Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-03-01
w. P. STARKEY TELLS OF HIS
VISIT TO BATTLEFIELDS AND
TO BIG INDUSTRIAL. CENTERS
Destruction of French Lands Not Exaggerated in Press Dis
patches, Says Manufacturer Toured Spots Made For
ever Famous by Tremendous American Victories

Magazine and newspaper descrip
tons OF the war-torn fields of Europ,
have been quite accurate and die
not nearly portray the dreadfulnes!
OF the devastation, William p. Star
j Key, general superintendent of tn,
Harrisburg Pipe and Pipe Bending
company, recently returned from (
European trip, told last evening a
/ a meeting in the Grace Methods
| Episcopal church, under the aus
plces of the Social Union of tha
| church.
Prisoners relate with exceeding
| Vividness the wanton cruelties they
were forced to endure at the hand;
of the Huns, Mr.. Starkey told. The
fearfulness of the whole thing has
not been exaggerated, the released
prisoners tell.
Often they were strung up" by
the thumbs, the prisoners told MIR
Starkey; were bayoneted, were given
little if any food for days and re-
ceived practically no attention for
wounds or sickness. While such treat
ment was not always the case, it was
the general rule for the men to be
treated so, and the prisoners are all
rather unforgiving.
Tells of Battlcfelds
Mr.. Starkey told OF his tour of the
various battlefields with guides fur
nished by the French. Among the
more important fields visited were
those of Chateau Thierry. the Ar
gonne Forest. Verdun, st. Mihiel and
others where some of the heaviest
conflicts of the war took place.
AT one time he visited n chateau
which was occupied by the German
staff for three years, Mr.. Starkey
told. More than once the Crown
Prince and Kaiser William visited
this place and held councils of war
with German army officials. the Wis
itors to the chateau were told. Mr..
Starkey related. The chateau has
now been fitted up as rest station
for visitors.
The enormous American quarter
master depot, really an American
salvage plant at Tours, is typical
American industry, Mr.. Starkey re-
lated, being conducted with all the
dash and vim connected with any
large industrial concern in this coun-
try. he believes. More than 1000
persons are employed at this enor-
nous depot, he said.
Many Refugees
MOSt Oh tne persons SO eIllplOySu,
he declared, are Belgian and French
refugees. To this depot material OF
all kinds were shipped from the bat
tie front. Clothes were thoroughly
washed, steriliZed and repaired Shoes,
together with harnesses and other
materials were and still are being
thoroughly camouflaged the first trip
condition at this depot, Mr.. Starkey
told. After they had again been
placed in condition for further use,
the material was shipped in carload
lots back to the men.
Mr.. Starkey sailed for European
soil on the Adriatic. the first trip on
which thetraft set sail without being
thoroughly caroufiaged, the first trip
on which it was not conveyed and
the first trip on which it did not
pursue a zig-zag course.
The ship, he said. was not very
well filled for the government was
exceedingly chary in the issuance OF
passports. Most of the persons or
board were sailing on business, al
of which had the government en-.
dorsement.