South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-08-28
Of HORROR
TOLD BY SOLDIER
Canadian Private Tells Teach.
erS at Institute of Ger
man CrueItieS.

dreams. for ne is destined u come in
the tow Of Uncle Sans khaki-clad
men Thus declared Pvt John A
Stockton of the Canadian expedl-
tionary forces before a capa city
house Of teachers and citizens as
sembled i'm the high school audi
forum Al the Tuesday afternoon
session of the St Joseph County
Teachers institute
Pvt. stockton enlisted i'm the Ca
madam army on Aug. s. just four
days after war was declared by
Great Britain Having spent two
and a half years in German prison
camps he and a comrade escaped
and made a slow and treacherous
entrance into Holland, whence they
boarded a passenger ship and were
taken TO Canada in safety
He gives a vivid account OF his
capture by the Germans. shortly
after he and his company had been
sent into the front line trenches TO
com bat the attacks of the Huns IL
all took place when the gas mask
was a new and undiscovered mys-
terry. and il was with horror and
misgiving that the brave Canadian
troops beheld the yellow cloud of
fumes slowly dessiminate over the
valley and gradually overpower the
men BY pinning a kerchief over
his mouth Pvt. stockton was able 20
remain at his post after many Of
his comrades had succonn bed. the
ravages OF the gas turning both faces
and clothing into a sicklv green
Wounded Severely.
After 30 minutes OF heavy artil-
lery bonn bardment. the Huns rush
ed over the top and alta cked the
Canadian parapets in great nJm bers
The speaker states that he was
wounded i'm lung. arm and face. and
that his captors ordered him 70 pro
coed Immediately 20 the first field
dressing station Too sick 10 walk.
he was compelled 70 make his way
on all tours while the merciless
Huns maintained continuous sni-
ping brigade behind him, and many
OF his comrades were killed by their
pitiless weapons.
With so other Canadians. he took
refuge in the cellar OF the ruined
shack which served as the dressing
station The Huns however, gave
them title time for respite. present
Iy company appeared with the as
founding declarat ton that they had
been firing machine guns under the
protection OF the Red Cross.
Crucifed Men.
As a punishment for such AFRO
gance. all OF which was assumed
for the brutal purpose Of the enemy.
three Canadian sergeants were cru
clfed on the walls OF the house,
with bayonets pinioning their arms
and legs. The others were driven To
a nearby station and boarded into
box cars dirty and iU-kempt. and
taken into Westphalia. small de
ia chment was detailed 20 the charge
of Catholic monastery there where
clean cothes baths and food were
given them, and they were permit
tea 10 90 10 bed.
Acorn Gomez.
The good fortune of this Catholic
prison camp did not endure. how
ever. and they were shortly trans
ferred 20 a military camp. where the
food consisted OF acorn coffee al
4:30 in the morning. dirty soup. in
which few uncleaned vegetables
were floating. at - noon, and then.
in the evening. more acorn coffee
and a slice Of course black bread
In an attempt 20 break down the
English spirit the prisoners. III as
they were from their wounds. insufi-
cient attendance. and poor food.
were sent into the forests nearby 10
fell trees for their captures Tn
accustomed TO handling an axe. four
OF his comrades refused 10 work
whereupon they were suspended
from trees by their arms and left
hanging there for four hours.
More German "KuItur"
Another instance Of German cul-
ture was cited bv the speaker when
he told how horses were driven
through a group or severely wound
cd prisoners TOO in 10 work A score
or more OF these men were driven
liAeh TIC II WltA ttlN 1T - III anu lAOIfOA
of such treatment. and many more
were killed or manned beyond rec
ignition
The strap bsrrsck IL = favorite
means OF torture among the Ger
mans. and ] have had the ;r-fortune
10 be confined in one several times.
once being kept there for As hours
The prisoner IA compelled 10 stand
without moving so much as a sin
gle muscle while doing duty there.
and il is impossible 10 realize the
agony OF such punishment until one
has undergone II himself
Polish Women slaves.
The Canadian also told how Pc
hsh refugees practically slaves
were compelled 70 pick and dig po-
tatoes in the fields and stated he
horrible treatment which befen
these women when il was believed
they were doing too little work.
In the coal mines all manner OF
harbarous treatment meets the sol
der who dares 70 refuse his guards
men. and Pvt. Stockton held his
hearers spellbound while he mar
rated his own adventures there
In conclusion. the speaker made
an appeal 20 his audience 10 90 their