The Dermott news. (Dermott, Ark.) 1910-1977, 1919-02-06


| came to.
fGunner Depew's interview with Mr.
Gerard took place ut the Dulmen prison
camp on or about February !. 1917. On
February 8. our state department demand
ed the release OF ssNty-two Americans
captured on British vessels and held as
prisoners In Germany. on the same day.
President Wilson severed diplomatic rela-
tions with Germany Ambassador Gerard
left Germany exactly one weel. later The
newspaper that Gunner hcpew saw must
have been Issued after February 10. 1t
was not until March 9 1911 however that
Gunner Dcpew was actually released from
Brandenburg.- Editors Motel
do not know what happened during
the next few days.
But week or so later the Spanish
ambassador and four German officers
and SwattS came to our barracks and
the ambassador told me | would be
released 1t was all | could do to
keep from fainting again. Then Swatts
asked me in English if had anything
to say about the treatment in the
camp. and l began to think maybe
ii was frame-up of some kind so nll
| said was. when will l get out of
here?" and he said, why, you will he
released tomorrow"
l did not walt to hear any more, but
rushed into the barracks again. singing
and whiStling and yelling as loud as |
could. The boys told me my face was
very red and | guess what little blood
| had in my body had rushed 10 my
head. because | could hardly walk for
few minutes.
Then the men began to think | was
crazy. and none Of them believed
would really be released. hat tina. |
WAS going to be sent 10 the mines, as
SO many were. But | believed il. and
| just sat there ON my bunk and be-
gan to dream of the food | would get
and what | would eat first, and So on
did not sleep that night-juSt
walked from barracks 10 barracks un-
till they chased me away, and then
walked up and down in my own bar
racks the re OF the night. When |
got to the Russian barracks and told
the two doctors my news. they would
not believe Inc At all, although they
knew there had been some important
visitor at the camp.
But when | walked out of their door
| said "Duhra Vctshav." which means
Good night" Then they must have
believed me. for they called me back.
and all the men gave me addresses Of
people to write to in case l should get
away.
They were all talking ut once. and
one of the doctors got very excited and
got down on his knees with his hands
in the air. "Albert,f he said. IF YOU
have the God-giVen luck to get out of
Germuny-not for my sake. but for
, the sake OF us who are here in this
hell-hole, promise me you will tell all
the people wherever you go what they
are doing to us here. Tell them not to
send money. for we can't eat money.
! and not meat-just bread. bread.
bread"
And when l looked around all the
men were sitting on their beds crying
and tearing their hair and saying,
bread. bread. bread" over and over
again. Then each tried TO give me
something. as IL to say that even II
they did not get out. perhaps their but
ton or belt or skull cap would get back
TO civilization.
When left their barracks | began
70 cry. because ii did not seem pos
sibe that l was going away. aud al
ready | could see them starving slow
~ just as | had been starving.
The next morning sentry came To
my barracks. called out my name and
took me To the commander of the
camp. They searched me. and then
drilled me back 10 barracks again.
Then the men all thought they We're
lust playing a joke on me, and they
said So
The same thing happened the next
day, and when one Of the men said
that probably | would be slammed up
against wall and shot. l began TO feel
shaky. l can tell you.
But the third morning after they
had searched me. the commander said.
We'll, you'll have TO have a bath be-
fore you leave the country" and
was so glad that did not mind about
the bath, although remembered the
last one l had. and 1t did not agree
very well with me. After the bath.
they drilled me out into the road.
There were four sentries with me,
but not Swatts. nor did I see him
anywhere around, for which was sor-
~. But all the boys came down to
the barbed wire, or to the gate, and
some were crying. and others We're
cheering, and all OF them were very
much excited. But after minute or
two they got together again and the
last thing | heard was the song about
packing up your old kit bag, and then.
Are we downhearted Nor They
We're certainly game lads.
They did not take me straight to
the station, but took me through ali
the streets they could find. and as us
ual. the women were there with the
bricks and spit. But did not mind;
l rua tteaa ~ hae9los ~ x,.ag