The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1917-11-08
HOLD WOMEN In SLAVERY
FORCED TO BUILD DUGOUTS UN.
DER ARTILLERY FIRE.
Other Inhuman Acts Cited With In.
lection of HumOr in Iron Cross
Distribution.

British Front in Belgium, Nov. l.
Belgian women and girls are being
compelled to build concrete dugouts
under artillery fire. The statement
that this form of slavery has actually
been practiced is recorded IN the
diary of a German soldier who was
recently captured He belonged to a
Landwehr division, and was person
ally in charge of large number OF
these unfortunate Belgians who were
daily herded together and taken to a
zone near the German line to per-
form manual labor of the hardest
kind in constant danger of death.
The soldiers diary tells the story as
follows:
From Germans Diary.
Il am going to give another in
stance of the inefficiency of the Ger
man authorities. Since the 18th in
slant, fifty women and young girls
have been working at concrete dug
outs at Leke. AS Leke is in the zone
of fire and was shelled no later than
yesterday, this is another case in
which he cannot understand the ac-
tion of the authorities If this is not
taken by the way of reprisals, then
it is a shameful deed on the part OF
Germany, which cannot be surpassed
even in imagination. The civilian
population of Leke was evacuated
three or four weeks ago and now
women and children are compelled to
work at the concrete dugouts of the
village.
'It is a shame that such steps
should have been taken, whether
there is reason for it or not. l am
sure of the facts which state, for it
is my duty to take gang of forty
seven women to Leke every morning
and bring them back in the evening"
Red Cross Workers Shot Down.
An illustration of the German dis
regard for the laws of war and hu-
manity can be found in an incident
which occurred the other night near
Houtholst forest. The British heard
cries of stretcher bearers from No
Nans-Land. 1t naturally was assumed
that a wounded man was calling fol-
help, and Red Cross bearers rushed
out through the darkness to render
assistance. They were shot down by
German snipers, who used this ruse
to entice them into the open.
There have been many other cases
recently in which German snipers
have shot down Red Cross workers
deliberately, Notwithstanding the fact
that German Red Cross workers have
been permitted to work unmolested
There have been many humorous
touches even the war. In the diary
of German prisoner the following
notes nave Deen fOunO:
Where Iron Crosses Go.
Sat fixed periods fixed quantities
Of iron crosses are distributed to the
troops. 1t matters little whether they
are deserved or not-they must be
distributed. To get one all that is
necessary is that the sergeant major
should be well disposed. 1t is un-
necessary to deserve it; it is enough
if one is present at the distribution.
s'Today thirteen iron crosses were
distributed to a company on the oc-
casion of the first anniversary of the
formation of the division and should
like simply to write down to whom
they were distributed: First, the bat
talon cook; second, the battalion car
penter, who makes cases for the Off
GERS, which they send home filled;
third, company clerk, who, since he
has been with the regiment, has never
set foot in a trench; fourth, company
gardener, who has succeeded in grow
ing some fine lettuces. Men who have
been in the trenches for more than
a year without missing day are sent
away empty handed"