Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-02-19
my Tweluemonth
at Krupp Plant"
Dutch Engineers Amazing Story
Of Starvation and Cruelty
in Essen.
ny VAN DER LINDEN
Copyright lsi7; International News

sat. as l said. for seven long hours
in the stuffy compartment or that
crawling train, which seemed to be
drawn into a siding and stop every
half-mile to allow others 10 pass. All
OF us werc weary of the journey, and
the sights which we witnessed at wesa
had to certain extent unncrvcd us.
And this seemed to make the journey
all the more wearisomc. For time
va talked together. but after about
the tenth stop by the way, we lapsed
into silence, and stared ElooInily at
At last we reached our destination.
and stretched our crampcd legs on the
platform OF Essen station.
But our trials were not yet over.
We were marched the whole length
OF the train, and noticed the interest
ing fact that both the driver and fire
man" were women.
At the far end OF the station was 4
large. chcerless room. and into this we
were taken. whilst armed soldiers kept
guard outside and others stood by the
doors. lad we been prisoners guilty
of the most serious offcnscs we could
not have been guarded better.
We had not had a mouthful OF food
since we left Wese. and for one
was not slow in letting the German
agent with us know that meal would
! however, were received with snccrs.
You are in Germany, now said ono
Of the soldiers. sort OF under officer
I'VE have to go short at times. so can
you expect to be fcastcd?"
had always been told that the Ger
mans were thorough but 1 never
realized how thorough they were until
underwent that examination On Essen
station. Every vestige OF clothing was
taken from me and searched. l was
made to answer whole string Of qucs-
tions as to my age and nationality,
had / ever been to Essen before, who
were my parents, where did they live,
what were their occupations. had I ever
been to Britain. when was l there last.
what information could l give as to
the state of affairs in Britain. what
preparations were the British making.
was there any shortage OF food. did /
come to Essen OF my own free will.
and what were my qualifications as
an engineer? These and n thousand
other questions Of 4 like nature were
fired at me, and my companions, the
answer to each being taken down in
writing. signed and witnessed.
Next the papers which We had been
given by --aucrbach were taken and
txamined as a sort OF after thought.
and these, too. were signed by an Of
. icer. The examination lasted fully
three hours, and then, worn out with
the strain, we were told that we must
follow the agent. and We're free.
My idea of freedom does Sot ty any
means correspond with that OF the Ger
mans. Naturally. 1 thought that we
should be conducted BY the agent to
house where we should find food, but
instead we were accompanied by an
armed guard and conducted to the po-
| lice headquarters, where we were put
through further searching examina-
ton.
Once again I asked for food. for by
this time was almost fainting. The
| chief OF police, TO whom 1 addressed
my question, seemed rather SURPRISED
/ that any one should dare to be so ia
miliar with him. The chief of police
I in Essen is very important parsonage.
at all events in his own estimation.
FOR fuzzy minute he Elared at me.
| and then CURLY told me to pay atten-
ton to the questions he was putting.
But. Herr" said. II and my com
panions have not tasted food since
midday and are faint"
That is not my business. am not
caterer" he said. When you have
been examined. no doub;. Herr Schmidt.
the agent of krupps. will see that YOU
are supplied"
And Herr Schmidt smiled aTaLly. lie
hastcned 10 explain that but for the
accident to the troop train all these
iormal!ties would have been completed
long ago. and that he would have been
ria OF US lie, too, had gone without
food, but with unctuous patriotism
added "A German will make anv sac
rifice for the I'atheriahd"
4 didn't come here 10 make sacrI
fees, Herr Schmidt" l returned: Il
came 10 work, and / cannot work nm
less have food"
Peace. Herr peace said Schmidt.
A lew moments and your wants will