The Bemidji daily pioneer. [volume] (Bemidji, Minn.) 1904-1971, 1918-09-13

of the dirty freight cars.
"When finally we found ourselves in
the German prison camp conditional
were worse rather than better. There
were about $4,000 men at Altengrabow,
all nationalities mingled. We were
guarded by German soldiers who had
been incapacitated for service at the
front and who on account Of their
wounds were revengeful toward us. !
& Dogs Refused Prison Fare.
ut would be difficult to picture In
words the awful conditions prevailing
in that camp. Our diet consisted fol
the most part Of hot water and de-
cayed vegetables-they called it 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 to move about
The smell of this soup often was 50
nauseating that men held their noses
while eating it. Dogs would take one
sniff at it and refuse to eat.
J. At times the men became so des
perately hungry that they caught and
ate rats and even a dog. Occasionally
we were given herring broth, made by
7 boiling whole, uncleaned herrings into
a thin liquid, the heads. bones and
scales of the fishes being served with
the rest. One of the prisoners was op
Grated on for appendicitis after his
transfer and four herring heads were
found lodged in his intestines.
: Il have seen prisoners, rendered hall
insane by hunger, fighting among them
selves for bits Of food. If ones IA
lions were stolen or taken from him BY
force and he complained to the guard
the answer would be: why, are YOU
not all friends-allies? Surely there
can be nothing to complain Of When
the neutral commission would visit the
camps the prisoners would be given 8
short cut of frankfurter sausage and
a lump Of bread, so that 1t might ap
pear that they were fairly we'll fed.
Sawdust Bread. -
"This bread contained all sorts Of
stuff, such as potato Feelings, straw
and sawdust. All prisoners We're made
to sign papers indicating their willing
ness to work. If they refused to sign
they were severely punished The mel
supposed that they were to engage In
farm work, but We're sent to coal
mines, salt mines and munitions fac
tories. I refused to work In NUM-
tons factory and was tied to post
for three hours. One group of pris.
oners who persistently refused ia
work were told that they would be
shot and were placed under special
guard. At the end Of II days, during
which they momentarily expected to
be executed, they were told that their
lives would be spared
"While in prison I slept on the same
rot for 10 months and in all that time
the straw was not changed. When ]
left the straw was as fine as dust and
alive with vermln. After 10 months
at A1tengrabow was transferred to
Mersburg. After an exchange of pris.
eners had been effected I was taken to
Constance, where I was provided with
new suit Of clothes and was we'll fed
and kindly treated for eight days be-
fore being turned over to the allies. II
suppose this was done in the hope that
In my new comfort and the joy at be-
ing released might forget the past.
"1n Switzerland was taken In
charge by the Red Cross and kept In
the hospital there for u months. Had
the Germans given me proper treat
ment for my wound I-would have re-
covered in a few weeks; as 1t was.
after years Of neglect, dirt, semistar-
vat1on and hard work, was in such
condition when released that for a
time my life, was despaired of. Even
NOW, after the best efforts Of the Red
Cross physicians and nurses, the left
side ofsmy face is partially para1yzed
and I can see but little with my LETT
sza'