The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1918-09-05
YEARS IN HUN WAR PRISON.
DIR. Beland, Former Canadian Post
master General, Tells Experiences.

IuSSCCT Ill AO4Ao AnRSANN'
After three years spent in Ger
man prison, during which time nj
wife died in Belgium, DR.. Henri 5
Beland, formerly postmaster gen
eral of Canada, yesterday arrived a
an Atlantic port from England or
board a British steamship. With hin
was his daughter, Jennette, Fl years
old. Yesterday, who has been detained
in Belgium since the outbreak of the
war. DR.. Beland was released s1z
weeks ago by the German govern
ment In exchange for a German OF
note who had been held prisoner by
the British. On board the steam
ship it was said yesterday that this
German is related toa German prince
but no %verifcation of the statement
could be obtained.
DR.. Beland said yesterday that he
went to Antwerp just before war was
begun to be married. With him was
his daughter by his first wife. The
marriage was celebrated two days
before the Germans took the city and
DR.. Beland and his family were un-
able to leave after the occupation.
twas seized because of my politi-
cal relations and detained at Ruther-
ben, a German detention camp" said
DR.. Beland. Later I was placed in
the Stadt Vogtei, a prison in the
center of Berlin, while my wife and
daughter were held in Belgium. For
two years I was permitted to leave
but once, for two hours, but after
that time, because of my failing
health, my prison jailers permitted
me to 60 out for two hours twice a
week, under escort.
1.-THE Germans allowed me to re-
ceiye the food sent from England
and so far as physical hardships were
concerned have not much complaint
to make. It was the mental punish
ment / received during the time my
wife was ill that hurt me most and
it was this part of their treatment
that I shall never forget.
shortly after my arrest in May,
1915, 1 received word that my wife
was III at Cappelen, Belgium. 1
made every effort to obtain permis-
sion to visit her, but my pleas were
denied. She grew steadily worse and
when, a year and one-half later, her
Heath became but a matter of days,
T renewed my prayers for permission
to 60 to her. I could make no head
way and there was nothing for me
to do but sit in my cell and grieve.
When she died in December, 1915,
they didn't inform me Of it for ten
days. At first they simply told me
that my wife was dead.
Let me go and bury her plead
ed.
It's too late now they informed
me. She has been buried ten days
.sThat was characteristic of the
eBut because of my sorrow I be-
lfeye they tried to soften a little the
days Of confinement. They were not
brutal to me in a physical sense and
my wife was alive they per-
nditted me to write to her freely and
to receive letters from those who
were attending her.
aAt first at the detention camp the
food and the quarters were very bad,
and if I had been forced to continue
on the regular prison fare in Berlin'I
would have been much worse off than
I am today, but my food from Eng
land came through regularly. I was
locked in my cell at Z o'clock every
night and was released into the court
at s o'clock in the morning. I was not
permitted to leave the prison, with
the exception of those times I have
mentioned.
{ aMy daughter was detained in Bel
GUM until six weeks ago, when 1 was
released. Then they notified her that
she could meet me in Holland"
DR.. BeIand, his daughter and those
who came from Canada to meet him,
left here last night for Montreal,
where a big reception has been ar
ranged for the physician.