Daily Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1918-191?, 1918-06-04

are many others still more harrow.
Ing II they could only be printed. And
the worst titles OF All could be told Of
the Hun treatment OF naval prisoners.
Fortunately these prisoners are CON-
parntively few In number, but the
bochc hatred Of their enemies vents
Itself. for reasons which probably
seem good TO them. In greatest meas
ure against the British navy.
I have been permitted TO read some
letters from English seamen which
somehow have escnped the eyes OF
the German censOrs. Some OF the
stories one would not dare 20 quote.
They are horrible beyond description,
says q writer IN the New York Her
aid.
The filthlest Of stables or vermln I'm
Tested COW sheds are good enough for
the English swine" from the sea.
Guards Laugh ss Men Ole.
Were II not for the parcels OF food
sent from England by the Prisoners
Aid society they could not possibly
live. and even the best Of that food
often never reaches them. To com
plain is 10 risk punishment for In
differentiation. Sentries and guards
are encouraged by their officers 10
punish summarily. without any
charge or sending them up for court
martial. which Is always a farce any
way. And those scntries. who would
seem 70 be men selected for their lack
Of feeling. are never slow In thking ad-
vantage Of opportunities that present
themselves OF infiicting the most In
human tortures ON their prisoners.
Picture q cell catching Gre. Picture
tho prisoners beating on the bars for
release. And picture the sentry. with
sardonic laugh. sticking them
through the bara with his bayonet.
That is what actually happened to two
men. And their deaths were officinily
recorded as having been due TO as
phyxiation.
II recalls a story I recently heard
IN the American Y. NJ O. A. Eagle hut.
which a wounded Canadian soldier
told OF q brutal Hun who killed q
helpless wounded English soldier BY
sticking his bayonet again aud again
into his body. laughing and gicating
over the blood as II dripped from the
blade.
The naval prisoners OF war are
forced 10 work In coal mines, labor for
which they are totally united. Dis
located wrists and broken limbs are
not infrequentiy the result. But what
90 the German slave drivers cnre The
rines OF work. however. TO which they
delight In putting the naval prisoners
10 the making Of munitions. Naturally
they rebel. But Il Is no usei for re-
fusal means for them one OF the most |
terrible Of punishments. or tortures-
-the tree"-a method Of crucihxion |
which recalls the days Of the inquisi-
Iion.
Torture % -ths Tree
Here Is how the punishment OF ''ths
tree" Is described In plain and simple
anguage IN prisoners letter home
"a big party OF Uhlans rode into the |
lamp and surrounded the men (who
had refused 20 work on munition max
ng) and started pushing and showing
hem about. and digging them with
heir rifles. The oficer IN charge, who |
,ould speak English. tosa the men that |
hey were only prisoners Of war. That |
hey would have TO put up with what |
hey could get and do as they were
ordered. He gave them 1--WE minutes |
10 set 10 work or he would order them |
10 be shot.
''fhe men were literally starving. 90
that nearly all gave In. They were
back 10 work. which they had |
10 do with no.hing 20 eat until eight |
D'elock at night
But 81 men remained ON the parade
ground. refusing 10 make shells 90 KIN |
heir own people. They were not shot. |
but far worse. The OfIicer sent them
INTO the wood and ordered them 20 be
led 10 treez Some were tied up. cru
:inx fnshlous some were hung BY one
&c OF one arms some were made 20
'tand on stools while their hands were
led 20 trees above their heads. Then
he stools were Kicked away from un-
Ter them and they were left hanging
4 the mercy Of the mosquitoes. and
ne sentries who came around prod
ling them with their bayonets
AFTER q time the German eaptain
.ame round 10 view his glorious work.
one Of our fellows In a faint.
10 raised HIS head and punched him
n ne face. Then he ordered him 20
y cut down. ind be fen IN a heap On
he ground Left lying there tlll he
anne 20. they tied him up again.
after two hours Of this treatment
he prisoners were marched back 20
amp and put In barn without either
God OF blankets. For three days this
rcatlnent 81 the tree was contln-
ed. The men were slowly dying Of
'eony until We saw there was NO use