The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1917-03-13
SAYS FRENCH CONCEAL
PRISON CAMP FACTS
Berlin Charges 10000 German Prisoners
Are Being Mistrea ted Behind
French Lines.

BERLIN, March ID French com
munications sent out by wireless, y
says the Overseas New Agency, " con
tain untrue reports regarding the use
made by German military authorities
of French prisoners of war in the oc-
cupied districts of the western front.
The measures taken by the Germans
were adopted because about 80 600
German prisoners of war have for
months been living under miserable
conditions and forced to do the hard
est kind OF work close behind the
French lines, in a majority Of eases
within the range OF German artillery
| fire
1.-The French wireless service stated
| that Gustave Ador of Geneva. presi-
| dent of the International committee of
the Red Cross, had visited the German
prisoners of war in the district opera
tons and had gained a most favorable
impression regarding their treatment.
There is no doubt the French authori-
ties carefully selected a special dis
trict in which the conditions were IA
vorable in order to deceive NJ. Ador
and neutral countries. The French re-
port regarding the German and French
negotiations relating TO prisoners OF
war in the district of military opera
tiols is not correct. Here are the
facts:
1.-The French government in note
dated Dee 81. 1916, was requested tC
assemble German prisoners of war il
good camps situated at least Is miles
behind the front, and to refrain from
putting them to work ut places nearer
the firing lines. In case Of refusal, OF
if no answer was given, il was an
nounced that on Jan. - French pris
: oners Of war would be sent into tn,
German district Of operations unde
similar conditions. The note-as i
known with certaintv-was immediate
ly sent by telegraph TO the French gov
eminent at Paris and it arrived Their,
prior to Jan. >, 1917.
''Thc French answer dated Jan. ],
reached Berlin only after the an
nounced countcrmeasures had been pu
into effect. Besides, the contents o
, the answer in q great part We're III
) satisfactory. The French governmcn
, had not fulfilled the German request
} Il had merely declared il was ready t
place the German prisoners Of war /
miles behind the front, where the,
were not sufficiently secure against tn
5 fire OF long range cannon, and wher
they were especially exposed to all
plane attacks.
This declaration, of course. iii
not suffice for the adjustment of on
/ tcountermeaSures, especially since tn
experiences we had had with promise
; o. the French government relating I
questions OF war prisoners were Yer,
discouraging.
. Ion the contrary. the French GOV
eminent had TO be asked to fulfill con
pletelv the German request. A con
; munieation to this effect was sent t
, the French government in the begin
! ming of February. On this occasion
!. was suggested to the French author
ties that the whole district Of opera
I tions on both sides be completed
G cleared Of war prisoners. This offe
o in itself proved that the German GOV
eminent does not make French pri.
/ oncrs OF war work in the district 0
S operations because of lack of hands
+ Since that time the French gov
z eminent has not replied and prefer
c to expose Frenchmen TO the fire 9
y their own countrymen in order TO b
/ able to continue to torture Germa
prisoners of war and to use them fC
labor contrary to international law
"The French government complain
that even in the middle of Decembt
: French prisoners of war We're single
<, out to be sent to the district of oper
e tions. This assertion is untrue. I'll
c prisoners Of war in question WEI
<, marked only short while prior to Il
r final day announced in the German 0
d fer. If they had to be sent there IL
L guilt was solely with the French go
lie eminent