El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1918-03-02
TERRIBLE BEATINGS GIVEN To
PRISONERS BY THE GERMANS
Men Beaten With Straps and Butts of Guns and Kicked
Sick Men Made to Work and One Armed Men Forced
to Saw Wood; No Bedding Supplied and Prison
ers Freeze in Camps of North Germany.
By THOMAS ROBSON.
(sixth LnstnImenf.)

NAAAAAEAAay
n patch I saw two sentries coming in
my direction. Befo G I had time to
think Of my next move they had light
ed the lamps.
Il Escape Discovered.
It was through no want Of daring
that did not make a dash for the
1 opening at this stage. A more fmpor-
tant consideration held me back. for
even If ] had got through I would
! have raised an alarm. which would
have been fatal to the boys who had
| gone before me.
The most important point to escap-
! ing prisoners is to let them have time
! Even few minutes is valuable, and
felt certain that II ] had tried to
get away I would have endangered
the prospects of the men who were
then flying from captivity.
Finding myself thwarted. I crept
away 10 my quarters, and told the
other boys that II was no use trying
now, as the LAMPS had been lighted.
and by attempting to get through we
would only be jeopardizing the
chances of our mates, who at that
period were treking as fast as they
could over the snow clad ground.
Two hours elapsed before the alarm
was given by the sentry that the wires
had been cut This was the signal for
raid on the huts- The sentries and
under officers bundled US out of our
were pushed about by an excited Of
ciciaL The sentries were so excited
that, instead of gaining time by doing
their work in an ordinary manner,
they lost time IN pushing US about.
Prisoners Are Recaptured.
The search was a failure, but unfor-
tunately the fugitives themselves
failed to make good on nearing the
frontier. Two ,of them. who had
treked wonderfully well, actually got
within q hop. skip and jump OF the
frontier when they olundered into a
sentry, who had them covered IN a mo
ment with his rifle
The remaining three had not got so
far. IN fact, these lads had taken the
wrong track and walked right into the
danger spot.
Never a more dreary Christmas has
man ever spent than I did at Burg
steinfurt- No special fare was pro-
vioed by the Germans. but we were /
well off compared TO the Russians, I
whose sole food was turnips, which 1
they could not eat
The weather, instead Of improving. /
got worse. and 1 have seen Russians I
absolutely lying on top of the smoky /
stove in the hut 10 try and get warm.
Cruelty of Guards.
One day ] saw the "belt-Webble" de-
a Russian over the head with the fiat
side
Probably one OF the most fiendish
attacks. however. was made upon a
Canadian, who was charged with
swinging the leg The fact OF the
not do the work, owing to the wounds
he had sustained In France. Two OF
his fingers had been shot away on his
light hand. He had also been shot
through the wrist, while a good part
0f the center Of his left hand had also
nnnm hHnvTm Vet he Q
pected to use a shovel the same as
any ordinary man.
On the day he was attacked we
ere digging a drain in the middle OF
ueld, Wnen the pig oelt-Weoole
zane I'D and selected the unfortunate
Canadian as one OF the malingerers.
any hesitation he threw him
self upon the Canadian and pitched
him into the drain, which was full Of
water When the Canadian gathered
himself Up the "belt-webble" again
attacked him.
Though the wounded Canadian had
already suffered quite sufficient pun
shment, the belt webble" ordered
aim put in the cells. We, however.
sent for the Interpreter. and told him !
york. The interpreter Informed the
'belt-webble" OF the true facts. and I
or once in a while the latter became
generous and allowed the Canadian TO
20 free II
kicked Because He Could Not Work. /
One very cold morning one of our
,ovs dropped to the ground as he was
going to work He was brought z
-Ound. but instead OF being sent back ,
% his quarters. he was made to con- ,
inue work Once more he tainted. !
md whilst he lay on the ground the ,
'belt-webble" rushed at him and dealt
i'm two or three kicks. which put /.
him completely out Some time later
70 his feet he told the bully that he :
Gould not work. but the belt webble"
pushed him away, and once more the I
rictim fell TO the ground While ly-
ng there, the "belt-webhle" yelled al
lin to get up, and the prisoner. being
90 weak to DO so now. was the recipi-
mt OF still more savage kicks The
'belt-webble" refused to let US help
lur comrade who lay half covered IN
lush until we had finished work
It was impossible to get any sleep,
wing OF the coldness OF our huts, not
that we rarely IN
ressed- I. for instance. used to sleep (
q two shirts, two cardigan jackets
nd my uniform. while had my blan-
.et and greatcoat to cover me. With / !
II these clothes, however, I was we'll
Ugh frozen to the bone.
@MOrOeeO BiII.1
About this period the "belt-webbIe" | |
OF the doctor shifted, and a new one !
anne. He said he had fought in Mo- !
COCO, and had been in a French pris |
n there. where the treatment was
bominable. He was therefore out :