The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1917-11-01
Escaped Prisoners Say There Is
insufficient Food for Sol.
diers and Civilians.
s7ARvE IN PRISON CAMPS
Boys Of Seventeen In Trenches, De-
clare Refugees Who Recently
Reached This country-Moth.
ere Arc VainIy Protesting.

luc euu VI her resources, ACCORDING 10
Max Tannenbaum and Jacob Schurek,
who arrived here after escaping into
Holland from German prison camps.
The homes of the people have been
stripped Of old men and boys for the
firing line, aged men and women are
at work and metals of all kinds are
disappearing, the escaped prisoners
say.
The two men met each other in Hol-
land and succeeded in reaching this
country by slowing away on a steam
ship. Tannenbaum spent more than
two years in mines and internment
camps after he was %forcefully taken
into Germany from Russia. He says
that the German people r coming to
look upon victory as a lost hope and
r so tired of war that thousands are
wondering if it Is worth while.
The call to arms has reached seven
teen-year-old boys, and mothers are
vainly protesting. The enthusiasm Of
the earlier days Of the war is lacking.
The people r thin to the point Of
emaciation because Of scanty rations.
To be fat is almost a crime, and to eat
more than the government allotment
is sometimes punishable by death. The
people are becoming less and less
stirred by optimistic government an
nouncements.
Was Struggled Across Border.
T%annenbaum, a Russian Jew, was
allowed no freedom in Germany. he
bribed a woman to smuggle him across
the Dutch border. In Holland he could
obtain no authority to leave that coun.
try, although he had left his wife des-
titute in Russia. He met Schurek at
the Russian consulate, and after IN.
successfully trying to secure steam
ship passage the pair boldly walked
aboard a liner. They were unchal.
lenged and reached this city by way
of Halifax. Their entrance into this
country was unknown to immigration
officials, but they announced their
presence, and after an investigation
they were allowed to remain.
To own a cat or dog in Germany
brings q fine of $500. Gold has disap-
peared and very little nickel is in evil
dence. Paper money is used entirely,
and it is put into circulation by the
.vurious sections Of the country. The
Krupps issue their own money, which
is redeemed for food.
T%annenbaum was thrown into prison
for standing outside a railroad station
waiting for a train. He was ordered
to scrub his cell every morning with
a cup of salt and u pail of water. For
food he received an ounce of bread,
cereal coffee, bread crumbs and soup
made of potato peelings.
Prisoners Beaten Frequently.
In a camp where Tannebaum spent
three months with French and Belgian
prisoners wooden benches were the
beds, and rotten bread, with potato
peel soup, was the food. The men
were frequently examined by doctors,
and often were marched naked on
snow-covered ground for ice water
buths. They We're beaten on the slight
est provOcation. An epidemic Of chOl-
era and typhoid broke out, and when
it was over the survivors were vacci-
mated.
The German soldiers and doctors de-
serted the camp during the epidemic.
and prisoners were left to care for the
sick. Finally the camp was investi-
gated by a government commission,
which ordered better food.
The food allowance for the German
people was as follows: For one person,
one week, three pounds Of bread, 80
grams of butter, n egg, $50 grams of
meat, so grams of sugar, 20 grams of
soup, n flake of fat. The people are
hungry all the time. They can have
potatoes and vegetables only when
there is plenty.
A special permit is required for Sc.
curing clothes, and articles Of apparel
can only be obtained after authorities
have determined they are really need
ed. The soldiers fare little better, re-