would
never be called upon to do any hand
tO-haud fighting as the German artiI-
lery would wipe out all resistance
Now. all my comrades have fallen
and I could no longer stand the con-
slant sight Of the dreadful carnage
The memory OF what I have seen on the
battle field haunted me every night
and I felt it was driving me mad.
simply had to get out OF it"
The third prisoner was 2 miner and
the father OF seven children He de-
clared that he had been driven to de-
sert through brutal treatment and lack
Of sufficient food.
1t was becoming unbearable," he
declared. We were being treated worse
than dogs. but the thing which made
me make up my mind TO desert was the
letters I received from my wife a.
home
she told me that my children were
starving As "A prisoner I hope 70 be
able to help them I know YOU allow
your prisoners of war 10 work and pay
them Every penny 1 make is TO be sent
home to my wife and children in Ger
many. May those who are responsible
for this war be cursed forever