Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1919-01-16

days. They thought nothing of pick
ing a fight with a sentry and giving
him a good battle, v e though he was
armed with rifle and bayonet. We
soon learned that unless his pals are
around a German will not stand by his
arguments with his fists. In other
words, if he can outtalk you, he will
beat you up, but If he cannot, 1t is a
case Of "Here comes Heinie going
back"
The Russian prisoners at Dulmen
were certainly a miserable looking
bunch. They spent most of their time
wandering around the Russian bar
racks, hunting for rotten potato peel
ings and other garbage, which they
would eat. When they saw Fritz
throw out his swill, they would dive
right through the barbed wire one
after another, and their hands and
face and clothes were always torn
from it. It was unhealthy to stand
between the Russians and their garb-
age prey-they were so speedy that
nothing stopped them.
One morning, just after b~arley-cof-
fee time, I came out of the barracks
and saw an Australian arguing with
the sentry. I was not only curious,
but anxious to be a good citizen, as
they say, SO I went up and slung an
ear at them. The Australian had asked
Fritz what had been done with the
flag that the Huns were going to fly
from the Eiffel tower in Paris.
That was too deep for Fritz, so the
Australian answered it himself. GDon't
you know, Fritz? Well, we have nc
blankets, you know"
Still the sentry did not get 1t. Sc
the Australian carefully explained to
me-so that Fritz could hear-that the
Germans had no blankets and were
using the flag to wrap their cold feet
in.
This started q fight, of course-tn5
German idea of a fight, that is. The
sentry, being a very brave man for 6
German, blew his whistle very loudly
and sentries came from all directions
So we beat it to the Australians bar
racks, and there I found the SECOND
American in the camp. He was q bar
Der named Stimson, from one of the
Western states. He had heard / wa
there as well as the Boston man in thu
Canadian service, but he had beer
too sick to look us up, and in fact die
not care what happened, he was 81
miserable. He had been wounded sew
eral times, and died In a day or two
I never knew how he came to be ii
the Australian service.
Those two and myself were the onl.
Americans I knew of in this prison
camp-whether in Canadian, Austria
Ian or French service. The othe
two had been captured in uniform, S,
there was no chance of their beini
released.
Dulmen was very neal the Dutcl
border and as it was quite easy to ge
out of the camp attempts at escap
were frequent. Most of those who raj
away were brought back, though. TIL
Germans were so easy on those VIII
tried to run away that I almost though
they were encouraging them. On
chap was doing his ten days in tn
guardhouse for the sixth time Will
Twas there-that is. he had just abou
completed his period of detention. FL
claimed that the sixth time he ha
really got across the border and wa
arrested in a little town by the Dutc
authorities and turned over to the Gel
mans. That ia against the law
most countries, but he swore it was tn
truth. / am not so sure, myself. FL
got away for the seventh time Will
l was at Dulmen and was not returned
Ten days In the guardhouse is nc
such a light punishment after all. b.
cause water three times a day is a
the prisoner received during that tim
but 1t is pretty mild compared to som
Of the things the Huns do.
One morning I thought for sure
was going cafard. I was just fed U
! on the whole business and sick of d,
ing nothing but suffer. So 1 strolle
, along, sticking my head into barracb
doors, sometimes trying to have a tall