Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-01-06
AUSTRIAN PRISONERS
RAGGED AND UNKEMP7
Correspondent Permitted to Visit
1,400 Troops Captured in
French Success.
MISERABLE LOT OF HUMANS
ASSUME Bold Front and, While TSt-
tered and Torn, Are Far From Be-
ing Crushcd-Becn Many Days
Without Hot Food.
(By Associated rrcss


ITALIAN ARMY HEADQUARTERS
IN NORTHERN ITALY. Friday, Janu-
airy 1.-The officer commanding the
1900 Austrian prisoners captured IN the
recent French success on Monte Womba
gave the correspondent an oppoi unity
to-day of going among them aeS talk
Ing freely with the officers and men
on war conditions and what tho enemy
still could do in carrying on the strug
gle.
more miserable lot of human be-
ings would be difficult to imagine. The
officers were in even worse condition
than the men. Their clothing was rag
ged and they were unkempt and had
not been shaved for \ week. None had
overcoats. as all were wearing light
trench uniforms when tho French swept
around them. Yet they put on 4 bold
front. and any one thinking they are
crushed is closing his eyes to facts.
All ages were seen among the pris-
oners. There was boy of eighteen
and a man of nifty with 4 gray beard.
A coating OF trench inud made them
look worse than they really were for
they had stout boots. leEginSs and over
coats. They tranpcd along sulicniy
to large courtyards. where food was
being distributed. Each man got IA
small tin OF meat and a large chunk
of bread. The prisoners ate like raw
enous animals and said it was tn.
best food they had had in weeks.
FRENCH ATTACK PROVES
TO RE NEW EXPERIENCE.
Tho correspondent was told by the
prisoners that the method of the French
attack was an entirely new experience
for them. they seldom had under
gone such murdcrous artillery fire
Most OF the men were Moravians. DIAL
matans and Galicians. The sudden
French charge after the artillery fire
bowled them over before they had any
chance 10 offer resistance. They all
expressed themselves as heartily cic!.
of the war, and said tho Germans
vers keeping the others in the fight.
AS the officers came from their quar-
tors. It was seen they were chiefly Hun
garians. with some Moravans and Dali
natians and one Galician They were
very cold. and their first requcs, was
for warm food.
''We have not had warm food foe
days." said their Spokesman, a stocky
young Dalmatian Officer.
Asked about the war. the officers
gave Americas entry into i, as an in
stance that all tho work was acain,;,
the central powers.
One officer said the food supply was
running low. hut 1t was better off in
hungary than in Austria They
thought however. that Aus,ria-lun
gary could hang on. Asked about tho
ragged condition OF their uniforms. one
officer said
TIES. We are ragged and look like
tramps. but what does that count IL
nxhtinE?"
German artillery officer. who was
captured with the Anstrian2. was given
quarters by himself. but the command
ant said that another German would
soon arrive to keep him company. rh.
German. while deferentia, and civil
maintained complete silence en- in.
war. HIS uniform and equipment look
ed In better condition than that Of ,he
!Austro-liunEarian officers hut the,
were badly rundown.