Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1918-06-21
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''Eigh Commands" Brutality
Hun Fleet Preparing For The Final Desperate Dash

notwithstanding the fact that fifty per-
sons had taken part in the mutiny. And
what angered me the most was that
while the eourtmartial had condemned
fifty participants to death certain
ten were selected to be made an examp-
le Of.
Attempt to Block Kisv Canal.
A few miles further while passing
Fort Unter-Jagersburg we received a
signal to again stop where we took on
board other naval officers who wena
assigned to other vessels at western bas-
es. From one Of these officers I learned
that two weeks earlier a serious attempt
had been made to block the canal be
tween the Battery Corner on the right
and Fort Rudendorph which protects the
narrow path on the left. A Danish
steamer which ostensibly carried flouf
for us had been made to sink under
suspicious circumstances. Although it
is fact that a vessel had sunk in the
narrow path, it can not be true that it
was Danish steamer. More probably
It was one of our naval transports that
was either sunk through an accident or
was unk treaeherously by its crew.
Nevertheless our authorities were ut
ilizing this incident to create keen feel
ing of animosity followed with anger
against Denmark. The admiralty, es-
pecially since the last three or four
months is making every attempt 10 JUS
tify their acts against our little north
ern neighbor. Such accumulated ami
mostly would be available in suddenly
attacking her, should the admiralty in
the future find it necessary to do so for
any military advantage.
Assigned to Punishment Camp.
At Brunsbuttel where the Kiel canal
joins the River Elbe, my commanding
! officer informed me that I was assigned
to shore duty at Cuxhaven. On the
following day, in company with about
twenty other officers / boarded the des-
troyer No. 81, and reached Fort Kug.
elbake which stands about five miles
to the west of Cuxhaven. On landing
| met an old eomrade who in very
few words gave me an idea of what sort
of a place | was about to reach and to
what horrible commission l was as
signed.
Three hours later 7 learnt thai the
commission was to take charge Of tho
punishment barracks in which there
were more than so offenders against
discipline. Immediately sought an in
terview with the commandant and in
formed him in terms unmistalSable that
was unfit for such a task. "Not-
withstanding your own opinion Of your
fitness or unfitness you shall obey or
dcfs," shouted the commandant heart
lessly.
For two weeks / was the nominal Of
ficer of rank Of the punishment bar
racks. In those two weeks L convinced
myself that we Germans had become in
curable barbarians. / reasoned that a
system that could make me treat Ger
mans, our own people, so brutally was
also capable Of making us do what
our enemies and neutrals had accused
US of doing at Belgium and other in
vaded territories.
Victims Went Insane.
With the exception of fifteen or
twenty offenders at this barracks tn
rest were being punished for having
taken part in spreading propaganda
against the government. The regula-
tion treatment schedule was too harsh
for me to follow or acquiesce in. After
many attempts | tried to harden myself
to administer punishment but at sight
of the unspeakable misery Of the Vie
Tins l nearly tainted. l learned that
my four predecessors had gone mad
while at that post. AS the days passed
! begun to doubt my own sanity. And
again learned that three other officers
in charge Of the barracks had been Inys-
teriously shot in the back.
Some of these victims were condemn
ed to from five to thirty lashes on the
bare back at the intervals of three or
four days each. But in every case the
victims either went insane or died af-
ter the first two or three punishments.
There are other methods of punishments
which dare not print for fear Of Of
Tending the soul of my readers.
But the German is Different.
What brutalized us Germans still
more and embittered every heart that
beheld these inhuman punishments was
that while group Of unfortunates re-
ceived their punishments d company of
men, sometimes numbering from 200
to 600, were always lined up to witness
the horrible scene. When | mentioned
This to several Dutch officers they won
dered why the German admiralty was SO
devoid of sense not to know that such
scenes would embitter loyal soldiers and
make them enemies of the authorities
My Dutch friends are speaking from
their knowledge OF their own people. II
is not true with our men. They have
learned to live from day to day in con.
slant terror Of their superiors and the
spirit of resentment has been crushed
long ago.
ITO be continued..)
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