The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-12-14
TELL OF TORTURE
Germans Specialized in Revolt
ing Form of Cruelty.
Purposeful Torture Of Prison
ers Shown by Statements.
BY CAPTAIN r. p. ROWE
of the British army

London, Nov. % (by mai) THE
Germans, apart from the crimes which
they have committed in Belgium and
on the high seas in tho late war
specialized in q particularly revolving
form of cruelty. The proofs of their
purposeful torture Of prisoners. partly
to get the utmost woEb possible out
simply to destroy life or physique in
an enemy provide a record that would
have been incredible before 1914.
Thousands of English, French. Italian
and Russian prisoners of war nave
been deliberately done to death by
combination of overwork and starva-
ton. Under the fire of their fellow
countrymen's guns. they have been
driven in gangs like slaves to labor on
their enemy's defenccs. When hardly
able to move thru weakness. they nave
been beaten or stabbed with bayonets
to force them to further effort.
One of the German methods WITH
Russian prisoners has been to hang
them by their wrists to a stake with
their feet off the ground. OF this very
overwhelming evidence. 1t is, in fact.
a common practice to suspend pris-
oners thus for hours at time. Even
tually, insensible, with their wrists
terribly lacerated, they are cut down.
Even when rope is used to bind them
ture, but according to the latest ac-
counts wire is often substituted. A
Russian prisoner, who recently es-
capped from Germany. after being
worked for nearly three years behind
the German lines in France. gave evil
dence of this development in his on
cial examination. The whole of his
evidence is interesting, but much OF
it may not be reproduced. His pow
ers of observation and clearness of
ind cyvo mi Snch that he had mil.
| itary information to give OF more than
ordinary value. From this 1t may be
deduced that his perfectly straight
| forward and unimpassiOned state
ments concerning his own treatment
| and that of other prisoners may also
| be accepted without reservation. There
| is little in the evidences that has not
been reported again and again except
the substitution of wire for rope In
| "crucifixion."
When this prisoners party arrived
at the western front in 1915 it was
one of the first patches to be put to
work under fire. At first the men re-
! fused. AS measure of coercion they
were beaten with rifle butts, pricked
with bayonets and deprived of food,
A small number of them, who still
remained obdurate, were at last sent
back a distance of fifteen kiloneters
to weave revetments. gabions, etc. At
a later stage they were marched for
| ward again, and when they refused
| to work were once more attacked with
rifle butts and bayonets. Finally
they were surrounded by a detach-
ment of cavalry, who pricked them
with lances. struck them with butt
ends and rode over them with their
horses. At last they had to yield.
Such treatment as this was only
a small part Of their sufferings. In
spite of the excessive work, to which
they were driven like cattle. they
were given less than the modtcum OF
food reasonable for subsistence. Their
total diet consisted of 400 grams OF
bread per day, turnip and water fol
dinner, and coffee for breakfast and
supper. They were never given meat
and never even potatoes. OerworA
combined with semi-starvation re-
duced them to utter feebleness and In
appearance to walking skeletons. But
toll was never RENTED.
In the case of prisoners refusing to
work on the enemy's defenses bar.
barous punishments were frequently
inflicted. Holes q metre deep were
dug and filed with water and meI
were made to stand in them for hours
But the worst deviltry was ''cruci
flxion.'' The Russian prisoner WHOSE
report is here chronicled gives de-
tailed description of this practice al
applied to himself. He had attempt
ed to escape and was caught AS &
punishment he was tied to a tree fol
three hours. His wrists were TWISTED
high behind his back and bound will