New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1919-01-29
STEWART TELLS
HE WAS CAPTUR||||
Black Bread and Soup Was Mend
in Prison Camp
SEES GERMAN BRUTALITY


Items
Mr. and Mrs. A. ". Stewart have
received a letter from their son, RAN
dolph, who was recently released from
a German prison camp. The letter
was written Oh Christmas day, and
describes his capture by the Ger
mans. The letter follows:
Received your welcome letter and
was glad to hear from You. | am
very we'll considering conditions here.
Ii is about the same as last Christmas,
that is, the country is no good. IL
general. conditions are 100 per cent.
worse. The A f. T has a great din
neT today, that is if near Paris, but
We are so far out in the woods that
1t is hard to realize that peace IS
here. We received chocolates, tobac-
co and cigarettes from the Y. NJ. G. A
today through the folks al nome. That
reminded us that it was Christmas
day in Gods country. We have been
cleaning the streets and 1 guess the
people don't like us to do it as they
are SO used to having them dirty.
We have had no snow vet, but
have had the pleasure of being Que in
the mud and rain. We hear lot
about leaving for the states, just hear
it, that's all. But having done our
bit, and the war being over we do
hope to be home by the Fourth of
July.
I will tell YOU what has happened
in the last few months l was cap
tured OH April 20. There we're about
so Of us in the front line trench,
fighting for two hours. Our anlmu-
'1tlon gave out and the Germans came
up behind us with our bread and meat
as they had already cleaned up our
Kitchen We could not fight them
with snowballs, there being no snow.
Then we were taken to Germany and
had to exist on black bread and SOUP
twice a day. The soup was mostly
water, although we did find piece
Of potato or carrot in it once in a
great while. Although they knew we
were starving on the pig feed, they
Insisted that we work I, among
DINERS, was sent to work on an amnu-
milton dump. Easy work. CARRYING =
pick and shovel and railroad rails.
Some Of the boys refused TO
work and the Huns smashed their
hands under the cars, or scaIded
them and then put mustard plasters
on. [ was in a hospital for a month
with sores on my legs q nd saw quite
a few friends carried out l finally
received box from the Red Cross.
L had written to them but DIDN'T sup
pose the Germans let the letters get
through.
u was sure glad to hear that DOUG
las Hopkins was alive [ asked the
boys where he was as soon as I got
back and all they could tell me was
that he disappeared, 1t was news to
me l sure have had hard time in
the war but expect it will end some
DAY len thousand soldiers have mar
RED French girls, but of course the
war does affect some peoples minds.
II they will stay over here there will
be no need of building ANY more in
sane asylums in the L. S. A.
zone Of our brave heroes stuck his
mead out out from his blankets this
morning AID said. Merry Christmas'
he was answered by a barrage Of hob
nailed shoes and at that we let him
off easy. Well, l will have to close
my letter. Hoping to leave this
swamp very soon, take chance an
the water and land once more on the
solid ground of the L. s. A., I am
Your loving son,
RANDOLPH"
Local Factory Closed.
City Brass company was held recently
and the following officers were elected
for the coming year: President, A
II. Condell; vice president A. G,
Stowe; secretary, John B. Minor:
treasurer, A. II. Condell. The com
pany decided some time ago to close
up the factory which is located on
Whiting street near the railroad
tracks. 1t was pra cticallv inpossib1e
to get material and help and for those
reasons production was impossible.
It is intended, just as soon AS
conditions become normal to resume
operations at the factory The Elm
City Brass com pany has been engaged
for years in the manufa cture of brass
articles, principally brass rivets.
Gets Letter From AmhuIanCier
Harry Fisher has written a letter to
his mother describing the rnoverne
Of the army toward Germany. He is
in the ambulance service, having en-
listed at the beginning OF the war
with the Harvard University unit. He
says thai the work is very tedious
since the wal ended, the transp0rta
ton facilities being very poor. and if
ia kes about three days to go as far
as they should he able to 20 in ono
day. He did not say anything about
coming home
Card Games Continue.
The second sitting in the fremen's
card tournament was held last night
in the firemen's rooms in the town
hall. The firemen won 10 games. the
ForeSters Of America won eight and
the Independents Won nine. The
score now stands, Firemen. %: For
r. r n.I~a., IL