Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1919-01-07
AMERICAN PRISONERS
FkMISHED FOR WATER
Diving Soldier Told by Hun TO
Go to u. S. for
Drink.

Scranton. Pa, Jan. 6.--Stories d how
Herman soldiers told an American ofhccr
begging for drink for "A Yankee prisoner
who was diving OF thirst to 40 back 10
America for water; OF how the American
prisoners were compelled TO eat soup out OF
old tin cans and wash has ms, and OF how
the rrrssians forced them TO march Tor
miles in dashing rainstorm, are told IN a
letter Just received from Lieutenant Will
li.m r. Brown, of Company NJ, lo9th
United States Infantry, this city.
Lieutenant Brown was captured by the
Germans on July l5, during the second
battle of the Marnc. His letter was writ
ten shortly after he had returned 10 France
following his release from German prison
camp.
Lieutenant Brown also describes the
accuracy of American gunners, evidence
az which he saw while being marched
back of the German lines.
The four-and-one- half months ] wM
in Germany seemed like 50 many years,
SAWS Lieutenant Brown. ''N hle there, /
could not tell YOU of our treatment II we
did not nut the best side out our mail was
not sent. and do not know whether you
received all the mail | sent you
STORY or CAPTURE.
Thank God and the Red Cross We are
here. don't believe some OF us would
have survived the ordeal but for them.
| will give YOU an idea Of some of the
things experienced ON our trip through
Germany | was captured on July Is,
being the only officer among party OF l3
privatcS and one sergeant. six OF these
men were wounded and the German first
aid did what they could for them. We
stoned three times TO have their wounds
dressed under shell fire OF our own guns.
However. we got back without getting
shot I'D. though we had some very narrow
escapcs. Dead BoChes laid all along our
way for about FIVE miles back of the lines.
| saw one direct hit on 4 German battery.
| did not stop TO sec how many Il killed, rs
the shell went about ten feet IN front OF
me and hit about 80 yards to my left. The
excitement was great. The Germans were
running IN all directions, and we thought
it best 10 keep moving. After gong about
600 wards we came TO where another
shell had hit. There were bodies of six
men living in the road \ little further on
we came TO a place where about 50 horses
had been killed That WAS the worst
sight oi the klnd had seen.
RrYrsfD DRINK or WATER.
81 had one man just about dead for
water | asked q BoGhc ~ nc would get
him \ drink. and he told me to & back
10 America and ct water He didn't get
/, drink until about ) o'clock thai night
Then we got in with bunch Of French
prisoners.
The next morning there was coffee
served to the French, but the Americans
did not get any thinglntil about o clock,
when We were gwen something the Ger
mans called soup. We had 10 get some
thing 70 eat i out Of, too. found an old
wash basin which was good, snd II was
out Of that partook Of my coup for the
next Is DAYS.
The third dsy We were marched until
about IL O'Clock 81 night in dashing
ram. Then we were turned INTO field, Or
pen, where we put up for the night. 1t
rained all night. One captain was all IN
and had 10 lie down in the water. We
took turns lying down, one on each side OF
him to keep him warm. ] asked the guard
10 permit hlm TO enter the barn, but he
refused | asked him Il he wanted HIM to
lie there snd die and he replied by saying
he might aS we'll die there a. any place.
Thank God however, the officer dldn die
and i now back with ms.
The treatment we received WAS bad
for about three months, then an improve
mont was noticeable The harder the
American troops hammered the Germans
the better ue seemed to be treated