New-York tribune., 1918-07-22
Belgian Prisons I lave Become
I ortureH Holes Under Germany
Prisoners Cast Into Cells Without Charge Evidence,
Forced to Undergo Brutaities at Hands of Guards
Prosecutions Are Declared To Be Farce

designed for one man. The bedding is
not changed for months at time and
the prisoners receive one tower
month Most of the food is uneatnp'e'
and the Observation-Disclosures accused OF
convicted--are subjected to the worst
kind of treatment. If they do not Jump
into position before their guards, II
they speak in the courtyard. II thcy
turn the head when at attention, they
are struck mercilcssly in the face
Sometimes during the night those VINO
are condemned to deportation are
warned to be ready to 60 in the early
morning. If they shout with anger or
even cry with pain at receiving 'ne
news, their guards rush into their CciiS
and knock them about until they fall TO
the floor senscless.
"Defence" Is Farce
"As lawyer, l am able to give some
details on the sittings Of the German
military court. In Brussels these sit-
tings take place in large room on the
second floor of the ministry of the
navy. The Judges sit from O'Clock
in the morning till late at night. me
public prosecutor, after explaining
The case in German, examines the Ger
man agents and the witnesses Tor tne
prosecution. The advocate, usually
chosen by the accused's relations, mas
most difficult and painful task as
he is not allowed to see the dossler
and cannot even interview his cilent'
He knows practically nothing Oh 1he
case when he comes in court and mas
To improyise his defence during the
proceedings The accused Is cross
examined in German, the questions be
inp translated by an interpreter. me
scSeritv of the German judges is well
known. No week passes without three
or four executions. In antwerp
twenty-four people we're recently con-
demned to death in one day.
"Thc Germans themselves estimate
at 100 900 year the number OF con
demnations and fines inflicted on the
Belgians. Though this figure is GER
tainlv below the mark, such persecu-
tions only affect a minority and are
not the worst evil which the people
have to stand.
Food Question Appalls
"There is a more severe trial Whlch
inAicts untold sufferings on the whole
nation and which threatens the very
existence Of every Belgian home, the
cost of food and fuel. The bread,
mixture of Indian corn, rye and po--
tatoes, is unsuitable for children ana
old reople. The ration is Of 200
grammes q day.
.'Thc communal shops and the relief
depot sell potatoes, beans, sugar bacon
fat and rice at pre-war prices, but the
/ quantities provided are so small that
only a scant portion of the food con-
sumed can be derived from these
| sources. The principal cause OF the
increase in the cost Of food is due to
the creation by the Germans of their
'zecntrale' which acquisitions almost
everything under the pretext of stop
ping proftcering. The consumer is
obliged to buy from smuggl,ers, who
run great risks in infringing the regu-
lations. forbidding the transport OF po-
tatoes. butter and other foodstuffs from
the country to the towns. Free fights
occur frequently between the soldiers
and the s,nugglers when the latter are
in sufficient force, and, in some cases
German sentries have been killed.
'The rich are spending their capital
the peonle Of the middle class are com
pletolv ruined. and the faboring class
the majority of which arc unemployed
arc on the verge Of starvation and en-
! trely dependent on relief from out
side"