The Dermott news., 1918-07-11
lnterned Germans at
Sunny Side.

As announced last week, we are
publishing herewith the communication
from the Sunny Side Company regard
ing the interned Germans on their
plantation, also Mr.. Warfield's letter
to Congressman Goodwin, and a clip
ping from the Eudora Herald which is
certainly enough to confirm the lack of
confidence which so many people feel
in these alien enemies. In this connec-
ton we wish to emphasize the fact that
the remarks in this paper concerning
Germans do not apply to Americans of
German birth, all Of whom We believe
should be counted as absolutely loyal
until they prove themselves otherwise
Editor.
To the Editors of Chicot County
Papers
Several articles have appeared in the
newspapers of this County in regard to
the informed Germans now doing farm
labor on the property of the Sunny
Side Co.. having been paroled by the
Government for this purpose. These
articles have appeared in the form of
resolutions. editorials and copies of tel
egrams to Congressman Goodwin. From
reading these we judge them all to
have their inspiration from the same
source, if not all written by Mr. War
field. The Dermott News has the most
sensational of all of them, giving ac-
count of the daring escape (?) of one
of forty-five men. Edward Wagner is
the man who furnishes the nucleus
around which a lovely Imagination story
was woven. He has been quite sick
for several days and not being familiar
with medicine took 80 grains of quinine
while he had high fever. When
the men came from work that after
noon. they found his clothes on the
bank of the bayou and his tracks lead
ing into the water. Upon examination
we were forced to believe that he had
drowned while in an unconscious condi-
ton. We had our men dive, but owing
to the depth of the water. something
like thirty feet, we thought accounted
for their not finding the missing man.
We then got boat and fixed drag,
and phoned for the Coroner. DR.. Thomp-
son. who came bringing Judge Ham
mock with him. Before the men had
made much Roadway dragging the hole
Of water. quite thunuer storm came
up, with its cool wind and some rain
and this caused DR.. Thompson and
Judge Hammock to hurry away. This
same storm must have cooled the fever
and caused Wagner to be partially ra-
tional again, and very soon after the
doctor and Judge left, he came up the
bayou and asked the men in the boat if
they were fishing He had lain out, no
clothes on, for something like.26 or q
hours and was terribly bitten by flies
and mosquitoes, besides being badly
scratched by briars. We Immediately
called DR.. Clark and the man is now
well and at work.
The Department OF Justice was I'M
mediately notified Of this mans disap-
pearxnce, and of his return. In fact
the writer reports on these men two or
three times each week and the manag-
ers check them up every day. These
men are not now and never have been
prisoners. The Department of Justice
- careful to see that they are well
treated for the reason that all INTERNED
Americans in Germany are well treated
and are not REQUIRED to perform labor
Of any kind We are doing our best to
carry out the wishes and requirements
Of the Government They are possibly
making amistake In paroling these men
and in requiring that they be well treat
"a. | do not know. u have never felt
big q brainy enough 70 criticise my