Grand Forks herald., 1917-03-02
Americans, Taken Prisoner
by Germans, Subjected to
Awful Treatment
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months in prison camps in Germany
on the meager prison fare provided
by the German government, without
food parcels which liken the condi-
tions of existence Of other prisoners
of the war They passed through
during which bombs intended for the
railroad station rained on all sides of
their camp. To cap the climax they
were ignorant until the last whether
they were prisoners Of war or neutrals
in detention, whether their govern
ment was doing anything to obtain
their release or whether the United
States had not already entered the
war.
To add to their anxieties. their fell
low Americans from the Yarrowdale
at the time when they left at the
Neus.reiitz camp to be transferred
W., other officers from the captured
steamers were in state Of complete
clothed. several OF them being without
shoes or over clothing during the Sc
we're December cold. and all were
weakening under the effect Of these
conditions. although they were SUBJ
secu.ently. remedied when Ambassador
Gerard finally located them in the
prison camp at Dulmen.
Treated Firmly.
The recital OF the four Americans
Of incidents. concerning their capture
and their experiences on board the
raider is one with which American
readers are familiar from the ac-
counts ot the Moewe and the Appam.
They were treated firmly. but courte-
oas!y by the German officers
Until ;hey reached Swinemuende,
would Re treated other than as neu-
--a!s- II fact, even the British OIL
GERS who were captured. signed parole
papers while on the raider, with the
entertaining that they would be
placed on board the first neutral
steame! encountered for trans-ship-
--.ent to home or a neutral port The
capture Of the Tarrowdale with her
*a!usble cargo Influenced the German
commander TO change his intentions
and send the prisoners to a German
port on that vessel
Condition Dcplorablc.
The condition Of many of the
Americans including horse handlers
from the George, was deplorable.
The horse handlers had been accus-
!o-aed 70 work on the lower decks.
WHICH were half awaah, in bare feet
ara in under clothes. They entered
the boats in this condition. Three
4 Americans were without shoes In the
sanW Tor almost a month before foot
wear was supplied. Others would
have been little better OF IL the cap
tain of the Yarrowdale had not dis
T!buted all available clothing aboard.
repeated attempts were made to
commnnlcate with the American en-
, nassy. but none of the messages
reached Mr. Gerard. After a month
All the men Of the rank Of officers,
including the four Americans were
transferred TO Karlsruhe, and the
others to Dulmen.
Switched About in Berlin.
The Journey TO Karlsruhe required
az hours. On the way from Neus-
trelitz they were switched about for
~ hours in the yards at Berlin. at a
time when Ambassador Gerard. whose
imperative Instructions were to ascer-
tain whether there were Americans
among the Yarrowdale prisoners. was
IN persistent and pugnacious fashion
hombarding the diIatory foreign office
with daily notes Of inquiry.
Very Poor Food.
! They were almost starved when
| they arrived at Karlsruhe. There they
round that the insufficient rations OF
SeuEtrelitz were succeeded by q
steadily diminishing diet. which dur.
Ing the last fortnight Of their stay
consisted. they ray. only of plate OF
thin soup. a pound Of bread and hall
pound Of potatoes daily. DIR. Snyder
says he lost 30 pounds and the 9th.
ers about az much.