Gilpin observer., 1917-11-29
DYING CAPTIVES
MADE TO WORK
BY AUSTRlANS
Proper Food and Medicines Are
Denied Prisoners.
ARE TORTURED FOR HOURS
Epidemlcs Sweep Ranks Of Helpless
and Thousands Fail to Survive
Treatment Of Prisoners Is Most In
characterization 10 Spreading in
Both Austria and Hunoary-Sani.
tary Conditions Bad.

human-Destitution 10 Spreading In
Both Austria and Hungary-Sani-
tary Conditions Bad.
About 10000 Italian and Serbian off,
GERS and men taken prisoners by the
Austrians and permanently disabled
for military service owing to wounds
or illness have been exchanged for an
equal number of Austrian prisoners Of
war during this year. Neither Italy
mar Austria agreed to the hospitaliza-
ton of prisoners of war In Switzerland,
and their direct exchange has been
most satisfactorily arranged by the
Swiss Red Cross, writes Philip r..
Mackenzie, Rome correspondent of the
New York Sun.
The treatment of prisoners Of war
In Austria is most inhuman. Owing
to food shortage the rations given to
the unfortunate prisoners are hardly
sufficient to keep them alive. Sanitary
conditions in prison camps are neg
lected. Proper medical attendance is
lacking. Hardly any effort is made to
combat contagious diseases and epi-
denies, with the result that the mortal
lty among the prisoners Is appalling.
Although insufiiciently fed prisoners
are forced to work and the hard labor
to which they are subjected hastens
their exhaustion to such an extent that
q large proportion of Italian soldiers
return to Italy in dying condition.
The treatment of Italian prisoners
Of war is more cruel, as the Austrians
bitterly hate the Italians and consider
them as traitors because, despite the
Triple Alliance, they are fighting
against and not in favor of the central
empires. Evidence Of the cruel treat
ment of Italian prisoners of war in
Austria is afforded by the reports of
the officers and men who return to
Italy, whose accounts are specially in
teresting inasmuch as they contain re-
liable particulars. about general in
ternal conditions in Austria.
Herded Into Cars.
When the Austrians take Italian SOL
diers prisoners before sending them
to the prison camps behind the front
they deprive them of all their clothes,
which they exchange for thin cotton
uniform similar to that worn by con-
victs. Italian uniforms and under
wear. If in good condition. are used
by the Austrian soldiers. The linen
shirts worn by the Italians are torn
into strips and used for bandages,
which even If washed are never prop
erly disinfected, since soap cannot be
had. The prisoners are then sent to
different camps in closed railway
trucks badly ventilated and SO crowd
ed that for days and sometimes weeks
the unfortunate men can hardly move.
Their food on the journey consists Of
thin vegetable soup distributed every
"a hours, and hunk of hard bread
made Of straw and bran. On arrival ut
the prison camps the men are lodged in
wooden huts, badly and hastily built,
where they are condemned to freeze In
winter and roast in summer.
officers are not deprived Of their uni
forms and they are allowed 81 n day to
Duy food. Naturally, owing to the pro-
hibitive prices of the prime necessaries
Of life, the officers can afford only a
simple and plain diet, but as most Of
them receive money from home, which
|
tivity, they are able to improve their
fare. Each officer gets two sheets and
a paper-lined blanket. As paper Is
getting scarce, officers blankets are
no longer lined, with the result that in
winter they are compelled to wear
their 0vercoats in bed.
The soldiers sleep on the floor, with
out any bedding except straw or shaw
lngs, which are never changed. Their
rations consist Of piece Of bread made
Of ground beans, ac0rns and straw or
bran and two bowls Of vegetable soup
every day. Once week they get some
meat, generally goats or sleeps meat.
The soldiers are made to work II hours
Il day In the fields or else In digging
trenches, building roads or railways,
and even In munition factories some
times. They are paid three cents II
day.
Suspended by Wrists.
If they refuse to work they are pun
Ished, for the first offense with bread
and water for week or fortnight,
and for the second offense with the
stake. They are tied to Il stake from
their wrists, with only their toes touch
Ing the ground, and left In this posi-
ton for two hours at time. II they
faint, u bucket of water is thrown in
their faces, and after short interval
the ordeal is renewed.
When prisoners are Ill the only medi-
cine they are really given is castor oil.
In case of epidemics hardly any effort
is made to prevent infection, and last
year at Mauthnusen 5000 Serbian pris-
oners died of typhus In few weeks.
According to the report Of an italian
medical officer who was confined at
Freidstadt, In upper Austria, 5000 Rou-
manians were starved to death.
The rations given to the men in all