The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-01-05
.REPAIR|AIEO BELCIAAS
TELL STORY Of AWFUL
CONDITIONS At S0lTAU
Some Driven Insane From Hunger and
Strongest Quickly Sicken Under
Treatment.
PRISONERS BETTER FED
THAN CIVILIANS THERE
On Refusing to Work For German
Masters Starvation Is Resorted to
In Order 10 Compel Beigians to
Serve

The Hague. Jan. H.. via London
The first report received directly from
Belgians deported to Germany who
have been invaded from the camp at
Soltau. Prussia, has been given the
press. These persons were returned
from Germany because they were in
almost a dying condition. A mum Der
who were interviewed while separated
from each other agreed in their stories
OF conditions prevailing in the Soltau
camp.
Seventy of the Belgians were sent
home In a crowded cattle truck at
tached TO a freight train. Three days
and three nights were required for
the Journey, which usually is made In
six hours They arrived home in an
emaciated condition, coughing, the
greater number of them bearing evil
dence OF having contracted tuber-
culosis
According to the statements made
by these Belgians while in the civil
camp at Soltau they received at s
O'Clock IN the morning bowl of some
decoction made from acorns. Al mid
day they received half a litre OF soup
containing much water and a few
turnips, carrots and shrimps. served
without bread or potatoes. At 3
q CLOCK III tue dlielnoSi4 NAfs had ~oV
grams tslightly more than half a
pound) Of black bread. bad and often
widowed, In the evening they re-
ceived half a ltre of soup, sometimes
containing bran or brown maize.
Deaths a Daily Occurrence.
Under this regime the stronger
men went under and the weak soon
fell i'll so that. the Belgians say,
1aoIt ~N he
Belgians are said to have become in
sane the first week. The torment OF
hunger drove them to such extremes
that they crept into the kitchen and
collected peelings OF potatoes, turnips
and carrots.
One workman, who attempted tc
escape. is reported to have beer
brought down with a shot and fin
ished with the bayonet-
Prisoners Better Fed.
Nearby was a prison camp for cap.
tured Belgian soldiers. The soldiers
were better fed than the civiliani
and came In contact with them or
being permitted to attend funerals
of civilians. Plying their countrymer
they took to them secretly bread and
preserved articles of food.
The returned Belgians say that the
civilians at Soltau receive no soar
and are advised to use sand instead
Notwithstanding their sufferings
most Of them refuse to work, al
though promised good food and con-
siderable pay.
Punished For Refusing To Work.
On one occasion forty artisans
were taken away and returned eight
days later. They said they had beer
taken to the grand duchy OF Baden
where for two days they were
placed on abundant rations being
told that If they accepted work they
would receive such food regularly
On refusing they were sent back tc
Soltau in a cattle truck where. the,
reported. they were kept without
food for thirty-five hours.
According to these accounts there
are 1900 Belgians at Soltau whc
refuse to work and still hope theil
release may be brought about.
| Brussels and Liege thus far are
said to have escaped forced labor
requisitions