Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-07-13

but sometimes OF potatoes; in the
made of corn meal or barley; the ra-
ton of bread Is about half pound per
day; 1t Is made of mixture of corn
meal and rye.
The interned men never are given
meat, fish or cheese. In certain camps
the evening meal was suppressed alto
gether and even the other meager re-
pasts were reduced for those who re-
fused to work for the Germans.
Besides hunger, other cruelties were
resorted to in order to bring the de-
ported men to submission. Stoutly fet-
tered to posts, the men are exposed to
heat or cold. according to the season.
for days together, during which the
food rations are reduced systematical-
ly until they reach the proportions Of
a half ration only for two days subsis-
tence
cRUELTlEs ARE eARBARoUs.
Another cruelty practiced upon the
deported to force them to work is the
"supplice of the tank" or severe ap-
plication of the turkish bath. Several
witnesses have confirmed this fact,
among them the son of manufacturer
Of the region Of Antwerp, who with
shut up in a small room heated TO a
very high temperature. There was
only room in the place for them to
stand erect and it was SO crowded they
were scarcely able to turn.
They were left there twenty-four
hours. Then they were led to factory
in the neighborhood where they were
asked If they would go to work. Upon
their refusal, they were taken to field
under military escort, Invested OF their
overcoats, shoes, scarfs and hats or
caps. and exposed in a snow storm an
entire day and an entire night, with
nothing to eat or drink and under the
absolute prohibition to make the
slightest movement Some Of them
lost consciousness after a few hours of
this exposure and all Of them were
taken to the hospital the following
day.
MOCK EXECUTIONS STAGED.
A number OF witnesses call attention
to the fact that frequently groups OF
deported men have been the subject
of simulated execution, sometimes by
a firing squad and sometimes by ma
chine guns, In order to overcome their
resistance 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
other internment camps and where the
deported are forced to work In the
marshes. often in most excessive cold
weather dressed in nothing but trous'
ers shirts and wooden shoes, without
food during an entire day.
MORTALITY RATE is HIGH.
Some of the deported are sent 70
agricultural centers where, according
to the evidence of a man from Yer
viers who escaped from Germany
most of the victims return so enfeeb
led that it is necessary for them to be
transported to the station In carts.
Corporal punishment. the form o.
which is left to the discretion of the
iailers, is employed frequently such as
blows with the butt Of rifle, forced
running for periods up to two hours
without stopping under menace OF the
bayonet. in addition to the practice OF
tying men to the post.
From all the evidence. 1t appears
certain that the mortality among mer
subjected to these different forms OF
mistreatment is alarming. The deaf
OF n great many Of the deported meT
Is known in the occupied regions o.
Belgium