Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1918-07-09
TELLSOFDRUTALiTY.
OF HUN OFFICERS.
German Deserter Describes
Brutal Treatment Inflicted
on Men in Army.
father CRIPPLED FOR LIFE
Crimes Will Darker History Of Kaiser
ism Forever, When People Of the
World Learn the Whole
r. Story.

Marion. O.-Curt Hadlich, young
German mechanic employed III local
shops. one-time aviator IN the German
army, soldier Of fortune and nnallS All
American citizen, not only believes the
stories of German brutality that nave
come from across seas but he thinNs
when the whole story has been toid
crimes that will darken the pages oi
the history of kaiserism forever VIII
come 10 the people of the world. TheN
will be told not only by victims but
by the very soldiers of the kaiser hliii'
self, Hadlich thinks.
He q a deserter from the German
army because of treatment he coui'
not stand His father Is Il life GRIP
PIE from the ndignities even OF peace
times.
1.-THE German soldier is treated Ike
dumb animal" says Hadlch. Tie
must grin and bear it--there Is no al'-
peal"
Hadich's story perhaps Is the more
interesting because he has traveller
enough, seen enough and learned
enough outside the confines OF Ger
many to appreciate conditions that ex'
list there.
Father Crippled for Life.
MY father is living example or
the effects of German miltarism," he
said. "After the war; If he still IL
living, | expect to have him come TO
this country TO live as God Intended
people should live. He too can tell
stories of how brutal German officers
are to the Soldiers under them.
"Ike all young Germans, he entered
military service when he was twenty.
one day his company was practicing
scaling. He had been III and was I'M
able to get over fence at which prac
ttce was being held. An officer struck
him with sword. He fell and his
arm was broken. II was not properly
cared fer. and that arm has been use
less since.
"Whlle I was stationed at the forts
at Metz and Strassburg | saw things
happen myself that would make an
pllne he sometimes complains about Is
heaven in comparison. The soldiers
get Sunday of at certain periods and
look forward to them because they
can visit home.
II have seen II happen time and
time again that officers kept some OF
the men In barracks, apparently mere.
~ Nursing slight grudge Of per-
sonal nature-perhaps merely TO have
a bit Of sport at the private's expense.
These same officers would think up all
kinds of punishments for their men,
often putting n fellow at some task on
other soldiers we're Idle and could have
done the same work.
Just Keep Them Busy.
u have seen officers order men to
in barracks, sometimes three or four
stories high, merely to give them a
task After they had emptied the bar
rels they would be forced to carry the
water back up and fiji them again.
~ have seen prlvates put to work
on Sunday morning with bucket OF
water and a tooth brush and ordered
to scrub the floors.
IF private does not shoot or march
as wei as the officer thinks lie should,
he is certain to be- punished. One
fsvorlte treatment then was to require
a private TO stand erect, then kneel 10
the ground. repeating the performance
for an hour or more. I've seen Off
GERS beat and kick soldiers who be-
came exhausted from this task. 1t
frequently happens that Il three days
strenuous dril on bread and water
diet follows"
Hadlich has taken out his first nat
urali2aton papers, and although regis
tered as an enemy alien. Is listed In
the aviation reserve corps and hopes
10 be able to enter the American army
aviation section In the near future.