El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1918-01-05

Of criminal neglect, we're buried Just
outside the cook house.
20 or 80 Die Daily.
Altogether. I believe. between 1899
and 1900 men died of typhus and
spotted fever in our camp II was
nothing TO be called upon TO bury %
or 30 bodies in one day
There is no doubt that the disease
was entirely due TO the filthy condi-
tiOns OF our bodies a state which
could not be avoided. We had no soap,
nor change Of clothes. We tried our
best TO keep ourselves clean, but l.
was almost an impossible task when
our only accessories were cold water
and sand or clay.
We never had a change Of shirts for
nine months, many had no shirts TO
their backs at all, whilst others were
without boots. In addition TO this. we
We're almost devoured and covered
with vGrmiu- That was how we lived
and fought disease on poor food for
Hine terrible months.
Men Shot While Walking.
There is very little doubt that the
Germans were afraid OF the disease
D spreading and they used the most
CalOuS methods 10 stop the spreading
OF the disease Their treatment was d
gradual Strengthening OF the patients.
To me the German idea then was To
get rid of every mon in the fever
camp, either by allowing them TO die
or by shooting them.
Without thinking Of such dastardly
plots. we used To walk about the
grounds Of the camp, when suddenly
we would hear rifle shots, and then
We would see men in our camp fall
to the ground. either wounded OF
kiIed outright This was repeated
several times. and I know for a fact
that nearly 80 men. chiefly Russians,
were killed Eventually we got 10
know Of how the fiends were given
the signal, and We generally cook
cover. A whistle would 20, and this
was the signal for a hail Of bullets.
Smoked Bark From the Trees.
During this terrible nine months We
were never allowed 20 write home. We
could not get tobacco, and we used 10
save grains from the coffee, dry them,
and then smoke them. Sometimes we
smoked the bark from the trees. and,
often we used TO appeass our hunger
by eating the bark
Later, our bread supply diminished
for instead OF one loaf being divided
amongst four men, IL had TO serve
eight men.
After the fever had been stamped
QUIZ The Germans returned 10 the
camp and ordered the men. who were
1E then mere shadows. to 90 on work
ing parties The men were quite unfit
for work, and refused 10 obey the
order, whereupon they were thrown
into q dark evil smelling cell, where
they had TO live on bread and coffee
No Bath in Ten Months.
We were given wooden clogs. called
sabots, and shirts, which were like
tissue paper. In fact, you could have
put them on top of q newspaper and
read the print through them quite
easily.
We had our first bath after having
been in Germany in our filthy c0ndi-
ton from December 10 the following
october, period Of over ten months.
We were then fumigated, and. thank
goodness after this we were free
from insects
We were forced TO 20 to work near
some irOnworks, Tor which We re-
celved ID per day in camp money
which Of course, was Of no value out
side. The treatment here was shame
tul, We having TO sustain ourselves
on coffee and black bread, which was
not fit TO consume.
The next month our parcels began
70 arrive from home, and I may say
but for these 1 don't think we could
have lived, despite the number which
were cOnfiscated.
BayOnets and Bullets for Prisoners.
One Of the most dastardIy acts I
ever saw committed was when private
Hall Of the Loyal North Lancers, was
set upon by a number of German
guards, who had been celebrating
Christmas day by a drinking bout. 4
German under officer molested him
IN his drunken stupor. and Hall. los
ing his temper, let drive at the Ger
man This was a signal TO the other
guards
The Lancashire lad was mad with
rage. and he attacked two Of the near
est Germans and pitched them on the
paroed wire Hall was then felled,
but Immediately rising TO his feet he