The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-11-02
TALES OF hun BRUTALITY.
PATIENCE WITH GERMANS AL
MOST EXHAUSTED.
Immediate Release of Prisoners Will
Be Insisted on as Part OF Armistice
Terms.

Immediate Release of Prisoners viii
! Be Insisted on as Part OF Armistice
Terms.
London, Oct. 30-That the i'm
mediate release of all British prison.
ers will be insisted upon by the gov
eminent as part of the armlStlce
terms is confidently expec1' here
Sir George Cave,-the home secretary
announced in the house of commons
yesterday that the same conditions
imposed on Bulgaria in this matter
would be insisted upon in any truce
with Germany or Austria, and Gen.
Allenby had been instructed to follow
/ the SAME policy in dealing with the
Turks.
There is plenty Of evidence that
British prisoners have received worse
treatment throughout the war than
any others except the Russians.
Such a demand will be very I'M
portant factor and it is not likely that
the other allies will show less regard
for their nationals who are suffering
in German camps. Events since the
| German peace overtures were launch
| ed have not tended to instlll any
spirit of conciliation, forgiveness or
leniency toward the enemy in Brit
ish breasts.
The sinking of the Leinster follow
ed close, on the German note. The
| evacuation of, Belgium and French
| towns, for years under German rule
! has opened what has heretofore
been largely a sealed book of rumors
land authentic stories from truthful
people of German barbarities towards
the inhabitants have been flooding
1cut.
Finally yesterdays discussions in
the house of commons Of the treat
ment of British prisoners appeared
to have been about the last straw
breaking the back of British patience
patience which the country general
ly seems to think has been carried
too far. The Germans have only
themselves to blame that these re-
lations came at time so unfortu-
nate for German interests.
The topic was forced upon the
house by a strong demand by the
public for light upon the circum-
stances Of what is termed German
blackmail in refusing to ratify an
agreement drawn up for an equitable
exchange of prisoners unless the
British consented to go outside that
subject and give gue antees against
the deportation of Germans to Chi
ma.
Captain Craig, a member Of the
house and himself an exchanged pris-
oner, told with emotion OF his ex-
periences and the sights he>had' seen
in the prison camps.
Suspicion isethe word which still
summarizes the public attitude toward
the central powers manehvers. Some
of the most important papers believe
that Germany and Austria, or what
remains of the Austrian government,
are working together. They interpret
Austria's rush towards a. separate
peace as part Of a plan7-now }. that
Austrian military power is dissolving
to place Austrian territory as :neu-
trail ground between Germany and the
allied armies, which may soon be
able and ready to march through
Austria.
Turkeys position is not yet clear.
The committee Of union and progress
apparently is still in the saddle at
Constantin ople. The fact that Djavid
Pasha, minister of finance, is perhaps
the most influential man in the cabi:
net seems to show that Talaat Pasha.
the former grand vizier, is still strong
behind the scenes and that Young
Turks. and Germany yet hold the
power.
The one and greatest hope Of the
old guard in Germany, appears to be
to drive a wedge between President
Wilson and the allies and to make the
instead of belligerent.
The Frankfort Zeitung says:
IF the allies insist upon such dis
armament terms as to make further
German resistance impossible not only
Germany but he president Wilsonl
himself would disappear from among
the factors which are decisive for the
conclusion Of peace.
His own position as world arbiter
depends solely on whether Ger
many's military power. at least is
worth so much that it can not be
forced to surrender without the help
of the American forces
The article concludes by cleverly
trying to make it appear that the
presidents role is not linked with
that of Germany by saying that in
such a position as outlined his role
would be played out if he did not
commence war against the allies.
Sir George Cave, the home secre.
tary, gave authentic details Of whole.
sale deaths OF British soldiers, kept
ragged, starving and verminous and
compelled to work long hours in salt
mines and under fire at the front,
contrary to the rules Of The Hague
convention, beaten and tortured and
shot for petty or no offenses.
Old parliamentary reporters say