The Bridgeport times and evening farmer. (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1918-1924, 1918-02-07

DRY for the Germans.
ter cold, and SNOW was lying on the
ground to a depth of several inches.
The woman opened her eyes, to find
hunn standing over her in a threat
enlng attitude. AS she struggled to
her feet Kuhn shook his fist at her,
saying: "Ah, I thought that Would
wake you up. It's no use your play
ing those fancy tricks with me-"
This was but one incident of many
similar ones which 1 witnessed in that
shop.
The punishment which had been in
f1cted upon the workers who had pro-
tested against the conditions had
served to swell the ranks of the mem
bers, and the movement was, /
learned, growing rapidly in the works.
Naturally I kept my own counsel,
and eagerly awaited events. 1 did not
remain in suspense for very long. The
news Of the formation of the Union
reached the ears of the Secret Ser
vice agents, who were rapidly on the
track of the members.
On January %, 1917-it was a Sun
day night-a meeting of the Union
members, or as many of them as were
able to be present, was held in a eel
lar in Essen, and this was attended
by the agents. A careful note was
made of those present, and each man
and woman was arrested as they en-
tered the works on the following
morning. The man who had presided
at the gathering was tried within a
| of nd
fenced to death, while others who had
spoken or taken any part in the pro-
ceedings were thrown into prison.
| Then followed a most minute search
of the works for persons suspected OF
being associated with the movement.
So great had been the care exercised
by the members of the Union that
there was no record kept in the books
| of the names of members, each per-
son being known only by number.
| The barest suspicion was sufficient to
secure a man or woman's arrest and
punishment and there were hun
dreds arrested and punished on the
most slender evidence.
Several foremen, entertaining feel
ings of spite against workers, gave
information which led to their arrest
and punishment and not a few fore
men were able to extract large sums
of money from the workers by
threatening to expose them to the au-
thorities.
Horrible Fates.
None of the persons who were pun
ished for participation in the Union
propaganda were allowed to return
to the works. What happened to the
women I cannot tell; their fate was
too horrible. Today they are scatter
ed over different parts of Germany
and not a few, rather than face the
awful future, took their lives. As
for the men. their fate was not long
in the balance. Those who were il
the slightest degree fit for service
were sent to the army-to 1.-The Gates
of He'll" they call it in Germany.
Arrival of Slaves.
Thousands were taken from Esser
and put into the army. Never were
the Secret Service agents SO busy a!
then. Men and women, too, vanish
ed spirited away. Thu
authorities ruled with a rod of iron
|
taken from the works were filled b!
Slaves" imported from the occupied
territories.
Never shall forget seeing a train
, load of these poor wretches arrivt
during the early hours of a dark, bit
terly cold February morning. The,
travelled in open trucks from Belgium
to Essen, being packed in like her
rings. So fearful had been the con
ditions of their journey that severa
had died from exposure on the way
The appearance of the slaves wa
sufficient to arouse the sympathy o
any human beings other than Ger
mans, but these latter only sneered a
the miserable people. Each man car
ried a small bundle, containing
change of clothing. They all looket
starved, persisted with cold, and read
to fall. Still, there was that defian
/ gaze in every eye which plainly show
ed that although the country from
which they had come had been de
I vastated the men were unconQuere
4 their morale had not been broken
Between armed guards they wer
e marched through the streets. the OBJ
I 1eclS OF rldlcule. Many OF the poo
fellows dropped in the roadway, but
= as they fell, the soldiers, withou
n showing the least sign of pity or sym
pathy, urged the others on, sentrie
5 being left to prod at the half-uneon
scious forms of those who had falle
until they stirred themselves. Nor
Z than once German soldiers struck tn
n men with the butt end of rifles, an
in not a few instances, where tn
weary slave was on the point of col
r lapse, the bayonet was used.
Amongst the men were many VIII
: refused point blank to undertake an,
S work.
81 viii never work for the Ger
mans" one declared to the officer il
the Receiving Room
I'VE shall see," was the reply "W
know how to make men work.
sBut that man never performed a;
hours work for the enemy of hi
country. He had only been in tn
shop a short while, when it was founi
necessary to apply force to him.
A Hero's Death. ~
Marched away to the punishment
louarters. a special place net apart 70