Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-03-12
IN y I tUelUemonth
at krupp Plant"
Dutch Engineer S Amazing Story
Of Starvation end Cruelty
in Essen.
by VAN DER LINDEN
Copyright. 1917. International New,
Bureau.

! TO assist his comrade was stunned by
a mighty blow. but n third. who APP
preached from behind. attempted 10
bayonet tho Russian. Tho latter was
too quick. however. Like Il Lash ho
turned. and seized hold Of the barrel
OF the rifle. twisted II out of tho hands
| OF the German. and with n nasty up
ward jerk smashed tho jaw OF the
! guard with the but, end OF the rifle.
Then, armco, he turn ID to face the
rest Of the guards. For moment
| there was silence. thu Russian stand
! Ing like n giant at bay, surrounded by
the Germans. HIS eyes flashed danger
ously, and he called out hoarseiy In
his own language. An officer. enter
ing the building. took in the situation
IT a slance, and ordered the men to
fire Oh the Russian. Seeing them pre-
senting arms, the Russian, with an
other wild yell, charged the guards.
swinging his rife Ike club. How
lar the conflict would have spread
cannot say, had not the officer fired
1T the man with his revolver. shooting
.Ii!n dead. That Russian before falling
had accounted for five German guards.
After TIN. incident the other prison
crs were lined up and. 'uno.r strong
guard. marcled away.
(NcXt week Mr.. Van der Linden Will
describe som, OF the terrible food riots
he witnessed at Esscn.)
February. 1917. VIII long be re-
membered in North Germany as a
time Of great privatlon and suffering.
The people were more than half
starved, and were thus robbed OF their
power of resisting the terribly cold
weather which prevailed during that
month.
Pneumonia. bronchitis and other
chest troubles were rampant. and then
came the most fearful scourge of ell,
hunger typhus. 1t was no uncommon
thing TO see people drop in the snow
covered streets and TO die before
medical aid could be obtained. But
no matter how skillful the physician,
OF what use was his skill when his
patients had constitutions that were
completely broken?
The hospitals ware full. and the
! death rate mounted up at = most
alarming rate. Women and prisoners
were constantly employed In digging
| graves and making collins for the
victims.
| During this fearful period there was
no respite at Krupp's works. where
even in the most bitter weather the
old routing" was rigidly adhered to.
Many were the pitiable and heart
rcnding sights which I witnessed. Long
before the dawn on these awful winter
mornings, when Essen was buried be-
| meath the SHOWS. the shrill hooters
would summon the weary laborers to
their work.
SLAVES BREAK DOWN
IN LARGE NUMBERS
After fortnight OF this continuous
bitter weather the workers began to
break down in large numbers. Even
the slavcdrivers began to realize that
! tho poor wretchcs in such n condition
could be driven no further. Still, III
as they were, little or no medical at
tention was given them by the authorI-
ties. No attempt was made OF first to
organize nursing system. Drugs and
medical supplies were scarce also for
! the military authorities had comman-
denred nearly all the available supplies.
Eventually the death rate mounted
( TO such height that the output of tho
| works became seriously affected, and
special reports were sent to Berlin
heard that the Kaiser and head
quarters STAFF became greatly con-
cerned. for they were depending upon
the great supplies from Essen to en-
able them to undertake an offensive In
the spring which was to COMPLETELY
smash the allies.
medical commission was sent to
Essen ct the order OF the Kaiser to
investigate the position of affairs and
to make recommendations for stopping
! at all costs the ravages of the typhus
plague.
Bertha Krupp von Bohicn had been
spending some weeks at Wicsbaden.
where the family have seat, and re-
ports OF the terrible typhus conditions
having reached her. she returned to
to Essen and took a leading part In
organizing remedial measures. am
convinced that the Lady OF Essen Is in
every way fond of tho people OF her
town, and she had great compa ssion
towards tho victims who had been
brought to work there against their
will.
AS result Of all these efforts,