The daily progressive-miner., 1917-09-11

The Department ot SE2Te has re- e=:ve3 reports from Russian soldier prisoners who escaped from Germany which describe the manner in which .hsy were treated by their German cap-ors. Among other details it is re- ported -ha- the prisoners were com psl,sd 10 work under fire which is a violation .: he recognized rules Of warfare.
 Following is a synopsis Q: reports received:
 ARRAs FRONT. JULY Y, 1917.
 Information b. 2 Russian soldier, prisoner ot var II Germany. 2 number 9: -h-Labo- Battalion. composed partly q Russians. working oa trench behind tha firing line facing the En- glish
 Tas battalion was sen- there from -Was-fal.a. in October. 1915.
 The wo-z consisted Q: :ou- lines 0: 5=tease. win artillery enplaoeme1ts. Win -he falling b>c- Q. the troops ne prisoners wa-a moved 70 he rear and worked on ne nexr line Q: de. tecsa. Later -he:r work was farther rom -a4 firing line. bat even then s1e..s were falling 2 D k;lome.ers 5=1.1s -Aa working parties. Just be- fore .1e las Easter E men were killed among the Russians and 69 men E=-= wounded
 5000 Sick in One Hospital.
 1 large hospital was situated abou- !1 ;i,on4-ars from -ha front place -o- known 70 !1:1-nan-) and i- con -2ina3 some 5000 Russian prisoners. sick O. utterly worn out from lack O: 1ou-.sAne2E and from hard work.
 The camps ot labor ba--alions ex- tended for . distance c: , or : k:lo- meters i1 tta par O -ht field where he :nto-maa- worked The barracks consisted ot tlimsv portable frame a=ording she,-e- from -he sun. but no- from rain or cold.
 Besides the Russians -hsra were al 50 B=lg.ans and Germans They czmped separately. The Germans we-e he strikers and those who look par in food r;o-s They were unfit for se-v-ice. old. or win various dis abilities They worked also under fire. and their food was the same as -1a- giTeu prisoners
 1 working parry consisted Of from I5 D 2 prisoners. German sapper, ar interpreter and z sentry This vas oa conc-e-e work. The work was Il hours day il all kinds ot weather One hours rest was given at noon, 5uc TO dinner since the meal consisted ot Ehia soup and the prisoners had no means Q bring it win them
 selgians Near Front
 Be,gis1s. men only. worked or roads. II -he tor4s-. Il the fields. no; far from he troac, but nor on the trenches.
 German soldiers at the front observ. =d by -he informant were young men He escaped May 31; arrived in Hol land June 24 Among -he soldiers seen by him were some lame, some TWO or three fingers missing. others had 51- one eye One man having 2 rubber ex-ensioh 70 his leg vas sent from he hospital 10 The front
 Bread allowances Of prisoners lasr December was one loaf fz1z pounds. tor three men per day. From middle of May on it was one loaf for foul men Finally il vas planned 70 issu; cae loaf for five men l. decided in stead 70 deduc. 10 pfennig per dal rom the prisoners pay. IL was ther .hat -he informant took his departure
 Hrisoners' meals consisted Of breat and coffee in the morning; for dime ras s4ryed soup with few potatoes bur mostly beets were gathered in th nearby fields. Supper consisted c bread and coffee When inc place c work was too far from camp sou was served in the evening, nothin being taken for dinner.
 CAMBRIA FRONT, JULY 1s, 1917
 Iu formation from Russian sold fer Of the - Jarsolav Infantry
 He was member Of the - LAbo