Evening star., 1917-10-14
SAW HIS COMRADES
STARVED TO DEATH
Russian Prisoner, Who Escap.
ed From Germany, Tells Of
Barbarities Practiced.
AT MERCY OF GUARDS
BY MICHAEL sERINK.

by MICHAEL sERINK.
"a thrilling story of his escape from n Ger.
man prison is told below by Mr.. Michael
ssrink Russian % seannn s,'s now S.,,o on visit to
men driven mad and gradually starved to death
by German guards. made his escape from n
train while its way from Hamburg 10
Frankfort. He then boarded another train.
which took him on his toward the from
tions regarding the sayaeery with which the
Germans treated their prisoners.)
My boat was in Hamburg when war
her was at once arrested. The Ger
mans knew days before that war could
not be avoided. for I saw German SOL
diers with fixed bayonets parading the
city and arresting all Russians. who
were taken to the prison, followed by a
jeering crowd.
When war was actually declared we
soon discovered the true nature Of the
German. Their conduct toward us
well, one cannot describe It. They
seemed to take a delight in seeing
some of our poor fellows craving for
water. If we asked for anything we
were jeered and laughed at. 1 knew
one man who struck German guard
because he had spat upon HIM The
soldier, who would have been no match
for my comrade in a fair fight, beat the
poor fellow with the butt of his gun,
after which the injured Russian was
carried before the governor OF the Jail.
The trial was mere mockery. The
Russian was never allowed to speak
one word in his defense.
When told that he would be put on
the Russian prisoner, who was a man
who spoke as he thought, told the gov
ernor that he had not mad fair trial.
1T is all you deserve, you - swine"
was the retort.
The man was taken away and placed
in an evil-smelling cell, in which was
a dead body.
The guards when told of this never
took any notice whatever, and SO my
comrade had to eat and sleep in the
presence of a decomposing body. The
poor fellow was almost driven mad. He
was unable to conceal his temper, and
when one OF the guards came round the
prisoner got behind him. and placing his
back to the doorway. told the guard that
he would have to remove the dead body
The German jeered at his prisoner and
tried to get past him. He. however.
found his path barred. The guard then
tried to bring his bayonet into play. but
before he could get it drawn my COM
rade was upon him, and getting a firm
strangling him when another guard saw
the conflict. He Immediately bayoneted
my colleague in the leg.
This ended the fight as far as the
prisoner was concerned, for he was now
helpless. The guard who had received
the severe handling now turned on his
helpless victim and practically kicked
him from one side of the cell to the
other.
The poor fellow was then left in his
cell all night, and when the guards
came for him the following morning to
take him before the governor he was
was. nevertheless, tried on charge Of
mutiny. but what his sentence was
cannot say, for never saw him again.
Strung Up by the Wrists.
The officials and the guards seemed
to take delight in torturing US.
For instance. / saw one man strung up
by the wrists and beaten until he was
exhausted and well-nigh dead. The food
was wretched. but If We complained it
only meant punishment. and those who
were wise kept their mouths shut.
After a few weeks the lack OF nourish-
ment began to tell its tale on all men.
Some went mad, and others committed
suicide rather than face the cruelty of
the inhuman sentries. It is impossible
to describe the terrible scenes Of those
days when Germany felt she had victory
In her grasp.
We were punished for nothing. In
fact, the guards generally took the law
into their own hands.
If after our punishment We complained
to any of the officials of having been
struck and beaten they only laughed,
while sthe guard after this would see
that we were given no peace or rest.
cell and kicked and bullied until my legs
and thighs have been black and blue
Why should be SO treated l could not
say.
1t was merely German guards whim.
On another occasion one of the pris-
oners became insane and attacked one of
the guards. who Immediately split his
skull open with the butt end of his rifle
How we lived through this living hell 1
cannot say.
The day came. however. when we
were to be taken to Frankfort At least.
think that was our destination. but am
not sure, for l never got there.
l had had more than my share of hun
ger and cruel treatment at the hands of
our captors, SO / decided to make bid
for freedom. I knew that II l got to
my country until peace was declared. and
confiding in a comrade whose Christian
name was Paul. We agreed to make an
attempt to get away.
speak excellent German. and this proved
a most valuable asset. We had also a
nice bit OF money between US, which We
had concealed in the soles of our boots
On the day of our departure we were
marched through the streets, which were
lined with people OF all classes, who be-
haved like uncivilized creatures.
We were insulted and spat upon, and
If we showed signs Of retaliation we
were prodded in the body with a bayonet
On arriving at the station we were
packed in trucks to such an extent that
there was no room to sit down. In fact
we could hardly breathe. Though mighty
uncomfortable. this close packing was of
considerable help in aiding US in our
escape.
AS soon as dark came on nudged my
comrade. telling him that as soon as I
thought it dark enough I would make
an attempt to leave the train. He told
me that he was ready for anything We
had hardly covered five miles before l
gave my pal the signal The train
would probably be going at twenty miles
Der hour, but this to determined men
was mere detail
Jumped From Moving Train.
AS the train entered a deep cutting I
gradually placed one leg over the side
of the truck, and nodded for my COL
league to do likewise. Then | jolted
my body over and, getting one foot on
the edge OF the ortside of the wagon [
hung on In the distance / saw what ap-
sionalad to my cn'l~aerle to dive into
them This we both did. but as we
reached the foliage a sentry saw u.s.
and the next moment 4 shot was fired
AS luck would have it, however, the
guards were unable to push their way
through the crowded trucks in time
to get their aim.
lay in the bushes as though dead,
but when the train passed out of sight
7 hTrried'p ssof r. nv f+t@' Hrf NJ r--