Williston graphic., 1919-02-13


be could hnd.
When my three weeks were up and
I had not heard from Mr.. Gerard was
just about ready to 90 down to the,
lake and pick out . vacant spot and
lay down in II. really do not think
I could have lasted two weeks longer.
And just about that time, % was
walking back to barracks one day, Q
Frenchman showed me German
newspaper. and there In large type on
the top Of the hrst page It said that
Mr.. Gerard had left the country, or
was getting ready to leave. They had
to drag me the rest Of the way to the
barracks and throw snow on me before
I came to.
Counnsr Dspew's intsrview with Mr..
camp on or about February I. 1917. On
February !, our state department demand
"a the release OF sixty-two Americana
captured on British vessels and held -
prisoners IN Germany. On the same day.
President Wilson severed diplomatic rela-
tions with Germany. Ambassador Gerard
left Germany exactly one week later. Tho
newspaper that Gunner Depew saw must
have been issued after February TO- II
was not until March :. 1917, however. that
Gunner Depew was actually released from
Brandenburg.-Editor's Motel
do not know what happened during
the next few days.
But q week or 30 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 l could do to
keep from fainting again. Then Swatts
asked me In English II l had anything
to say about the treatment In the
camp. and l began to think maybe
It was a frame-up of some kind. so all
I said was. "When will I get out Of
here!" and he said, "Why, you will be
released tomorrow"
did not wait to hear any more, but
rushed into the barracks again. singing
and whistling and yelling as loud as I
could. The boys told me my face was
very red and guess what little blood
I had In my body had rushed to my
head, because could hardly walk for
q few minutes.
Then the men began to think I was
crazy. and none Of them believed I
would really be released, but that I
was going to be sent to the mines, as
20 many were. But believed 1t, and
1 just sat there on my bunk and be-
gan to dream of the food / would get
and what would eat first, and SO on.
1 did not sleep that night-just
walked from barracks to barracks un-
till they chased me away, and then
walked up and down in my own bar
racks the rest of the night. When I
got to the Russian barracks and told
the two doctors my news. they would
not believe me at all, although they
knew there had been some important
visitor ut the camp.
hut when walked out Of their door
l said. "Dobra vetshav." 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 I should get
away.
They were all talking at once, and
one Of the doctors got very excited and
got down on his knees with his hands
In the air. "Albert," he said, III you
have the God.gtven luck to get out Of
0ermany-n0t for my sake. but for
the sake Of us who are here in this
hell-hole, promise me you viii tell all
the people wherever you 30 what they
are doing to us here. Tell them not to
send money, for We can't eat money,
and not meat-1ust bread. bread.
hread-"
Aud when / 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 II 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 I left their barracks began
to cry, because 1t did not seem pos
sible that was going away, and al
ready could see them starving slow.
~, just as I had been starving.
The next morning q 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 to barracks again.
Then the men all thought they were
just playing Joke on me. and they
said 80.
The same thing happened the next
day, and when one Of the men said
that probably I would be slammed up
against wall and shot, began to feel
shaky, can tell you. ...t.
But the third morning, after they
had searched me, the commander said.
''Well, you'll have to have bath be-
fore you leave the country" and /
was 30 glad that I did not mind about
the bath, although remembered the
last one I had, and It did not agree
very we'll with me. After the bath.
they drilled me out into the road.
There were four sentrbes with me,
but not Swatts. nor did I see him
anywhere around. for which I was sOr.