Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-07-15
Of the Associated Press.

Correspondence Of the Associated Press.
HARVE. July 1.-The Belgian govern
ment has received from various sources
evidence which accords in every detail.
proving that deported Belgian civilians
are subjected systematically to mis-
treatment to bring them to forced labor
for the German army.
This evidence exposes insufficient nour-
ishment, cruel punishment. brutal IN
timidation and h2rd conditions OF labor.
under which a great many of the de-
ported civilians succumb, while a larger
proportion return so reduced and weak
ened that they are incapable of physical
effort.
This Is the regime of the camp of
Soltau described by one of the men who
had been informed there and who sue
ceeded in escaping:
I'm the morning a third of liter or
beverage resembling coffee. but seeming
to have been made of acorns; at noon a
half liter of soup. generally made OF
beets but sometimes of potatoes: In the
evening fifth of liter of porridge
made of corn meal or barley. The ration
of bread is about half pound per day.
1t is made of mixture of corn meal and
rye. The informed are never given meat.
fish or cheese. In certain camps the
evening meal was suppressed altogether
and even the other meager repasts were
reduced for those who refused to work
for the Germans.
Other Measures Employed.
Besides hunger, the principal meas
ures resorted to in order to bring the de-
ported men to submission were the sup
plice of the post. Stoutly fettered to
posts. the men are exposed to heat. or
cold. according to the season. for days
together. during which the food rations
are reduced Systematically until they
reach the proportions of half ration
only for two days subsistence.
Another cruelty practiced upon the de-
'supplice of the tank" or a severe ap-
plication of the Turkish bath. Sew
eral witnesses have confirmed this fact.
among them the son of manufacturer
of the region of Antwerp. who. with
several of his comrades in camp. was
shut up in a small room heated to
very high temperature. There was only
room in the place for them to stand
erect and so crowded they were
scarcely able to turn. They were left
there twenty-four hours. Then they
were led to factory in the neighbour
hood, where they were asked If they
would go to work Upon their refusal
they were taken to field under mill
tary escort. Invested of their overcoats.
shoes. scarfs and hats or caps and ex-
posed in a snowstorm an entire day
and an entire night. with nothing to eat
or drink, and under the absolute prohi-
bition to make the slightest movement.
Some of them lost consciousness after
few hours of this exposure. and all of
them were taken to the hospital the fol-
lowing day.
Government Has Evidence.
The son of a manufacturer of Ant
werp, very stout, robust fellow at the
time of the deportation. was sent home
a physical wreck a short time after
ward. He has since died from the mis-
Ia 10 no toll nf h 10
sufferings to the doctor who treated
him and the Belgian government is in
possession of the evidence as given to
the doctor.
Two soldiers from Havre. the Lebris
brothers. who escaped from Germany.
confirm this evidence regarding the
supplice Of the Turkish bath.
Several. witnesses call attention to
ported men have been the subject of
simulated execution, sometimes by
firing squad and sometimes by machine
guns. In order to overcome their resist
ance and impress their comrades.
There is also another means of con-
straint used upon the deported in the
form Of punishment camps. where the
regime is still more severe than in the
deported are forced to work in the
marshes often in most excessively cold
weather, dressed in nothing but trous-
ers. shirt and wooden shoes. without
food during an entire day.
Too Feeble to Walk.
Some of the deported are sent to
AGRICULTURAL centers. where, according
TO the evidence of a man from YER
viers who escaped from Germany. most
of the victims return SO enfeebled that
1t is necessary for them to be trans
ported to the station in carts.
Corporal punishment. the form OF
which is left to the discretion of the
jailers. is frequently employed. such as
blows with the butt of a rife. forced
running for periods up to two hours
without stopping. under menace of the