The Birmingham age-herald., 1919-02-24
GERMANY IS NOT
 STARVING, STATES
 RETURNED MARINE
Private Maddox, Twice Wounded and Gassed, Warns Against Ger
 man Propaganda

'srhe German soldier Is brute by na- lure, inclination and desire, and combines the treachery of the snake with the suo- tie cunning of the fox, and stands alone among the men of civilized nations as man utterly devoid of honor or chivalry. I say this advisedly and having fought him and seen his diabolical work, l know whereof I speak, said Private Marvin E. Maddox of the Fifth regiment, marine corps, who was twice wounded and then gassed in the fighting at St Miheil, and who. on account of his wounds is spend- ing an extended furlough in the city
 T have read through the press num- Der of letters from men with the army Of occupation, in which they state how well the German people are treating the American soldiers, and even compari- sons made between them and the French people But stop to think moment. The French people have been systematically robbed by the German hordes Tor four wears, they have been bled white, their fields and factories have been laid waste they did not have much to give. but what they had they shared gladly.
 eOn the other hand, in the German trenches that we captured we found an abundance of food, and I do not hesi- tate to say, of better quality than the food we had. I take no stock in the talk of starving Germany, and the fact that they have plenty of food for the army of occupation as testified to by the boys now stationed on the Rhine, bears out my contention.
 The Germans were not whipped in my opinion, when the armistice was signed, and I do not believe they are whipped now. The catering to the Amerl- can soldier is part of their weli-planned propaganda, and it's significance should be fully weighed by those who would be inclined to believe that German mlil- tarism is now crushed. It will be inn possible to make Germany suffer as she has made France and Belgium suffer, but she should be made to pay to the last cent for her countless crimes. So much has been said of the German atrocities that I will refrain from reiterating them except to say that the stories are true l have seen evidences of German brutali- ties that are simply unprintable.'
 Private Maddox, exemplified the true spirit of the marine corps, in that ht was unwilling to talk of his individua part in the fighting but would talk free ly of his corps and the part ahey played in winning the war In the St. Mthei fight he was wounded in the arm with z fragment of shrapnel while making . charge on the German trenches. but thii did not stop him and he went over the top. 'InstorIning the trenches h' was shot in the side by German of 1icer. and it was only when gassed tha he quit fighting.
 He lay in the hospital when his com pany went in the fight at the Argonn' forest, when not only his company bu a greater part of his regiment wer' killed. Practically every one of my com 1ades were killed" he said with toucl of sadness ill his voice, but they sur gave a good account or themselves.'
 Private Maddox is from Sulligent. 2a years old, joined the marines in Feb ruary, 1918, and went overseas the fol lowing May. He holds the shorpshooter' badge and, while his left arm is in ba shape, the young soldier hopes that a the reconstruction hospital to which h has been assigned he will be put shape to again form fours' with hi comrades in the marine corps.