The weekly Alaska citizen., 1918-08-05
GERMAN TREATMENT OF PRISONERS

GERMAN TREATMENT OF PRISONERS
 We know that the Germans are not known for their kind and humane treatment of prisoners of war. When the first British prisoners were taken they were singled out from all the allied prisoners for especially cruel treatment. The German nation as a whole seemed bent on venting its hate for Britain on those unfortunate men who were taken ill the first drives that the Huns made These men were carted around Germany often exhibited at the stations in the towns through which they passed, in cattle cars which had never been even passably cleaned Numbers of them were wounded, but were never given the simplest medical treatment Even the German Red Cross workers joined the rest of the civilians in their abuse of the unfortunate Englishmen. They re- fused them food and water, often pouring it out on the platform rather than give it to the English "schweinhunde" The whole ma tion seemed to be hatred incarnate when it came to the British prisoners.
 French and Russian prisoners were given more consideration, though they were none too well treated. English officers were sub jected to even worse treatment than the Tom mics, if that were possible, while the civilian prisoners were habitually insulted and abused The feeling against the English gradually died down as the war progressed, and the treatment of them became less pronouncedly inhuman. But when Italy entered the war on the side of the allies the Huns transferred received the same atrocious attentions that were bestowed on the English earlier in the war. Their plight was most pitiful, for they were singled out from among the other pris- oners for especially cruel and inhuman treat ment
 Reports of these atrocities were carefully investigated by the English and the Italians and they were found to be true At the pres ent time the British prisoners would starve in Germany if it were not for the parcels that are sent to them through the Red Cross from their homes And the Italians have found it necessary to resort to the same methods
 Now America has entered the war, and Germany has transferred its hate to the Yankee. We may expect that the Yankee prisoners will not receive any better treat ment than the British and the Italians re- ceived earlier in the war. In fact, it may be worse, because food is much scarcer now in Germany than 1t was then. It may be that threats of reprisals on the part of our gov ernment in the case of the great number of Germans held prisoner in this country may cause them to hesitate in their inhumanity toward the Doughboys, but the fact remains that they will not be as well treated as they have every right to expect. It would be i'm possible for the United States to use the same methods on the prisoners which are held here as have been used in Germany The Americans are not capable of the hatred that seems to actuate the Hun, even those who are supposed to be dedicated to acts of mercy the Red Cross workers.
 Now comes the news that they are using American prisoners, including officers, as a shield against allied air raids. It would seem that this is game at winch two can play. No one could have any scruples at measures of reprisal of this nature German prison CTS should be used as shield for certain points of importance among the allied posi- tions. There is only one difficulty in the way of this. The Americans and the allies are fast becoming masters of the air. Most of the air fighting is now taking place over the