Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-03-05
my Tweluemonth
at Krupp Plant"
Dutch Engineer Amazing Story
of Starvation and Cruelty
in Essen.
BIZ VAN DER LINDEN
Bureau.

means the only one which occurred
amongst the slaves. In all parts of the
works the men were refusing to per-
form tho tasks to which they had been
put. and the most brutal methods were
adopted to force them to work. Literal
)y hundreds were punished. men being
thrashed. confined In dark cells, made
TO stand rigidly for hours supporting
heavy weights, deprived Of food. and
not allowed to sleep These terrible
methods rapidly told upon the already
weakened constitutions OF many. and
the death rate was fearful. Others be-
came raving lunatics. an were MUIR
dered by the guards.
At the Mercy OF Brutea.
1t was the rule that forced laborers
should be employed at the very least
sixteen hours each day, or more IL the
foreman thought fit TO decree IL neces-
s@ry. Imported laborers were always
held to be at the absolute disposal of
the foreman: they were his body and
soul. TO do with us he pleased
On one occasion a Belgian did sue
coed in getting complaint past the
foreman to the manager of the depart
ment. The mans complaint was In
iuircd into. and II was found thai he
was unable to do his work owing to
an Injury which he had received to
his arm l must say this much for the
manager, he ordered the Belgian to
have proper medical treatment, which
Eeccssitated his remaining from work a
Few days. But when the man returned
TO the shop his life was made unbear-
able by the foreman.
Unable TO tolerate the brutality. tho
Belgian dared TO retort, calling the
foreman Hun. The German struck
him on tina head with a steel tool. kill
Ing him instantly. There was no In
quiry into the affair. A Belgian had
died in The shop. and that was all.
Another practice which was very
common in the shops was for the Cor
man workmen to bride the foreman to
allow them time of. or to credit them
with working longer hours than they
had actually put in. 1t was here that
the Belgium workmen came In useful,
especially those who were skilled. Tho
German drillers were paid l mark per
hour, so IL man wanted time off, he
made an arrangement with the fore
man. and Belgian slave was made to
work several hours extra to make up
Tor the Germans hours away.
still the German was credited with
the work. and drew the pay, handing
over portion of H. to the foreman. If
he work happened to be done badly,
and failed TO pass the viewer. who also
worked hand ir-g love with the fore
man. then the Belgian was made to
suffer He was punished for doing bad
work. his good specimens being taken
10 put In exchange for the bad ones,
and put to the credit OF the German.
some of the Beigians were particu-
larry good workmcn. and could turn out
large quantities of material. Often
heir work was sent in as the work OF
inferior German mechanics, who drew
extra pay, and divided the spo:ls with
the foreman.
one young Belgian. who had beon
systematically robbed in this way, de-
ciareG that he would no longer work
for the swindicra.
What" shouted tho foreman I'll
teach you To use threats here
The German rushed biindly at tho
slave. and would have struck him. but
the man caught his arm.
Not so" he said calmly. pushing him
away.
Punished!
This only served 10 arouse still fur
ther the Germans passion. Specifies
win rage, he again rushed IT the Bel
E:an. who to defend himself. planted
his fist under the forcman's Jaw, knock
ing him down.
Then seeing what he had done. the
Belgian turned TO fly In terror realizing
me fate which would be melted out TO
him. lie had only run few yards
when he was felled with u blow from
behind. and seized by the guards.
THESE men took delight in dragging
him towards the foreman. who ordered
ne Belgian to stand at attention be-
fore him.
Then, at signal, the guards hand
cuNcd the man with his hands behind
his back. and when he was thus secure
~ fastened, the foreman took has re-
vense. Slowly and deliberately he re-
moved his coat. rolled his sleeves to the
elbow. and commenced 20 punmel tie
Belgian. With the first blow he
Knocked him down. Instantly the
guards pulled him to his feet and
propped him UP. Again he fell, and
once again the performance was re-
peated. So it wen; on, Til the Belgian
could no longer stand. Blood was
streaming from his face. which the
brutal German had pounded. with his
fist" until he was tired Then he or
Tered The guards to take him away for
punishment.
Ike Belgian never returned to the
workshop, for when they got him into
the punishment cell. i; was found that
the life had been beaten out of him.
(To BE Conlinued)