El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1918-03-20
? ONDoN, Eng March 2O.-while

= ONDON. Eng, March 2O--While
was yet in the German prison
camp at Burgsteinfurt, the South
African who had made such gallant
attempts to escape. and about which
I have told you, informed me that he
saw g. OF our lads sent into Germany
after working behind the enemy lines
in France. They were in a terrible
state and. before five weeks had
passed, their number was reduced by
death to I6 Within another week
eight more OF the lads died from hun
ger and exposure. When only eight
men out Of g. were left, the South AZ
rican was sent away from the camp,
therefore he could not tell the fate OF
the survivors
One OF our boys whom I met had
just returned from the Russian front,
where he had been working behind
the lines. He belonged to the Kings
own Yorkshire Light infantry. Though
he had been shot through the shoul
der and the wound was still unhealed,
he was sent 10 the Russian front to
work. He told me that the party was
practically starving TO begin with. and
vet they had to get their meals from
the soup after the German soldiers
had taken their share. This meant
that they practically got favored, col
ored water
Work or Be shot.
On reaching the danger zone. which
was well in the line OF artillery fire,
they were lined up in front Of a COM
pany Of Uhlans. who were attired in
full war array. With them was an
officer, who addressed the men as fol-
lows:
@You will not work in Germany.
We have got supreme charge here,
and what we do here cannot be
in Russia now. Therefore, you
have to work. give you two
minutes to decide whether you
Will work or not. II yOu choose
not to work, then my men viii dc
their duty
The duty" I may add. was for the
Chlans to charge and trample loWn
the prisoners as they stood.
Having given the order, the officer
stood smiling in front OF his men
Some Of the prisoners went so far as
70 tell the officer TO get on with his
Naturally there were others
who did not want TO meet with this
the more daring Of their comrades 70
agree to work.
Suffer Great Cruelty.
The man told me that he was made
to stand on his feet all night through /
He was sick the following morning.
but he was turned out to work. and
for three weeks he stuck &c this until /
his strength gave way altogether. He I
was forced to 90 into the hospital I
but was ordered out After he had I
put in another weeks misery. he was |
sent back to Burgsteinfurt, an utter /
wreck.
This soldier told me that he had /
seen prisoners die as they were work /
Ing. Though Il was midwinter. every /
nan EHwfHrHnnd NJ hHe nhfwH NJ
very often they had to work up TO 4
heir waists in snow and slush. Those ]
men who were not working hard /
enough to please the taskmasters
we're either kicked from behind OF
banged in the ribs with the butt end /
II rifle. The treatment was so ter
-ible that large number OF the men
became mentally deranged.
No Aerey for the Sick.
I had these stories confirmed by i
he condition Of g prisoner belonging
% a Lancashire regiment who had
ilso been IN Russia behind the Ger
nan lines. When he left the German
ines. he had TO be carried away to a
hospital. where he was detained for
-hree months He was the victim OF
. most calous trick perpetrated by a
ioctor. who tore the patients papers
ID and threw him out OF the hospital
Re was then sent to a stone quarry,
\ mere me " AAAE A0ALE were very ]
ong. The Lancashire lad was no use
here.
the result was that he received
earful punishment for alleged malin-
-ering. At last. however, word was
rot through 70 the cOmmandant Of
he head camp that the poor fellow
vas being tormented. Soon after
Yards the suffering prisoner was sent
ack to the hospital at Burgsteinfurt,
where he remained for six weeks. He
vas afterwards told that he had not
o work for at least a month. but he
ad hardly been convalescent three !
avs before the belt Webble" called
pom him to go 70 work.
The poor fellow was crippled with
rheumatism and could hardly hobble /
long. He was, nevertheless. forced |
D put on his clogs like the rest. but
-hen he came 70 march with the
Their boys he found he could not keep
p. The boys tried 20 keep with him.
ut the sentry, thinking that they
ere not going quick enough, called
ne Lancashire boy a pig, and then
truck him repeatedly in the back ]
18th the butt end Of his rifle.
Whole Street Wrecked.
] came across a prisoner who was &
-orking at Krupp's. at Essen. when '
he allies raided It from the air. The [
ombs just Missed the massive works,
ut clean wiped out a street Of houses,
Hing over so soldiers. 7
This same fellow. mo ct one period 7
ad to stand at attention for Is days, {
ad a most unusual experience. One {
light he bolted from the camp along
it'll two others. but on getting clear {
the camp he lost his pals. who had a
Is rations, together with the neces-
lry plan and compass. He trekked
lie countryside searching for his T
1mrades. and went so far as to shout @
u them. He received no reply. how y
yer. 1
After travelling about three kilome- Il
rs without tracking down his pals. v
l. L. L.