The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1918-12-06
How Hun Officers
Mistreated Girls
In City of Lille
BY George T. Bye.


Advanced American Press Head
quarters, British Front, Nov 3d.
They don't kiss you now in Lille.
Instead, the happy inhabitants take
you into their homes and tell you OF
the miSeries and humiliations suf-
fered by them during the German
occupation.
We learned that so persons went
mad in Lille in 1910 when the Ger
mans were deporting women, mostly
girls. The young officers seizing the
women would call at homes any hour
OF the day or night. Protestations of
mothers. fathers and husbands were
turned aside either with brutality, or
with arguments that the women
would be in better hands in Ger
many than in any place in the world.
People who pleaded or resisted were
very often hit in the face.
The Associated Press man and |
spent some time today with DR.. ID.
Singer, an American dentist, who
has been practicing in Lille contin-
uously for six years. Dir. Singer said
it was the German 64th regiment
that conducted the 1910 deportation
OF women, and that Lille people did
not pass an enemy soldier with the
numerals OF that regiment showing
upon him without an icy feeling OF
terror.
The officers, both young and old,
seemed to take delight in the hor-
ror they were bringing upon fami-
lies" said DR.. Singer,
AT that time" added Mrs. Singer,
also an American, II kept 4 sack
packed with linen, ready TO 90 on
few minutes notice. Every time we
heard 4 knock at our door at night
| jumped up and dressed because
we had heard OF ncighbors not being
given time to put on their clothes.
oh, my God, YOU don't know what
we have been throngh.' Then she
burst into tears.
Hun Colonel Robs Dentist
DR.. Singer told of an alteration
he had with a German colonel who
came to steal one OF his dental out
fits. including chair, basin and cleo
trio tools.
II told him that | was a doctor,
and that doctors ministering to
civilians as we'll as to soldiers were
regarded as neutrals," said the dem
tist. Gle roared at this in the beast
w German way, and said that ! was
trying to assert my will when there
was only the will OF the over-com-
mand of the German Sixth Army
that would prevail
Then | told him | was an Am
erican."
"Y our American government
steals private property" he shouted
They have taken our ships. Good
will take your dental things
AT this l left him sharply think
ing that was the only insolent move
dared TO make. He followed me,
and in a more conciiating tone in
formed me he was looking for seven
dental chairs. He had orders to get
so and had found % OF them
If YOU can tell me where | can
get ! more chairs. | wont take
YOURS" he declared.
Il told him | would do no such
thing, so they robbed me. Another
German colonel, a patient of mine,
was very anghy when America en-
tered the war Il
1--WE give YOU your best citizens,
he exclaimed. You repay us by
Joining our enemies Now you will
catch it !"
Said They'd Never Leave.
The Germans had said they would
never evacuate Lille, and that they
had decided that ultimate peace
would be signe there under German
compulsion. After four years 4
great many people had begun to
believe it.
But | never lost hope, and
made many OF the German officers
who came to me for treatment very
angry by saving so, continued Or.
Singer. "It-really seemed to startle
them when | said | did not think
Germany was strong enough to CON
1uer. They always asked what
.hought OF their victories. | told
hem they drove England, France,
Belgium, Italy and Russia into re-
.reat only when they were unpre-
pared. but that Britain was, or soon
would be, able to lick them alone:
Actually it took the wind out OF
heir sails"
There are thousands of stories OF
almost unbelievable wantonness and
ittlcness on the part OF the Ger
mans to be picked up on street cor
1ers. One that is supported by OF
icial proclamations, which have
-ead, required all inhabitants to re-
ire inside their houses at O'Clock
very afternoon for month, and
1ot even to show their faces at win
lows. because the mayor had not
oaid the regular instalment OF the
municipal war contribution"
Every house was required TO billet
soldiers and officers at the fixed
price OF 6 cents day for the men,
} cents for officers, this rent inclu-
,ive OF care OF rooms, laundry and
ned linen and everything to make !