El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1917-10-20
n AMERICAN. A member


"a ship sunk by the German raider MOewe, was taken
\ prisoner with many others and removed to Germany
where all placed in prison camps They were regarded
as prisoners Of war despite their having been crews Of non
combatau ships Americans from the crews OF some OF the
shus were later released urgent representations from
the United States that they be regarded
prisoners Of Other Americans, members Of crews OF
enemy vessels, were kept as prisoners or war
This particular American one He has row managed
to escape from Germany and has reached the American g
The point of greatest interest is not that American
who was captured, national Of friendly nation
treated prisoner Of waT IS II that after having
been uniustlv imprisoned managed make his escape
The great point is that according this mans statement
the Americans held prisoner by Germany would starve to
death for the food sent them by the Red Cross
and the Young Mems Christian Association
He said the Germans them ration consisting Of
chunk Of black soggy bread and cold coffee for breakfast
and for dinner and supper piece OF the same aegd oead
and small quantity Of called apparently favored
with turups His statement may be readily believed
because It is coroborated by statements Of other escaped
prisoners concerning the treatment given by the Germans
10 their prisoners Of The Americans receiving
far IS known, DO worse treatment than any other
prisoners.
None Of them are being treated with any humanity All
of tem except such fed by their countries ap
pareny being starved to death It is deliberate and
malicious act. Germany undoubtedly looks upon the star
walton course desirable from viewpoints If the
are starving their countries the likely relieve
Germany Of the task Of feeding them. their countries
do feed them, let them sve to death and Germany
is then nd Of burden and has put possible combaant
the way. Also If enemy countries send food their
Germany Germans may
fair chance steal much Of the food in transit they
dare They do dare steal good deal Of If unless repre-
sentative Of the neutral embassy or legation having charge
Of the enemys diplomatic affairs goes right along with the
food from the time It the frontier and It de-
hTered into the hands Of the prisoners This procedure
which German authorities prevent whenever 1t be done
with fair grace by delaying the issuance Of the necessary
permits to travel
Apologsts for Germany viii argue that Germany prob
ably unable give better Taons prisoners of war but
the assertion viii not stand German troops are well fed
German sailors well fed The nobility, the landed classes
the merchant class and the professional compare
lively well fed at the ve-y least The great mass Of people
arranging TO supply potatoes and other foods to
Denmark Holland and Sweden in exchange for needed
modies So long any class in Germany all the food
needs; long Germany is able to export food Just
that long IS Germany able to supply to prisoners enough
food TO keep them IN health and strength.
France England and the United States feed interned
prisoners the regular army ration which, with best
in the world The least Germany might do would be to feed
prisoners the Iations allowed the poorer classes in the
empire.
It isn't inability that dictates Germanys course It is
aevoence Germany is bound by all the rules Of and
the mandates Of humanity give prisoners war fair
treatment Just long possible and when It longer
possible to feed them adequately she Is bound turn them
neutral countries be interned and fed
at Germauys expense As long nation is able to wage
war is able finance the feeding Of its prisoners not
10 supply them the food itself.
There only thing to do with Germany and ought
TO be done There only few American prisoners in
Germany whom Germany would starve until they become
living skeletons and die, but there viii be the
goes We send food TO those psoners-if the Ger
mans dont steal tbut ought not to be compelled to
What ought TO do is to notice Germany that
all Germans nteCned the United States as prisoners Of
VIII be subjected forthwith to the identical treatment
that Is accorded American prisoners in Germany and that