The Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 191?-19??, 1919-07-23

represented 10 US the dlVldlng III
between our army and the enemi'
country. We could not help bi
wonder what our reception would /
in the eneny's country-what pr
I cautions would be taken for our SAT-
ty. Our arms had been taken froi
US at Coblence, and even if we ha
arms, what chance would a detacl
Is ment of officers and twenty-four me
d have in Germany?
= We were practically helpless j
any hostile move were made agains
us. All of that night and the mex
: day we travelled. Late in the after
: noon the cars containing our detach
= ment were cut off from the mali
train. This happened at Leipsig. Foi
, about an hour, our cars lay in the
wonderful station at this city-this
station is the largest in Europe, il
not in the whole world It is a mag
nifcent structure, finished in the
spring of 1914, and one of the best
buildings of its kind / have ever seen.
After journey of several hours,
we arrived at Chemnitz, which was
to be our permanent station. A Ger
man lieutenant met us-and saw to
it that our cars were switched to a
suburb, Chemnitz- Hilbersdorf, where
the prison camp is located. Early the
next morning, there was crowd of
about hundred German people, men
women and children, around the cars.
looking at us, not with any hostility,
but with a simple curiosity, as we
were the first American soldiers they
had ever seen. Probably their great
est interest was in our carload of
supplies, for it was doubtless the
first white flour, meat, ETC., they had
seen for several years.
The commandant of the camp and
an interpreter soon came to us and
gave US directions in regard to NOV
ing our property to the camp. Here
again we were objects of much cur
iosity, especially to the Russians
And now as to our work. AS l
wrote you in my last letter, accord
ing to the terms of the armistice, TIE
Russian prisoners of war are to be
held by the Germans, until at such
time as the Entente sees fit to repat- :
rate them. During that time the
Inter-Allied Commission acting in
conjunction with the American and
British Red Cross are furnishing ex-
ira food, consisting of meat, fats, bis
cults, extra bread, sugar, tea and
cigarettes to the prisoners. 1t is our
duty to requisition this food, and see
that the Russians and not the Ger
mans get the food. We also look af-
ter the general conditions and well
fare of the Russians, and try with the {
help of German authorities to remedy
any Irregularities we find in the T.
camp. y a
So far we have found the German =
,ommandant and soldiers courteous
n complying with our requests and c
The Y. M. G. A. is fur I
lishing musical instruments and ath- /
etic goods for use of the prisoners.
Our enlisted men are trying to get
the Russians interested in games in ,
order that they may be better salts :
fled. This is hard thing to do, as
most Of the prisoners have been here
for 3 or 4 years and their only 4,
desire IS to get home. They have no !
work to do, little to occupy their
minds, and up to the present have !
had little food, and less clothing
They do not realize how serious are
in Russia, and in spite of !,
all precautions bolshevism has crept
in among them. We hope that the
chief result of our work will be de-
struction of this Bolshevik spirit, and :
when the prisoners are finally repa-
Jriated and get back to Russia that
hey will there take up the fight :
against Lenine and Trotsky and their :
,rowd. :
The American Red Cross is also
some articles of clothing
or the Russians-such articles as
lean blankets, undertaking, socks. r
hoes and shirts. Our greatest diff :
ulty lies in keeping the Russians 7
rom selling these different articles 7
iven them. Three hundred are Civ 9
n passes every day to visit the city
hey are allowed to be absent from l r
0 8 p. m. Each man is searched by T
ne German guard as he leaves. Ev-
n then some of them manage to slip .
ut with food or clothing, and take it n
ito the city, sell it, and buy spirits :,
18th the money. Al
AS a rule, the Russians are a lazy u