El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1918-02-12

the slightest degree fit for service
were sent 10 the army-to the gates
Of hell" they call it in Germany
Kuhn was in high glee over the
manner in which the people were pun
ished. and he made no effort TO hide
1T will teach them that they can
not have all their own way" he said.
I'll weed a few more out yet, and
get them sent TO the western 'front.'
had several times during the
months that i had been IN Essen
spoken 70 soldiers who had seen ser
vice al the western front, and all
were agreed that Of all the theaters
Of war, that was the most fearful
British Guns Best.
"A man might just as well be sem
fenced TO death as be sent there,
said one to me- People talk about
the guns of Krupps, I tell you, we
can turn out nothing 10 equal those
which the Britishers have in Flanders
and on the Somme."
Everywhere met people who open
" declared that they cared not which
way the war went, so long as they
had peace. The institution Of the re-
lentless submarine campaign also
helped a great deal The people were
definitely promised that within three
months at the very outside Britain
would be forced to make peace, be-
cause she, too, would be starving.
This buoyed up the people tremen-
dously' for with peace, tney were 7i;s toie'
on the word Of the emperor hlmselI,
they would enjoy the huge indemnity
that Britain would be forced TO pay
from her Golfers
Arrival of Slaves.
Thousands were taken from Essen
and put into the army. Never were
the secret service agents so busy as
then. Men, and women, too, vanished
steriously-spirited away. The au-
thorities ruled with a rod of iron. The
places of the men who had been taken
from the works were filled by
slaves" imported from the occupied
territories
Never shall forget seeing train
load of these poor Wretches arrive
during the early hours Of dark, Bit
terly cold February morning Iney
travelled in open trucks from Belgium
to Essen, being packed in like her
rings. SO fearful had been the condi-
lions Of their journey that several
had died from exposure on the way.
The appearance Of the slaves was
sufficient 10 arouse the sympathy Of
any human beings other than Ger
mans. but these latter only sneerea al
the miserable people.
Between armed guards they were
marched through the streets, the OBJ
5ects Of ridieule. Many Of the poor
fellows dropped in the roadway, but,
as they fell, the soldiers. without
showing the least sign Of pity OF sym
pathy, urged the others on, sentries
being left TO prod at the half uncon-
scious forms of those who had fallen
until they stirred themselves.
BeIgiaRs Bnited.
Such demonstrations OF brutality
were allowed to pass unnoticed BY the
officers in charge, and the people in
the streets appeared rather 70 enjoy
the sport" Of seeing the Bslgians
balted in this manner.
Once inside the works estate, they
were marched to the large wooden
and concrete buildings which had
been erected to form shelter for
them.
A noncommissioned officer had been
supplied with a list Of the slaves.
together with a record OF each man
ability. his medical fitness, and the
nature OF the work he had been en-
ployed upon in his own country.
Lined up, and guarded by soldiers
with fixed bayonets, they had TO an
sWer the roll call, submit to being
photographed, reply TO long string
with all the hundred and one formali-
ties, they were at last given a meal
And what a meal 10 place before
starving men, who had Travelled close
upon 200 miles in open cattle trucks
Each man was allowed a minute piece
Of bread and a pint OF weak vegetable
soup, which, by the time they received
II, was cold.
A HERDS Death.
Wee to the man who refused to
work.
Marched away to the punishment
quarters, a special place set apart for
imported labor" without trial Of any
sort, he was thrashed numerically by
German soldiers. Then, almost sense
less, he was left lying on the floor OF
a cold cell until the next day.
Now are you prepared 10 work.
he was asked.
'Neveri" came the reply from one
know of.
As a further punishment this man
night at rigid attention. During the
whole time not a morsel OF food was
given him. When he fell from sheer
exhaustion he was naltreated by the
soldiers who were guarding him until
he struggled to his feet again II
was more than human nature could
stand.
Prodded at with rifle butts and with
bayonets the moment the rigid atti-
tude was departed from, literally
starving from want of food, the MAI
fell. Prod him as they would. the
guards could not rouse him The Bel
gian slave had died defying the Ger
mans. He had kept his word, and, II
my eyes, he died a hero's death
The mans death was not by any
means the only one which occurred
amongst the slaves In all parts OF