The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1919-02-04
YANK SOLDIERS
ROBBED BY FOE
Wen Captured at Seicheprey Tell
OF Harsh Treatment by
the Huns.
REFUSED TO Be BROTHERS
Attempt Later Made to Effect Recon-
ciIiation Spurned by Americans
Corporal Who Refused to w srk
Hurled Down Mine Shaft.

CIIAtlou SPuTneo by americana
Corporal Who Refused to W srk
i Hurled Down Mine Shaft.
| London.-"When they took us pris
oners they held revolvers to our heads
and made US give them our shoes, but
when the armistice came and we were
set free socialist leader made q
speech to us, saying: We are now
brothers,"
| This was what American soldiers
who returned to London from Ger
many-the first to reach here after the
signing of the armistice-had to say
about the change in the attitude Of
their capt0rs from the time they had
fallen into German hands in April un-
til they were released on Novem-
Der IL.
"When we were captured at Seiche-
prey" said Private James e. Pito-
chelli of Providence, "the German SOL
diers held pistols to the heads Of some
Of us and demanded our shoes.
managed to hang on to mine, but 9TH
ers weren't SO lucky. They had to
walk barefooted through No Mans
Land, cutting their feet badly on
barbed wire or pieces Of shell. All of
us had to walk 80 miles to the rear,
where wooden shoes were given us,
and no one was permitted to keep his
boots. They told us-one general did
that they had attacked to get prison.
ers, but the next time they attacked
the One Hundred and Second they
would take no prisoners, because they
haC fought too fiercely."
This was corroborated by Private
Frank Butler Of New Haven.
Prisoners Exhibited.
The Americans were eventually
taken to Friedrichsfeldt and no OPP
portunity was missed to show the
American prisoners to the populace,
for they were among the earliest to
be taken.
These Americans were taken to q
camp where there were prisoners
from all the other allied countries, and
though there afterward seemed to
be an attempt to single out Ameri-
cans for better treatment, according
to the returned men now here, they
Jared much the same as the others
during the earlier part of their i'm
prisonment. Until their own food
parcels began to arrive they got con-
siderable food from the generous Brit |
ish and other allied compatriots.
More than 30 were detailed to work
in coal and salt mines, and one man,
Corporal Lucien, who, 1t was said, re-
fused to work in a mine when ordered
to do so, was marched off to the pit |
head and given another chance to de- |
eide what he would do by the two
Prussian guards who had him in |
charge. When he again stoutly re-
fused, saying he was not required, as
an under officer, to do so. he was
thrown down the shaft and killed.
The burial was witnessed, his COM
rades said, by a British sailor, who
told about it on the following day.
Eventually the Americans were
taken to the prison camp at Opladen.
For their work they got six cents a
day. .a...
Armistice Starts Riot.
On November 8 they learned Of the
Brmistice. On that day riots were pre-
cipitated In the town in which the
Anne orleans were stationed, and ma
rines had been hurried up to quell the
disorders. On November IL word
.ame that the armistice had been
signed and that all the prisoners
we're now free.
1t was arranged shortly afterward
hat they were to be sent to Holland
or transportation to England with
English prisoners. The men were per-
aitted to 60 through the town at will,
md the people, as we'll as their for.
aer guards, were anxious to frater-
lie, but got short shrift from the re-
eased men.
A German who styled himself as an
International Socialist, went to the
amp to tell the prisoners how glad
e was that the war was over. 1--WE .
re all brothers now," he said with
luch gusto, but this was too much
swallow after months of hard work,
DOR food and Overbearing treatment, :
nd one of the prisoners greeted this =
reclamation with boos and groans. :
he Socialist departed as disconso- =
tie as did Sir Roger Easement when !" /"
3 Intellectually tried to curry the :.
lvor of Irish prisoners in other ;,
lmps. u
An uneventful trip to Holland en- .
led, and then the men were taken in :.
large by the British Red Cross and u
emit to Hull along with British Tom . :,
les who had been in the camp with ~
EN-. u