The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1918-03-31

EAPOSUHE KILLS MANY.
This bad treatment lasted for six
months, until February. 1915. During
this time the prisoners work was the
building of sheds and the draining Of
aTswamp. This latter work was trying,
as many Of the men had only worn
out shoes, or were even entirely with
out them. The latter were forced to
get on with boards tied on to their
feet with string. As they were badly
nourished, the prisoners who worked in
this way almost all contracted chest
diseases. About 20 Of them died OF
pleurisy; others developed tuberculosis
and died after prolonged suffering.
'Since February, 1915, the Germans
have been using their prisoners very
practically. They send detachments
into the mines, factories. farms. The
first contingent left Munsterlager in
February for the coal mines OF West
phalia: the metal workers went next;
the fifteenth and eighteenth of May
large conveys departed for the swamps
and farms.
Glad 10 Get Chance to Work.
The prisoners at that time were
glad to go, it must be said, for it meant
escaping from the tortures Of the camp.
II the work was hard in the kom-
mandoS.' still one was decently fed,
and with the money that one earned
$50 pfennigs of G cents) on the farms,
from 50 to 20 rfennings 90 to IA cents>
in the factories, one might procure
some comforts. Besides. at that par
ticuiar time orders had come from
Berlin forbidding them to strike the
prisoners. The brutality did nos step,
far from 1t. but 1t ceased to be a sys-
tenn and was no longer covered by
authority.
This mild regime lasted for year,
In April, 1916. new Instructions
were sent to the camps. / have seen
them with my own eyes. They en-
joined upon the commanders of the
camps to utilize the prisoners as much
as possible and to send them to the
'komrnando' as they We're needed, with
out distinction. even those whom the
Germans call 'gehildete Tente' tedu-
Gated people.) Up TO that time. those
who, having never furnished manual
labor. had wished to remain in the
camps. had done so. According to
these same instructions, under Officers
could be sent to commando only by
their consent and privates employ ed
in certain duties and considered as in
diSpensable were to be kept in ihs
camp. In addition IL was commanded
10 suppress theatricals, bugling, bands
and songs.
Another time orders came sayins
that the economic situation of Ger
many required that prisoners shoulc
I he further utilized, that the work the,
performed was often absurd. and tina
it was necessary to obtain a real re
turn; that to this end The guards mus
use force. II mildness and persuasion
had no effect
The German "psrsuasion."
In August. 1919. further instruction
were sent to all the chiefs of detach
ments, or 'kommando' heads. connecte
with the Munsteriager prison camI
These were signed by Feldwebel-Liet
tenant BAusmann. acting for Lieuten
ant. Colonel Won Baumback. head {
the prisoners camp at Munster. an
declared that in many OF the 'komman
dos the prisoners did not do enous
work. and by some means or oths
the amount mus. be increased Again'
those who did not work enough, PR
ceedings should he taken as follows:
by not delivering mail to them;
showing IL TO them. but not letting
them have it.
Ell this should not succeed, hold