The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-08-04
ENEMY BARRED HIM
FROM DYING WIFE
Or. II. s. Beland, Former Post
master-General Of Canada,
Back From Germany.
IN PRISON THREE YEARS
Suffered Mentally From Close
Confinement, but Got Food
From England.

Kept political prisoner in German,
for three years and not allowed to pu,
his foot outside the stone walls for two
years. although his wife was dying onl,
a few miles distant, DR.. II. S. Beland
NJ =. for Quebec and former Postmas.
| ter-General OF Canada, at last has beer
released. He reached New York yester.
day on a British ship.
At the outbreak OF war Or. Beland
was practising medicine In Antwerp and
Immediately upon learning Of Britain's
declaration OF the discontinuance OF dip.
lomatic relations with Germany volun-
TERED his services to the Canadian Gov
| eminent. In this manner he became the
| nrst Canadian to volunteer for active
| service In the present war.
Meantime he attended the wounded
soldiers as they came In and was at the
| original defence Of Liege. While minis
| tering to the British marines at Ant
werp the city fell and he was taken
| prisoner. He was placed In the Grand
Hotel Antwerp, which had been COM
Wandered by the Germans. and three
| days later was removed to the Stadt-
vogiet prison in Berlin. where he was
kept until about six weeks ago. when an
exchange was effected for a brother OF
Prince Won Buelow. who had been the
| repre- sentative Of Krupps in England
Could Walk in Gardens.
"T was as well treated as a man can
be in n prison." said DR.. Beland yester-
day. Two years passed before I was
allowed to set my foot on the street.
Last year, on account OF falling health,
! was allowed three hours twice week
under escort. when I could walk In the
gardens. ! had to promise not TO at
tempt to speak to any one or enter any
place.
There was no bad physical treatment
accorded me, but mentally was in
trouble. The German authorities never
allowed me to call on my wife when she
was i'll and when she died the news was
held from me for eleven days. had
pressed and pressed to be allowed to go
to her. when finally they said Il was too
late as she was already buried.
Some time ago a treaty was ar.
ranged whereby men over As years Of
age would be exchanged. was one of
twenty. the number allowed. that were
kept. ! told them several times that
was 4s years of age. but they would
always say you have a political con-
nection in Canada
wy suuBTeu while
confined This was the case with a
great many prisoners who had nothing
to do. I was little more fortune
than the rest as I was allowed to act
as prison physician except when the
regular man was there, for two hours
each day.
The situation in Germany Is very
interesting. Up to and during the last
offensive in March the population Of
Germany was confident of victory. They
had been confident OF victory ever since
the conclusion of peace with Russia
at Brest-Litovsk. Ny Impression Is
that the bulk Of the German people are
longing for peace and have been for
more than two years
Opinion Undergoing n Change.
AT present there is no doubt that the
opinion In Germany Is undergoing
change. largely due to the last counter
offensive of the Americans The food
situation is considered serious The rank
and file of the population live on bread
and potatoes. They are very submits
sive. and IL they grumbled we did not
hear II. There Is no doubt they are
suffering very much. My food was
good because I did not get II from the
prison. had placed an order with
the High Commissioner of Canada, who
had food forwarded me from England.
saw H.ndenburg once from the lawn
Of the Garden Strasse. They talk very
much of him in Germany and every
one says that Hindenburg Is a God. He
Is much more popular than the Kaiser
when Hindenburg makes success
the Kaiser Immediately rushes to that
point and sends back word 4 am here
and all is WELL The Kaiser is pom
ular and the people do not believe he is
responsible for the war The Crown
Prince is not at all liked by the people.
THE German soldiers asked me many
questions. They all wanted to know WI en-
the war was going to end and I would
always reply that l did not know. One
man asked me several times so at last I
said In two or three years He replied,
Isn't it fearful. isn't II fearful? How
can 1t last two years?
Il tell you, gentlemen, 7 came out of
prison as baby Il at had Just been born
My correspondence had been small and
very greatly censored
II left the prison at s o'clock on the
night OF May IL and reached the border
at IL the next day. You are first searched
and then placed on this train which goes
to Goch. Holland, without a stop. r
should have gone back by way of Bel
GUM. | was asked before leaving prison
II I would like to visit my children in
Belgium, and upon saying that I would
was told tia 1t would take some DAYS
TO arrange matters.
Later learned that this was TO atone
for their treatment in not allowing me TO
see my wife. When the time arrived, |
though, was told that could not go TO
Belgium. Upon reaching England I was
summoned by King George. and spent a |
very pleasant half hour at buckingham
Palace. The King was very kind and |
asked me particularly about conditions |
in Germany. The only advantage that I !
reaped from my experience in the Ger
man prison was that I learned new
language"
Asked what his plans for the future |
were, DR.. Beland replied: at is my in /
81 L. h. IL. L. l