El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1918-03-25
GERMAN NURSES
ARE MONSTERS
Add to Wounded Mems Suf-
ferings; Germans Shoot
Down Own Airplane.

London. Eng March 25.-Capt J..
D. Carmichael. a native Of Stirling
shire, was in the retreat from Mons
and fell into the ehemy's hands after
the battle Of AUbers Ridge. where he
was wounded while trying 70 guide
the Northampions out Of the trap into
which they had fallen. Since then he
has been a prisoner in Germany, and
has just been exchanged. says he:
1--WE were well treated, on the
whole, at first. with one exeep-
tion. and that exception was
found where we least expected II.
The German nurses were mon
STEERS in human form. They
seemed 10 take delight in adding
TO our sufferlngs.
When the Germans heard that
some Of their prisoners were being
treated in a certain way by our gov
eminent because they had been
caught carrying on U-boat outragess
the order came that we were TO be
moved TO less comfortable quarters,
and for three weeks we we're housed
in building like a Workhouse under
the care Of an elderly shrew, in
whom the milk Of human kindness
had turned sour.
she examined US critically every
day 70 see whether we were losing
weight or were otherwise suffering
from the treatment accorded US
Woe betide the man who had the
appearance Of thriving in spite Of
everything. such a man was certain
at least TO have his rations cut down,
and lucky was he who did not find
himself punished in some other way.
Terror Of Air ReprIsals.
Some time later we were removed
to Cologne, where we saw something
OF the state Of the German civil pop
ulation. Every day queues lined up
around the shops. but not half Of
those who waited were ever served
at was while staying at Cologne
that I realized for the first time how
much the Germans dread air reprisals.
One OF the British prisoners. who ar
rived last November, brought the
story that our people had decided to
bomb all German towns in return for
the raids on London. The story,
which was heard by the guards. soon
spread among the civilians.
From that time onward Cologne
was city Of nerves On one oc-
casiOn we were reused from bed in
the middle Of the. night by heavy gun
fire. In the midst OF all the excite
menr the sky was lit up by a great
glare. and a bright object was seen
10 crash through space Bursts Of
cheering came from different parts
OF the town. and the guards eXult-
ingly told US that a British airman
had been brought down in flames
during a great raid on the town.
Shoot Down own Machine.
Next day they did not appear so
iubilant. and by dint OF cross ques--
toning 7 got the truth ont OF one OF
them.
what had happened was that one
Of their own machines had appeared
over the town II was OF a new pat
tern, not previously seen In that
nefghborhood and. as the only officer
entrusted with plans Of new German
machines was absent that night, il
was treated as an enemy machine and
fired on
II have seen a good deal Of the
brutality which German officers Of
a certain type show TO our prisoners.
zone day I saw a party OF weary
men marched In The German officer
in charge was a brute. He selected
the weakest OF the men TO bully them.
With me at that time was young
Lieut. s. He stepped forward
and told him what he thouEht Of him.
The bully was furious. That night
S. was visited By the brother Of
ticer ana told that he was challenged
TO a duel which was to take place
next morning behind the camp.
The Victor's Fate.
when we got there, the German
officer and his second had arrived.
There were three other German Off
GERS. and when protested. IL was
agreed that the duel should be de-
ferred 70 allow the attendance Of an
equal number OF British officers. It
took place half an hour afterwards
s. was wounded. but he hit his
man IN the chest. and the German
bully died that night in the camp hos I
DitaL
There was a big row over this.
They threatened TO put s. on trial
for murder. but one OF the German
officers who had been present at. the /
duel insisted It was a fair fight. and I
this idea was dropped. In a few days /
So was removed to the Wittenberg
camp. where he contracted tvphus !
being housed in quarters that /
had not been teuanted since the great !
typhus outbreak there"