Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-11-27
FRENCH FREED
FR0MCAPTlvlTY
CIVILIANS OF MAsNiEREs DE-
LlvERED FROM SLAVERY
TO GERMANS.
Thy Associated Press Stan
CORRESPONDENT.

Correspondent
British Army Headquarters IN
France. Nov. 22--(Delayed)-Civ1llans
who we're released from Masnieres to-
day told something of their expert
ences in the last three years. Ihey
reioiced at their new found freedom
and many of them today still wept
with joy when the subject OF their
deliverance was brought up 1t was
1 motley crowd which came out or
this place: people in all conditions
and from many walks of life. Among
hem was the mayor, M. Leslain.
middle aged man, who acted as
spokesman. They first learned or the
approach Of the British from machine
sun fire in the distance. They were
Immediately thrown into a state OF
excitement and watched for the COM
ing Of their friends from every vantage
point available.
TANKS AMAZE CIVILIANS.
They had their first sight OF the az,
vancing forces at the bridge-head and
saw coming with the attacking
troops strange monsters" which they
never dreamed existed. These were
the great tanks, and the people stared
In amusement as these mighty
engines ploughed their way forward.
Only $50 Germans were holding the
town and all except a few left in the
cellars withdrew five minutes before
the British entered. With the civil
ians who greeted the British were two
German soldiers, one from Alsace and
the other from Lorraine, who had de-
serted and were waiting to give them
selves up to the British with whom
they sympathised.
During the three years OF their
captivity the civilians were fed by the
American relief committee. All other
food was requisitioned by the Ger
mans, who placed heavy penalties on
those who concealed any. For in
stance, the secreting Of bottle OF
ordinary wine called for a fine OF ten
francs or long term in prison and
there was twice as severe a penalty
for hiding a bottle OF champagne
Many persons served terms in jail for
alleged violations of the orders. They
were well fed, however, owing to
American relief and all appeared
healthy.
The Germans stripped all the houses
Of the town of their furniture as soon
as they entered. Among the houses
thus looted were five magnificent
chateaux. All men of military age
were arrested and sent to Germany.
Women were compelled to do all man
ner Of work, such as sweeping streets,
washing clothes of German officers
and waiting on officers.
THREE YEARS IN CELLAR.
The mayor declared his belief that
Germany actually is starving. He said
there seemed to be no doubt that the
civilians in Germany we're undergoing
great hardships. Among the most in.
teresting of the refugees was man
Of military age who had hidden in a
cellar for three years to escape the
Germans and had been fed by his
wife with an extra ration of food al
lowed her because she had a baby.
This man is IS years old and in the
ordinary course would have been ar
rested and sent to prison camp as
soon rs the Germans entered the
town. He did not want to leave his
wife and baby so hid in secret place
IN the cellar, thereby making himself
liable to the death penalty if detected.
German officers came to live in the
house, and daily he heard them tramp
ling about above him. In accordance
with the custom this house and all
others were searched every little
while to see il anyone was concealed,
but the Germans never discovered his
hiding place. Each day while the
onicers were away his wife smuggled
his little store of food and water to
HIM.
ENDS LONG IMPRISONMENT.
When the British entered the town
the wife, after making sure that they
were indeed British, went home and
brought out her husband, who had his
first glimpse of the outside world since
August, 1914. The Germans were to
have searched the house again the
day the British captured the town.
This refugee seemed to be in fair
health notwithstanding his confine-
ment but his nerves were badly shat
tered and he wept continually as his
story was being related. He was
clinging to bag containing several
hundred francs which he had carried
with him into his cave.