Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-04-08

cradle things that arc fit and proDcr
when done by German-and by a
German only. Deeds OF a similar char
acter performed by men OF another
FritZ--are, he viii seriously inform
you. crimes of the blacklist tyne
Kurt Brieser. a farmer for whom
worked for "A time in Wcsthpalia, was
q typical Hun in this respect. got
fairly well acquainted with Brieger
who despite his nationality, was not At
ali Il bad sort. lie would ;a.k quite
freely to me abs ut the war. ana som.
"f Liz views sounded s,ranE. TO m,
Erit.sh ears
One day when tho Zeppelin raids
were at their height. Briegcr came 20
me with garish story about the DE-
s'ru:ticn OF Loroon AMI several OF tho
leading provincial cities. Thousands or
citizens. he declared. had been sla n
and great connagrations had destroyed
square ia.l=S Of buildings.
That's what we do to your country
Tor trying 10 starve US he cried ex-
ultingly.
Speaking in German. I told him did
not believe the Zepps were capable of
doing so much damage. and that scarce
ly week elapsed in Munster without
.ne prisoners OF war being assured
that London had ceased to exist.
Il grant you. Brieger." ] added. that
nothing would please the German peo-
pie more than to know they had RACED
London 70 the ground: and am equally
sure That no tears would be shed in the
Fatherland, although all London's citi-
zens. numbering nearly 5000. 900. went
down to death beneath it's ruins Blu,
why can't you he honest. BrieGer?"
What do you mean" qucricd the
farmer
Just this. You know as well as l do
tina, even had there been no block de
OF Germany your military leaders would
have employed these Zcppclins just
J the same"
NO. no. never" shouted BricEcr
we could never have thought OF doing
such thing. We are clean lighters
We have been forced TO use the Yep
peiins 10 bring the Britishers to their
. senses. Anyway, all OF your towns are
fortified. and the employment OF our
airships is legitimate warfare"
ALL DEFENDS on WHOSE
OK IL GORED. TT SEEMS
Look here. Briegcr," | replied. Il
am going 10 ask you one qucstion-onc
/ have put 10 lot OF your countrymcn
and want a straight answer as be-
tween man and man"
You shall have it," said Brieger
Would your Kaiser and his advisers
not have blockaded Britain with the
German fleet if it had been powerful
enough for the job at the outbreak of
the war;"
The German hesta,ed for few mo-
mcnts and then, remarked II am sure
that our Kaiser would never have tried
20 starve the women and children of
Britain"
Your armies besieged Paris away
back in the seventies" l reminded him
All. but that was different" cried
Bricger.
Il 49,,
of their reasoning in Germany. Herr
Bricgcr could not explain wherein the
difference lay. lie was confident. how
ever. that il had been perfectly right
and proper for the Germans 10 bcsicgc
tho capital of France. and that i; was
absolutely disgraccful on the part OF
The British 10 blockade his country.
While was at Dusseldorf in 1917. a
German sentry used the very same en-
prcssion--"Ah. but that was different"
He had been cursing the British be-
cause of an aerial raid made on a Ger
man town near the border.
The British devils with their bombs
lcvelsd q whole street OF houses. and
several women and children were
fouiiy murdered" he angri'y exclaimed.
They are barhur!ans. and our soldiers
| should show Them no mercy"
You cannot have forgotten how the
Germans started this bombing Of
II,
where hundreds of women and children
have been killed by the Zeppciins and
the GothaS?''
An! but that was different" replied
the sentry. and | was so disguised with
the response that l turned my back to
him and walked away. One cannot
hope to convince people of that type
by mere talk.
/ HOLLAND LONG HELPED
TO KEEP III FOOD SUPPLY
Until the month OF December. 1918,
| repeat, foodstuffs were plentiful in
the F'atherland. and this happy condi-
/ ton OF affairs was TO some apprcciablc
F. extent due TO the i:nportatiors from
! Holland
J know that tremendous quantities
OF goods came into the country from
I Holland, because for weeks on end
I was employed At the railway station
/ in Munster helping 10 unload trainioadS
/ of butter. margarine. cheese. eggs
I onions. etc. etc. Hundreds Of my fcl
/ low prisoners laborcd with me. the
/ wages paid us being at the rate of Is
cents per day.
/ This remuneration was doled out in
/ the form of cantccn money, and could
/ only be expended in tho cautccnS at the
/ prison camp. II was made OF tin. and
/ was not negotiable outside the camp
/ Butter was then selling at so cents
7
oncrs was really prohibitive price.
I The difficulty, however, was skillfully
/ overcome in many instances, and not
all the butter that arrived from IIol-
! land reached it's proper destination
| Quite a number OF secret tea parties
| were held up at the camp. and the
/ Dutch production was profusely in evil
dence on the war bread.
Probably the most convincing demon
! stration OF tho hcaithiness of the Hun
| iarder AT this period was the action Of
! the authorities i'm presenting each OF
/ the 5000 prisoners at Munster with q
/ pound Of honey q pound OF biscuits. Il
/ packet Of tobacco, and a few apples
/ These formed the only presents we ever
received from the Germans, with the
/ exception Of kicks. bayonets. and other
/ "kultured" forms or abuse
IN SPRING OF 1910 FAT
! FOLKS BEGAN TO WORRY
In the spring OF 1916 tho fat folks
! ~ NJ,n,,or cnmmcncal n waor wor