The Dickinson press., 1917-08-04
PRISONER OF WAR
RETURNS TO DICKINSON
Continued from Page One)

dicrs piled up on the field of battle,
victims of the Russian machine gun
fire at close range. Papelpu was
taken with the 5000 Russians to a
concentration camp in Germany and
held a prisoner OF war in that place
for four or five months, when he was
transferred into Austria among pris-
oners Of his W nationality. During
the time spent as a prisoner in Ger
many he says the prisoners were CIV
en- very little to eat-a cup Of coffee
made of roasted beans or corn, without
cream or sugar, and a small piece Of
bareback in Hthe morning, no dinner,
and in the evening a small can of very
thin soup. The prisoners almost
starved at times and Papelpu, with
thousands of others, ate roots from
the grass about the concentration
camp. When they were taken out for
work in the morning after a break
fast of bareback and bean coffee some
were unable to walk, and during the
day probably died or were disposed
of in some manner. Their comrades
never saw them again.
Austria they Jared somewhat better.
During the seventeen months Papel-
pu spent as a prisoner in Austria they
were given a portion of meat about
once each week, and also some wheat
bread. He was allowed to work there
and for a few months worked for
farmers and a portion Of the Anne he
worked in a meat market. He earned
three cents per day, but one could not
spend the money for food as all ra-
+,1oo 1r,o,,1 icc11al hy thu 00yn1.p M ont
and an allowance given each person.
according to Papelpu, have a much bet
ter food supply than have the Ger
mans. He stated, too, that the Ger
man soldiers were much more brutal
to the prisoners than were the Aus
cidents Of Prussian brutality to prls-
oners and innocent people.
During all this tune that he was
enduring h%ardships as a prisoner Of
war, his relatives here, with the aid
Of Congressman +. u. Norton, were
making every effort to secure his re-
lease. There was much correspon-
dence between nations and in March
Of this year he was granted his re-
lease from the Austrian government
and given passports to Switzerland,
and at the same time paid his three
cents for each day he had labored in
Austria. This, however, was before
America entered the great world war.
He made his way into France from
Switzerland and there, he says, he
spent some time regalning his
strength from the effects Of the hard
ships and starvation he had endured.
In France he could purchase food and
he said that he spent a great deal OF
time around the eating houses trying
to get his fill Of the necessities and
the good things that had been denied
him for more than two years: While
in Switzerland he communicated with
relatives here, who have been expect
ing him home for several weeks. He
travelled through the. war zone on a
vessel bound for New York when
leaving France but did not see any
evidence of submarines. 49, 4
The food srotage in Germany and
among her allies seems to be mostly
meat, milk, butter and fats. They
have vegetables, ETC., but all milk is
reserved for small children. Sugar is
used in coffee but once each week and
then an allowance is given. Two
light meals each day constitutes the
days ration issued by the government.
Papelpu's> bride is still in Russia
with her people but will. sail.-for
America now~that she is informed
that her husband is safe at home.
Papelpu has lived about IA miles
tsoutf" of Dickinson since 1908 and has
a good farm home and a quarter sec
ton of land. His mother and three
sisters reside near his farm, and dur
ing his absence his farming interests
have been looked after by q brother
Of Els mother for r ! family reunion
and there will be many things to tel
regarding his experiences in the
greatest war the world has evel
known.
Papelpu talked English fairly vel
when he left here but has forgotten
a great deal of the language whils
picking up a smattering II German
and French.