New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-03-03
Liberated Yarrowdale Men
Destitute and Half Starved
Four Doctors Reach Copenhagen; Say Americans Still
Held Suffer Cold and Hunger; Were in Berlin
Near Gerard While He Hunted Them

British steamship Noltaire, the first
vessel TO be captured by the raider,
while be was returning 20 America
from France. Mr.. Zabriskie was the
veterinarian on the steamship Mount
Temple. a Canadian horse transport
which lost three men from shell fire.
Dr. Davis and Mr.. McKim we're on the
White Star liner George. the most I'M
portant bag Of the German raider.
British Signed Parole Papers
On board the raider they we're treat
ed firmly but courteously By the Ger
man officers. Until they reached
Swinemuende the Americans had no
idea that they would be treated other
than As neutrals. In fact, even the
British officers who were captured
signed parole papers while on the raid
er. with the understanding that they
would be placed on board the first neu-
tral steamer encountered for trans
shipment TO a home or neutral port.
The capture OF the Ysrrowdale, with
her valuable cargo, influenced the Ger
man commander 20 change his intention
and send the prisoners 20 Germany on
that vessel.
Aided by a heavy storm. the run 70
the entrance Of the Baltic was made IN
detected. Thence they steamed 70
Swinemuende under German convoy.
After a few days at Swinemuende the
prisoners were transferred 20 the camp
AT Neustrelitz. where they were held
for = month in quarantine. The condi-
ton of many of the Americans. includ-
ing horse-handlers from the George,
was deplorable. The horse-handlers
had been accustomed 20 work on the
lower decks. which were half awash, in
bare feet. clad in underclothes. They
entered the boats in this condition.
Without Shoes in Snow
Three Americans were without shoes
in the snow for almost a month before
footwear was supplied. Others would
have been little better off If the cap
tain of the Yarrowdale had not dis
tributed sll available clothing aboard
Repeated attempts were made to COM
municate with the American Embassy,
but none of the messages reached Air.
Gerard. After a month all the men OF
the rank of officers, including the four
Americans. we're transferred 20 karls-
ruhe. and the others 70 Dulmen-
They were almost starving when they
arrived at Karlsruhe. There they found
that the insufficient rations al Neu-
strelitz were succeeded by a steadily
diminishing diet. which during the last
fortnight OF their stay consisted, they
say. OF only d plate OF thin soup, a
pound Of bread and half a pound Of
potatoes daily. DR.. Snyder says he
lost thirty pounds and the others about
as much.
They were allowed monthly pay Of
SIS. from which $3.50 was deducted
for ratlons, leaving $3.50 TO pay Tor
coffee. tea and tobacco. What extra
money they had melted away IN pur-
chasing FISH and other articles TO sup
plement their rations. Accordingly,
thew were all out Of funds when they
were notified Of their release on Feb
ruary 27.
Notwithstanding their unhappy rec
objections of Karlsruhe, the Americans
praised the camp commander, Major
Schonebeck. and his assistant, Lleuten-
ant Won Friesen. who did everything m
their power to Tighten the lot Of the
prisoners.
The Americans who have reached Co
penhagen say that the German raider
is the Puehme. commanded by Lieuten-
ant Berg.