Iron County register., 1919-01-02

thing about the cars was dirty.
Finally the train stopped at a town
named Alt-Damm, and there was
mob of women and children around,
as usual, ready for US with bricks and
spit. They stoned us through the car
windows, and laughed and jeered at |
us, but by this time we were so used |
| to it that we did not mind much. Only, |
| every now and then some fellow |
would get all he could stand, and |
either talk back or make a pass at |
somebody. Then he would get his
either a bayonet through the arm or |
leg, or crash on the head with gun |
butt.
After an eighteen hour ride, with
out food or drink. we arrived at Neu-
streltz. 1t was raining as we pulled
in. As we went up the grade to the
town we could see lights about mile
away, and we figured that that was
the camp. The rain stopped and we
remained in the cars for some time.
Then, after while, we knew our new
4 guards were coming; long before we
could see them, we could hear the
racket they made. Somehow Ger
man cannot do anything shipshape
and neatly, but always has to have
lot of noise, and running around, and
general confusion. Fourfooted swine
are more orderly in their habits than
the Huns.
When they came up, we were roust-
ed from the cars and drilled up the
road to the camp. When we got near
the German barracks we were halted
and counted again, and made to stand
there for at least an hour after they
, had finished counting us, shivering
like leaves. At last they placed us in
barracks, and those who could went
to sleep.
There were about forty barracks in
the Limey group at Neustrelitz and
two large Zeppelin sheds. The bar
: : racks were just about like those at
l Swinemunde-at least, they were no
, better. Along the sides Of the rooms
, !, were long shelves or benches, and
= every three feet were boards set in
grooves. The shelves were what we
had to sleep on, and the boards in the
grooves divided them up so that only
certain number of men could use
!. each bench.
The following morning we nearly
: dropped dead when the Huns pulled
!, in large wagon full of clothing. We
= thought we never would have any
thing to wear but our underclothes.
= = They issued to each man pair OF
= trousers, thin model thin coat
about like the seersucker coats some
= people wear in the summer, an over
= coat about as warm as If it had been
made Of cigarette papers, skull car
= and a pair Of shoes. which were q
days labor to carry around. Not one
= of us received socks, shirts or under
I, wear.
: The toe was cut from the right shoe
~ of the pair received, and as my
wounds were in the right thigh ant
n my leg had stiffened up considerably
= and got very sore, I got pretty anx
: ious, because there was nothing bu
slush underfoot, and I was afraid
might lose my leg. So thought thai
If went to the commander and mad'
kick I might get good shoe. I hest
tated about it at first, but finally mad
~ up my mind and went to see him.
ha I told him that 1t was slushy outside
20 and that the water ran through tn
od hole In my shoe and made 1t bad 70
bo my whole leg, which was wounded
! He examined the shoe. and looked a
the open toe for some time, and
:, thought he was going to put up a
- argument. but would give In finally.
~ Then he asked me what wanted.
'of M thought that was plain enough to SCI
NJ. but I said just as easily as coul
os that I wanted shoe without hol
ed in the toe.
to $50 the water runs into 1t, does iti
a he said. "Well, my advice to you Is
yet get knife, cut hole in the heel an
he let the water out" All the othe
he swine in the room laughed very lou
at this, and guess this Fritz though
a. he was a great comedian. But SOM
,ta how or other, 1t did not strike me s
nd funny that just had to laugh, and
ar- was able, after quite struggle,
keep from even snickering. 1t was
%, harder struggle than that to kee
a., from doing something else, though
~, Our meals were just about the san
II as at Swinemunde-the bread WI
Nv just as muddy, the barley coffee ju
ia as rank, and the soup just as ca
81 bageless. The second morning aft
a. we had had our barley coffee, one
the sentries came to our barrack
which was number 7-B, and gave eat
"a -. Of us an envelope and sheet Of wr
n, ing paper. Then he told us to wri
~ ~ to anybody we wanted to, after whi'
a - he chalked on the door in big letter
osa MISREPRESENTATION
the and told us 1t was the return addrei
We were all surprised, and asked ea'
all otler where we were, because we HI
the thought we were In Neustrelitz. Aft
en- while, we ,aosned that 1t mea
ok ''Prisoner-of.w of.war-Camp." At fir
in though, many Of us thought it W
'uld the name Of the town, and we got