Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1917-11-05
German Soldiers Diary Tells
of Driving Belgian Women
to Work Under Fire.
RED CROSS WORKERS KILLED
Officers Issue Iron Crosses to
Bakers and Gardener After
Every Meal.

BRITISH FRONT IN BELGIUM,
Nov. 4.-Belgian women and girls
are being compelled to build concrete
dugouts under artillery fire. The
statement that this form of slavery
has actually been practiced is re-
corded in the diary of German sol
dier who was recently captured. He
belonged to a landwehr division and
was personally in charge of a large
number of these unfortunate Bel
gians who were daily herded together
and taken to a zone near the German
lines to perform manual labor of the
hardest kind in constant danger OF
death. The soldiers diary tells the
story as follows:
II am going to give another in
stance of the inefficiency Of the Ger
man authorities. Since the eigh-
teenth instant fifty women and young
girls have been working at concrete
dugouts at Leke As Leke is in the
zone of fire and was shelled no later
than yesterday this is another case
in which we cannot understand the
action of the authorities. If this isn't
taken by way of reprisal, then 1t is
shameful deed on the part of Ger
many which cannot be surpassed
even in imagination. The civilian
population of Leke was evacuated
three or four weeks ago and now
women and children ar ecompelled to
work at the concrete dugouts OF the
village.
He Drove the Women.
ut is a shame that steps should
have been taken whether there is
reason or not. | am sure of the facts
which | state for il is my duty to
tal lya Of A 10 nh
every morning and bring them back
in the evening"
An illustration of the German dis
regard of the laws of war and hu-
manity can be found in an incident
which occurred the other night near
Houtholst forest. The British heard
cries of "stretcher bearers" from No
Mans land. 1t naturally was assumed
that wounded man was calling for
help and Red Cross bearers rushed
out thru the darkness to render as
sistance. They were shot down by
German snipers who used this ruse
to entice them into the open.
There have been many other cases
recently in which German snipers
have shot down Red Cross workers
deliberately, Notwithstanding the fact
that German Red Cross workers have
been permitted to work unmolested.
Liberal With Iron Crosses.
There have been many humorous
touches, even in the war. In the
diary of a German prisoner the fol-
lowing notes have been found
AT fixed periods, fixed quantities
of iron crosses are distributed to the
troops. 1t matters little whether they
are deserved or not-they must be
distributed. To get one all that is
necessary is that the sergeant major
should be well disposed. 1t is un-
necessary to deserve 1t; it is enough
If one is present at the distribution.
To-day 13 iron crosses were dis
tributed to a company on the oc-
casion of the first anniversary of the
formation of the division and | should
like simply to. write down to whom
they were distributed; first, the bat
talon cook; second, the battalion car
penter who makes cases for the Of
ficers which they send home filled;
third, company clerk, who since he
has been with the regiment has never
set foot in trench; fourth company
gardener who has succeeded in grow
Ing some fine lettuce. Men who have
been in the trenches for more than
a year without missing day are sent
away empty handed"