Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-03-14
my Tweluemonth
at Krupp Plant"
Dutch Engineer Amazing Story
Of Starvation and Cruelty
in Essen.
BY VAN DER LINDEN
Copyright. 1917. International News
Bureau.

they would never get the best out OF
the workers by harsh methods.
Look at the output OF my shop" he
would say. 1T is maintained steadily.
and yet there are fewer cases OF pun
ishment in my shop than any in the
works"
This was certainly fact. but later
found that the Bulgarian was work.
ing quietly with the employees. and
wherever possible was assisting them
10 organize themselves with the OBJ
ject OF securing better conditions. He
, was responsible for the. organizing of
secret meetings of the workers who
lived outside the great estate. and
frequently addressed these gatherings.
which were held in cellar OF a build
ing in Strasse l04. The people assem-
bled in twos and thrccs and dispersed
in like manner. md for many weeks
the proceedings remarked undiscov
cred.
Tho great difficulty. however. was 10
orcau'.e meetings OF the slaves from
ihc occupied territories, for these pco-
pie were housed in the large buildings
Inside Tho works and were constantly
i"Ger guard.
There had been several meetings held
IN secret outside the works. at which
certain resolutions had been agreed
upoN. and il became necessary TO COM
muncate these to the slaves. ncdc-
witch undertook to act as tho inter
| mediary. He could only meet the slaves
in their compound at night. after they
had ceased their toll. Knowing this
he set to work TO cultivate the ac-
quaintance OF the officer in charge OF
/ the night guard. So successful was
ne that within a week the Bulgar was
invited by the lieutenant to spend an
evening with him.
Dedevitch accepted the invitation
and, by means OF n drug placed in the
n ttnn
sleep FOR two or three hours. He
played the same trick on the guards
and, the coast clear, he went boldly
into the compound and laid before the
slaves the resolutions of the German
workpeople. THESE in effect proposed
n general rising and outbreak OF sa-
hotarc az some date to be decided upon
later, when II was considered By the
leaders that the plans were natur.d.
| learned that the suggestion was
received with great JOY by the slaves,
who pledged themselves 10 assist the
cause by every means in their power.
Dedevitch warned them to be patient,
for another opportunity OF meeting
them again in n similar manner might
not come for some time and he then
! explained to them simple code OF
signaling. by means OF which he would
DE able 10 keep them informed OF The
way the movement was progressing.
This was Dedevitch's first step toward
big movement, and one which | am
convinced Will have big effect upon
The course OF the war.
His suhtlety was we'll shown in the
manner in which he handled the latter
after leaving the slaves compound
) lie returned to the room OF the lieu
tenant. who was just awakening from
his S!umbers. Dedev!tch crcpt under
the table and fciEncd TO be sleeping
heavily. The unsuspect!ns officer was
the first 20 recover. and ne a. once
looked for his guest Great was his
merrment 10 find the Bulgar wei!
under the influence Of tho drink This
discovery al!aycd any suspicion which
might have arisen in the mind OF the
German. for was there not clear proc:
mat both he and MS guest had drunk
themselves 70 Sleep Tho guards. on
recovering their senses, very wisely
maintained strict silence. for nothing
had apparently occurred, and they were
anxious 10 avoid any trouble for them
selves
About this time the German people
were looking for the tulNllment oc the
promise made that the submarine cam
raign would have forced their enc
mics, nd especially Britain, 10 con-
code q peace at Gcr'nany's terms.
In Official quarters there was much
hustle and cxcitcmtnt High staff Of
i!cers were constantly coming and
going. and one day, without the slight
By tho crown prince and II!ndenburg
arrived a; the Villa !iunGel Il was
obvious that some great move was
afoot. and made UP my mind. Il pog-
sihle. 70 unearth The mystery.
New British Plane.
Prolonged conferences were held n,
the Nilia Hu"Eel. and in all these Cen
cral Won liocppncr participated
learned the secret OF their conferences
as a result of the confidence Of one
o; TIA" overs"ers in The acroplane de-
phrtm"nt who was 1ua-tcrcd with me
The man on" evening told nc with
great elce OF the capture by the OR
mans of wonderful British airplano
iic sad The machine had down from
/ ENGLAND TO france, and hal descended
IN error during a thlcl; FOG Inside the
German line"
Have you acen ~" machine. or f.
II only another fable asked
Seen it2' said tn" man why {,
has been brough, here. and IS nov in
ono OF the hangers near my shop. The
kaiser and others have Inspected !,
closely"
! expressed wish 10 500 hi. wo,
1erful machine. ana the oversccr said
It might easily bc arranged
-" the following day ! actually say
IL" machine. In company wi,h tho
oE"rs""T Who had told me Of H.
y" Destroy London.
Nnl!r Was gazing IN wonder AZ the
aFpiane, heard the sound as % motor
cars APPROACHING and, looking IN. wns
Snrprised 10 see the Kaiser crown
niInec and others coming UP. with
Uoeppner ana Won BohIcn
ne Kaiser and crown prince went
nh'ard mo machine. and all the do
i1i|- ~ control ana the hnrnh.droonin.
apparatus were carefully explained TO
DO war lord took the rilo,'a seat.