The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1917-07-12
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Crueltles inflicted on
Oeported Civilians,

xIAvRE, July 1.-THE Belgian gov
Endnnent has received from various
E0rUfces evidence which accords in ever,
H1oeail, proving that deported Belgian
4 civilians are subjected systemsticall,
4 - mistreatfnent to bring them TO forced
4 mbor for, the German army. This evi'
SdoAee exposes insufficient nourishment
4 efuel punishment, brutal intimidation
nd hard conditions OF labor, under
!, which . great many Of the deportet
I. civilians suecumb while a larger pro-
poftion return so reduced and weak.
sasd that they are incapable Of ply
Z sieal effort.
Sscapsd Man Reveals Conditions.
This Is the regime Of the camp OF
ee)tau, described by one OF the mer
4 Who had been interned there and who
succeeded in escaping In the morning
. third OF litrc Of beverage resem-
\ bling coffee. but seeming to have been
(. made OF acorns, al noon half litre OF
soup generally made Of beets but some
\ times OF potatoes in the evening fifth
4 OF q litrc Of porrdge made Of corn
7 meal or barley; the ration OF bread is
about half pound per day; il is made
OF q mixture Of cornmcsl and rye. The
interned are never given meat, fish or
cheese. In certain camps the evening
\ meal was suppressed altogether and
sven the other meager arepasts were
reduced for those who refused TO work
Tor the Germans.
Exposed to Heat or Cold.
Besides hunger the principal meas
ures resorted to in order to bring the
: deported men to submission were the
~supplice Of the post" stoutly fettered
20 posts, the men are exposed to heat
er cold, according to the season, for
6hys together, during which the food
yations are reduced Systematically un-
81 they reach the proportions Of half
sation only for two days subsistence.
Another cruelty practiccd upon the
lGpofted to force them to work is the
egpplice Of the tank" or a severe ap-
n cAtion Of the Turkish bath. Several
Rllnesses have confirmed this fact
oQcne them the son OF manufacturer
~ the region Of Antwerp, who, with
poveral Of his comrades in camp. was
onut Up Id q small room heated to a
WY high temperature. There was only
tuom IN the place for them TO stand
'orect and 80 crowded that they were
ecasesly able to turn. They were left
lAefe twenty-four hours.
Died From Mistreatment.
The son OF the manufacturer OF Ant
Nosp.. Z very stout, >fobust fellow at
~ time Of the deportation, was sent
eme Z physical wreck a short time
'19lerward. He has since died from the
9ollltseatment.
Corporal punishmeM h frequently
pploysd, such as blows with the but,
. rifle. forced running for period,
~ to two hours without stopping un.
1ef menace OF the bayonct, in addition
Z p the practice OF tieing men to the
POST.
Alarming Mortality Rate.
y From all the evidence, il appears
eoftain that the mortality among men
t1bjected 10 these different forms of
nistreatment is alarming. The death
r. Z great many Of the deported men
known in these occupied regions OF
Uelgium. The evidence regarding the
omp Of Soltau shows that the men are
odly lodged, underfed, particularly in
Ae working detachment, lily clothed
9utaliied, sequestered, deprived Of ali
= aversion and also refused any kind OF
eliritual consolation. A Belgian prizes,
&ho officiated at the hospital there in
Hebruary. 1917. under the guard of a
eontinei. was never able TO see the in.
lHnAd:
AZ this camp at the end OF February