Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-01-05
STORIES OF SUFFERING
RELATED BY BELC|ANs
Tell of Their Awful Hardships While
in German Prison Camp mt
Saltau.
CONDITIONS ARE REVOLVING
Strong Men Break Under Exposure
and Scanty Fare, While Deaths
Occur Daily-Tormcnt OF Hunger
Drives Them to Eat Garbage.

THE HAGUE. January tv,a Lon
don).-Thc first report received direct
~ from BelEians deportcd to Germany
who have been invalided from the camp
at Soitau. Prussia, has been given the
Associated Press. These persons were
returned from Germany because they
were III almost n dying condition. 4
number. who were interviewed while
separated from each other. agreed in
their stories OF conditions prevailing
in the Soltau camp
Seventy of the Bclgians were sent
home in crowded cattle truck at
tached TO a freight train. Three days
and three nights were required for
the journey, which usually is made IN
elk hours. They arrived home in an
emaciated condition, coughing, the
greater number Of them bearing cvi-
dence OF having contracted tubercu-
losis.
According to the statements made
by these Belsians, while in tho civil
camp ct Soltau, they received at 6
O'clock IN the morning a bowl OF some
decoct!on made from acorns. At mid
day they received half a liter OF soup
containing much water and a few
turnips, carrots and shrimps. served
without bread or potatoes At
o'clock in the afternoon they had ESQ
grams (sliGhtly more than half a
pound) OF black bread. bad and often
mildewed. In the evening they re-
ceived half liter of soup. sometimes
containing bran or brown maize.
STRONG MEN co UNDER
AND WEAK ONES DIE
Under this regime tho stronger men
went under and tho weak soon fell i'll.
20 that tho BelEians say. deaths oc-
Cured daily. Two OF tho Bclsians are
said to havc become insane tho first
week. The tormen, OF hunger drove
them to such extremes that they crcpt
into tho kitchen and collected pcclinGs
of potatoes. turnipa and carrots. One
workman who attempted TO escape is
reported 10 have been brought down
With shot and finished with ths
bsyonet.
Nearby was q prison camp for cap
tured Belgian soldiers. Tho soldiers
were better fed than the civilians. and
came in contact with thom on being
permitted to attend funerals of
civilians. IltNlnE tneir cuuntrNmcn
they took Ia them secretly bread and
preserved articles Of food.
Tho returned BclEians say that the
civilians al Soltau receive no. soap,
and are advised To use sand instead
Not withstandinE their sufCcrinss, most
Of them refuse To work, although
promised good food and considerable
pay.
ON one OCCASION forty artisans were
taken away and returned eight days
later. They said they had been taken
to tho Grand Duchy az Baden, where
FOR two days they were placed ON album
dant rationl. being told that IL they
accepted work they would receive such
food regularly. ON refusing they were
sent back t. Soltnu in u cattle truck.
where, they reported. they were kept
without food for ihirty-tiNc hours.
According to these accounts. there
arc 1000 Bcleians n; Soltau who re-
fuse TO work. and still hope their re-
lease may he brought about.
Brussels and Licee thus far arc said
to have escaped forced labor rcqusi-
lions.