Gilpin observer., 1918-09-12
Tells Of Flight Across Carpath-
ians Into Russia.
cApTlVEs ARE OFTEN BEATEN
Death Of Old Emperor Brought
Somewhat More Humane Treatment
Men Forced to Witness Torture Of
Brothers In Arms-PrIsoners Refus.
Ing to Work Are Beaten by ouards
Food Scarce and Poor In Quality.


In the little hamlet Of Saliceta San
Giuliano, province Of Emilia, Italy,
lives shoemaker, luigi Ghittonia. He
has four sons In the army. Two are
now at the front and two were captur-
ed by the Austrians.
One evening recently the door was
burst open roughly, and the shoemaker
cried out in alarm: "Who is there3''
ut is I, Eduardo, your son. I have
escaped from Austria"
The little home was thrown topsy-
turvy, and the good news flew round
the town. What gathering there was
Of friends and relatives.
Eduardo bore traces of his hardships
in captivity. He is thirty. He fought
in Libya. Early in the campaign Of
1915 he was captured and for 81
months remained prisoner Of the
Austrians. He was at Mathausen until
September, 1916.
Starved and Beaten.
"The food scanty," he said, "and Of
the poorest quality; the beatings with
rods frequent and without pity. We
were even forced to assist in torturing
our comrades. This cruelty was abol-
ished, however, after the death Of
Francis Joseph.
1--WE were forced to witness this hor-
rible punishment. Behind us stood
Austrian soldiers with loaded rifles
ready to shoot us down II we moved a
finger"
In September, 1915, he was sent with
other prisoners to Dommavater, In the
Carpathians.
1--WE were divided into squads Of
25O," he continued, land assigned to
cut down trees. Our treatment did not
improve and the work was made hard
er every day. Blows were struck If
anyone refused to work or let up for
any reason. received full share
with the rest.
"Only one thing bore us up, and that
was the hope Of escape. We were able
to get some Austrian uniforms and ac-
cumulate supplies. We awaited, our
opportunity.
"Two of our companies became I'M
patient, and leaped over the stockade
last January. They were shot down by
the sentinels.
Escape Into Russia.
"Eight of us resolved to get away.
We were divided into two squads. A
few days later the first alarm was
raised, so we concluded that their get
away had been successful.
"A week later the second squad leap
o<1n ,An a. a. f1
n nountains. We came to a railway sta
tion. A train was about to start for
the Russian border. We climbed on
board. A Hungarian trainman looked
at us suspiciously. Then he got
drowsy. The train covered 55 kilome-
ters and stopped. We got of. Two by
two we took different ways to escape
the notice of the sentinels.
eve asked the way to the Russian
border with the utmost caution. For
five days we dragged ourselves along,
half starved. We passed through six
barbed wire entanglements.
"At last we came upon a military
post. 1t was the first Russian outpost.
We advanced, but there was no sentinel
to challenge us. We knocked and
door was opened. Within were sew
eral soldiers and single officer. We
raised our arms and shouted: we
are Italians, escaped prisoners
1--WE were received as friends. The
Russians completed our Joy by reunit-
ing us with the four companions who
had escaped week before us. We
were enabled through the assistance
Of the French military mission to get
back to Italy"