Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-03-04
GERMANS ABUSED
STATE SOLDIERS
City Hero, Home, Tells of
Revolt in Boche Prison
Camp
CRUEL AFTER ARMISTICE
Many Yanks From Here Re-
turn With Tales of Amer
lean Valor

How men of Pennsylvana's famous
Iron Division engineered a revolt against
the German guards at prison camp, |
who continued their brutality toward
Allied prisoners even after the signing
Of the armistice, was told today by Will
fred Melia. '3633 North Marvine street
Melia. a former Philadelphia news
paperman, was a member of Company
c, of the 10th Infantry, and saw serv-
ice with the Twenty-eighth DIVISION III
the big battles which enabled that Or
ganization to gain fame as a fighting
unit.
Melia landed in New York yesterday
on the transport Lorraine. Many others
from this city were aboard the Lor-
raine or one Of the other four trans
ports which also reached that port.
Mela and many others of the 11oth
Regiment were captured last July at
the second battle at the Marne. Hlll
No. 206, the objective, was taken In
great style, he says, but when the
Americans reached the summit the Ger
mans surrounded the hill with dense
barrage and later launched a terriic
counter-attack that resulted in the cap
ture of many prisoners.
''Many Philadephians went west IN
their efforts to penetrate that barrage or
resist the Germans Melia said. But
the Germans certainly paid heavily for
the damage they did to us.
Made to Work for Germans
For three days we were kept just
behind the lines and made to perform
Jobs around the battlefield We carried
in the wounded, rushed ammunition ana
did everything they wanted us TO do eN-
cept 1ivulge information OF military
value The men proved so stubborn IN
this respect that we were given no 1000
during those three days.
1--WE were first sent to the camp at
Laon, then shifted from place to place
until we finally arrived at the prison
camp at Mannheim, Every one OF tne
Allied nations was represented i'll the
population of the camp, and all were
treated with equal brutality
= After November II. Melia asserted,
the German guards at the prison camp
were lust as arrogant as ever, and on
the afternoon of November 16 they Will
fully fired upon two peaceful Frenchmen'
who had been interned for many months,
and who had in no way violated any OF
the regulations. Inasmuch as the war
had virtually ended, and there was
absolutely no way for the men to obtain
any protection against suc1 outrages-
there was really no one who mad any
authority-the prisoners decided to take
the matter in their own hands AS
result there was a general cleanup the
following morning, and the Hun guards
were routed.
The Germans immedis tely mounted ma
chine guns on buildings overlooking the
camp and for a time II appeared as
though the prisoners, numbering more
than 1000 and including Americans
british, French, Belgians, Italians and
Russians would pay a heavy price for
their efforts to avenge the deaths OF
the Frenchmen. But meanwhile worc
~ the contemplated outrage reached the
snanish consul in Mannheim. who
quickly warned the Huns that such
conduct would not be countenanced. They
needed this advice, strange to say. ant
did not modest the men further All o.
the incarcerated soldiers were released
not long afterward.
Also Endured Hardships
There was another Philadelphia
among the members of casual com
many on the Lorsaine who also endure,
the hardships imposed upon the Allied
prisoners in Germany. He was Privat,
Frederick c. Millman, of 164 Norti
Third street, formerly of the same com
pany and regiment as Mela. He wa
captured at the same time and undo
similar circumstances, but was sent L
a different camp.
Howard Nelson, of 2047 Mifflin street
who was wounded with shrapnel in tn
right hand and gassed at the same tim
on August in the fighting at the Ourco
also was a passenger on the Lorra inc
He said his unit Company NJ, of tn
Il 10th, in that drive had for it's objectiv
a patch OF woods filled with machine
gun nests In less than an hour afte
they instituted the offensive the plac
had been cleared Of the enemy.
While lying in reserve near Verdun o
Sentember 23 William Lottes, 34Of Mort
water street. of the Fourth Machine-gu
Corps, was gassed when a shell burs
near by.
benjamin Lanx. 27S3 Tilton avenu,
who was with the Fourth Ammunitio
Train. was wounded when shell burs
near him on the Verdun front October