Middletown transcript., 1919-10-25
Thrilling Story Nov Made Public
| in Report Of Commissioner
49, Carl ?. bennett.
EFFECT ON GERM AN MORALE
Astounded When Prisoners Re.
/; ceiyed More and Better Food
Than Their Captors.

One Of the most surprising features
of the great war was the remarkably
fine physical condition of the Ameri-
can prisoners who were released,
some Of them after long periods OF
captivity in German prison camps
and sent into Switzerland after the
signing of the armistice.
That the American prisoners were
released. well fed and well clothed Is
due to the work Of the American Red
Cross. which provided tn lem with
food, clothing and many other physl-
cal necessities and comforts. Carl T.
bennett, Of Boston, in a report just
issued says:
Starvation Averted.
.The American prisoners would
have starved to death II it had not
been for the food parcels sent ito them
through our Cred Cross) organization
at Berne. The condition OF the 1tal-
ian, Russian and other prisoners who
did not receive food supplies from
their country of origin proves that
the prison ration was not sufficient to
sustain life for a prolonged period,
and it was of a character that our
men absolutely could not eat. Our re-
turning prisoners have testified unanl-
mously to the fact that they would
have starved had it not been for the
food we sent them. have the test1-
mony in one telegram Of 22OO Ameri-
can prisoners to that effect.
"The American expedltlonary
forces scrupulously respected the
treaty on the treatment Of prisoners,
and there is not a single record OF an
attempt by a German prisoner to es-
cape. .:
What the Red Cross Did.
I'm the early months after Ameri-
cas- entry into the war, American
prisoners were subjected to many Of
the indignities bestowed upon other
prisoners, but after the demands OF
the United States in September, 1913,
this sort of treatment ceased. There
was always that fear in the Teuton
mind that certain distinguished plain
clothes Junkers and intriguers held In
American internment camps might
have their wholesome meals and
healthful surroundings altered q bit"
The American government found
itself in the curious position OF having
to feed and clothe German prisoners
of war In its hands and also the
American prisoners of war in the
hands Of the Germans. To meet this
condition, the government made ar
rangements by which the American
Red Cross undertook to do the fol-
lowing:
1. Obtain the names of American
prisoners of war.
2. Obtain camp addresses Of the
prisoners.
3. Transmit this information to
general headquarters Of the American
forces; to the Red Cross at Wash
ington, which notified the family of
each prisoner; and to the American
Red Cross at Paris to clear its rec
ords in connection with the search
for missing men.
4. Ship necessary relief supplies to
American prisoners.
Effect on German Morale.
The American prisoners were thus
kept well clothed and well fed, and
finally were repatriated apparently
none the worse for their confinement
Mr.. bennett emphasizes the psyche
logical effect upon the German popu
lation:
1T is undoubtedly true that the
food and clothing parcels sent to the
American prisoners constituted the
best possible propaganda. The Ger
man population had been educated
to believe that an American army o1
any size could not possibly be sen
to France, and that it would be phy
sically impossible to transport tn,
pecessary food, clothing and supplies
/ And yet, here were prisoners, scatter
ed all over Germany, receiving from
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