Daily Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1918-191?, 1918-08-10
French Soldier Tells How Huns
Fed Prisoners Food Even
Dogs Refused.
IREATEDWORsE THANBEAsTs
Rendered Haif Insane by Hunger Men
Fight Among Themselves for
Scraps Of Food-ss~dust
and Straw In Bread.


CASTOR Julian Defoirdt ~ Woonsocket,
RI. now visiting relatives here. that
he would much rather die fighting on
the front lire than 10 go through such
Mains and mlseries ms he endured In
two years spent In n German prison
camp. Dcfolrdt. who II twenty-fouf
and well eduCated. was visiting In
France when the war came and very
soon he was IN the ranks. On the sec
ond day Of his service at the front he
was wounded IN the left ear by frag
ment OF shrapnol and three days later
he was taken prisoner.
with many other prisoners he was
sent 20 the rear, and there they were
londed like 81 many cattle into freight
cars aud started on q seven days ride
20 the prison camp at Altengrabow.
AT every way station where the
train stopped" says Defolrdt. "the
German people gathered round and
threw stones and spat In our faces.
We were subjected 60 all sorts Of In
suits. Many ~ ms were wounded. yet
we got no attention whatever, being
given scarcely food enough to keep US
alive and made to sleep on the floors
Of the dirty freight cars.
"when finally we found ourselves in
the German prison camp conditions
were worse rather than better. There
were about 5000 men nj Altengrabow.
all nationnllties mingled. We were
guarded by German soldiers who had
been incapacltnted for service at the
front aud who on account of their
wounds were revengeful toward us.
Dogs Refused Prison Fare.
1T would he difficult 10 picture In
words the awful conditions prevailing
In that camp. our diet consisted for
the most port Of hot water and de-
cayed vegetables-they called Il soup.
Sometimes we were given herbs mixed
with grass to eat. Under such treat.
ment the strongest men soon fell sick
and were scarcely able 10 move about.
The smell Of this soup often was so
nsuseatlng that men held their noses
while eating H. Dogs would take one
fnif AZ II and refuse 10 eat
At times the men became 80 des.
perHtely hungry that they caught and
ate rats and even a dog. Occasionally
We were given herring broth. made by
boiling whole. uncleaned behring's into
. thin liquid. the heads. bones and
scales Of the fishes being served with
the rest. One Of the prisoners was op
ersted on for appendicitis after his
transfer snd four herring heads were
found lodged m biz lntcstines.
81 have seen prisoners. rendered hall
insane by hunger, fighting among them
selves for bits 81 food. II ones m.
tons were stolen or taken from him by
force and he complained 10 the guard
the answer would he: Why. are you
not all friends-allies7 Surely there
car he nothing 10 complain Of When
the neutral commission would visit the
camps tho prisoners would he given 0
short cut Of frankfurter sausage and
a lump II bread. 81 that Il might ap.
pear that they were fairly well fed.
sswdust Bread.
''rhis bread contained all sorts Of
stun. such as potato peelings. straw
and sawdust. All prisoners were made
20 sign papers indicating their willing
ness to work. N they refused 20 sign
they were severely punished. The men
supposed that they were to engage IN
farm work. hut were sent 10 coal
mines. salt mines aud munitions fac
tories. refused In work In a NUM-
tions factory and was tied 10 a post
for three hours. One group Of pris
oners who persistently refused q
work we're told that they would be
shot and were placed under a special
guard. A. the end Of n days, during
which they momentarily expected &c
be executed. they were told that their
lives would be spared.
"While In prison slept on the same
cot for rs months and IN all that time
the straw WIS not changed. When /
left the straw was rs fine as dust and
alive with yerrnin. After rs months
NJ Altengrahow | was transferred "a
Mersburr After an exchange Of prls.
onert had been effected I was taken "a
Constance, whore I was provided with
n new suit Of clothes and was well fed
and kindly treated for eight days be
fore being turned over 10 the allies.
suppose this was done IN the hope that
IN my new comfort and the Joy al be
Ing released might forget the past.
In Switzerland was taken IN
charge by the Red Cross and kept IN
the hospital there for n months. Had
the Germans given me proper treat.
ment for my wound I would have re-
covered In few weeks; as Il was,
after years OF neglect dirt. semistar.
walton aud hard work. I was IN such
CONDITION when released that for n
Z my life was despalred OF. Even
after the best efforts Of the Red
Physicians and nurses. the left
Of my face Is partially paralyxsd
! can see but little with my LEFT