Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1917-01-04
Invalided Prisoners Tell Of
Treatment in Civil Camp
at SOltau.
SEVENTY INVALIDS
RETURNED TO HOMES
Many Made III and Some Insane BY
Torment Of Hunger But Few Ac-
cept Offers Of Good Food and Pay
In Return For Work in German
Shops and FieIds-Captured Soldiers
Receive Good Treatment.

The Hague via London, Jan. 4.-The
first report received from Belgians de-
ported to Germany, who have been in
validated from the camp at Soltau,
Prussia, has been given to the Assoc1-
lated Press.
These prisoners were returned from
Germany because they were almost Ill
a dying condition. A number Of them
who were interviewed while separated
rom each other agreed in their stories
Of conditions prevailing in the Soltau
camp.
Seventy of the Belgians We're sent
home in a crowded cattle truck attach-
ed to a freight train. 1t took three
days and three nights for the journey
which usually is made by express
trains in six hours. They arrived here
in an emaciated condition. coughing
the greater number Of them hearing
evidence Of having contracted tubercu-
losis.
According to the statements maze oy
hese BelgianS, while in the clVN camp
at Soltau they received at O'Clock IN
the morning a bowl of some decoctlon
made from sacrons. At midday they
received half a liter Cone pln) or soup
containing much water and a few tur-
Inips, carrots and shrimps, served with
out bread or potatoes. At O'Clock III
the afternoon there was given them
$50 grams (slightly more than half a
pound) of black bread. bad and ofteh
mildewed In the evening as at mid
day they received half liter OF soup
sometimes containing bran or brown
maize.
Driven Insane From Hunger.
Under this regime the stronger men
went under and the weaker soon fe!'
i'll so that the Belgians say deaths oc-
CURED daily. Two of the Belgians are
said to have become insane the first
week. The torment of hunger drove
them to s,ch extremes that they crep;
into the Kitchen and collected peelings
Of potatoes, turnips and carrots.
One workman who was reported &C
have escaped was brought down with q
shot and finished with bayonet.
Near by was a prison camp for cap
tured Belgian soldiers. The soldiers
were better. fed than the civilians and
came in contact with them on being
permitted to attend funerals of civil
ians.
Plying their countrymen. they took
! to them secretly bread and preserved
articles Of food.
Workers Promised Good Rations.
The returned Beigians say that the
civilians at Soltau receive no soup ant
are advised to use sand instead. Not
| withstanding their sufferings most OF
them refused to work. altho promised
good food and considerable pay.
On one occasion forty artisans were
taken away and returned eight days
later. They said they had been taker
to the grand duchy Of Baden, where
for two days they were placed or
abundant rations. being told that Il
they accepted work they would receive
such food regularly. On refusing thel
were sent back to Soltau in a cattle
truck where. they reported they were
kept without food for thirtyfve hours
According to these accounts there
are 1000 Belgians at Soltau who re-
fused to work and still hope their re
lease may be brought about.
Brussels and Liege thus far are salt
to have escaped forced labor requisi
tions.