The daily Alaskan., 1918-10-08
German Deserter Describes Brutal Treatment Inflicted
 on Men in Army.
FATHER CRIPPLED FOR LIFE
Crimes Will Darken History of Kaiser. Ism Forever, When People of the
 World Learn the Whole Story.

Marion, O.-Curt HadliCh, young German mechanic employed In local shops, one-time aviator In the German army, soldier of fortune and finally an American citizen, not only believes the stories of German brutality that have come from across seas but he thinks when the whole story has been told crimes that will darken the pages of the history of kaiser!Sm forever will come to the people of the world. They will be told not only by victims but by the very soldiers of the kaiser him. self, Hadlich thinks.
 , He is a deSerter from the German army because of treatment he could not stand. His father Is a life crlp- ple from the indignities even of peace times.
 "The German soldier is treated like a dumb animal" says Hadlich. "He must grin and bear it-there is no ap- peal"
 Hadlich's story perhaps Is the more interesting because he has travelled enough, seen enough and learned enough outside the confines of Ger many to appreciate conditions that ex- ist there.
 Father Crippled for Life.
 "AIy father is living example or the effects of German mllitarlsm," he said. "After the war, If he still Is living, expect to have him come to this country to live as God intended people should live. He too can tell stories of how brutal German officers are to the soldiers under them.
 Hike all young Germans, he entered military service when he was twenty. One day his company was practicing scaling. He had been III and was un- able to get over a fence at which prac- tice was being held. An officer struck him with sword. He fell and his arm was broken. If was not properly cared for, and that arm has been use less since.
 HWhile I was stationed at the forts at Metz and StraSSburg l saw things happen myself that would make an American soldier think that the disci- pline he sometimes complains about Is heaven in comparison. The soldiers get Sunday off at certain periods and look forward to them because they can visit home.
 "I have seen 1t happen time and time again that officers kept some or the men in barracks, apparently mere- ly nursing q slight grudge of per sonal natur-perhaps merely to have q bit of sport at the private's expense. These same officers would think up all kinds of punishments for their men, often putting a fellow at some task on his day off while several hundred other soldiers were idle and could have done the same work.
 Just Keep Them Busy.
 GI have seen officers order men to carry water from the big barrels kept in barracks, sometimes three or four stories high, merely to give them task After they had emptied the bar
 
 rels they would be forced to carry the water back up and i'll them again.
 'I have seen privates put to work on Sunday morning with a bucket or water and tooth brush and ordered to scrub the floors.
 "If a private does not shoot or march as well as the officer thinks he should he Is certain to be punished. One favorite treatment then was to require private to stand erect, then kneel 10 u the ground. repeating the performance urior an hour or more. I've seen Glll- ITS beat and kick soldiers who be- 'po. ne exhausted from this task. IL uently happens that three davs ither'}uous drill on bread and water