The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1921-11-27
AMERICANS SUFFER
IN SPANISH CAMPS
COMRADES DECLARE
Filthy Conditions Are Preva-
lent-Men Are Sick in
Moroccan SWampS-
Officers Are Cruel

London, November 26.-Twenty
Americans who joined in the Spanish
forces last summer still remain in a
Spanish camp near Ceuta, Morocco,
suffering from dysentery, sceptic
sores and vermin, according to sto-
ries told today by two of their est
while comrades, members from the
! contingent of Is Americans and 43
Britishers, who reached London yes
terday after seven weeks of cam
paigning against the Moors on the
Melilla front.
These stories of their stranded
"buddies" were told by Charles W.
Brown, of 1872 st. Ann Avenue, New
York city, and Charles Stephenson, a
native of New York, whose home now
is in Toronto.
Among those left behind In the
Spanish camp, they said, are o. B.
Lloyd of so7 West Washington street,
Petersburg, Va, youngster under
II years of age; Benjamin Margolis
of Boston, Mass. who was wounded
while on the Tettan front. and George
Corbett of Brooklyn, N. Y, who paid
his own fare from America when he
Joined the Spanish troops. They now
are all destitute. according to Brown
and Stephenson. and their sufferings
are bound to become worse with the
rainy season in Morocco just begin
ming.
Officers Cruel.
Brown and Stephenson confirmed
earlier stories of hardships and cruel
treatment at the hands of Spanish
officers. They said they participated
in IL battles between September IT
and November 4, including those of
Mount Gourogou, Nador, zeluan and
Mount Arruit Both, having fought
with the Canadian army during the
World war. enlisted as British sub
tects with As others, and sailed from
Southampton September l on the
steamship Almirante Lobo to Ceuta,
whence they were sent to Melilla by
way of Magua. Then, after three
days, during which time they caught
snatches of sleep along the roadside :,
they said they were sent to the
front, having been given a loaf of
bread and a tin of sardines. Their
personal property had been stolen.
Four Killed.
OF their group, they said four had
been killed and 20 wounded Being
unable to understand the Spanish
commands led them to much i'll treat
ment. they said. On one occasion
they said they were beaten and SEN
fenced to the hard labor squad At
another time they were sent to the
front with their arms tied behind
their backs as punishment for try
ing to obtain medicine at Melilla.
They told the story of a Greek
soldier in the legion who was sem
fenced to be executed, but they said
| the Americans In the firing squad
| purposely damned their rifles.
Eventually the Americans were re-
| leased. and they left the front No
vember 4, arriving back at Ceuta
four days later, where they said thoy
We're well treated for the first time,
Dramatic Scene.
| They described a dramatic scene
at Ceuta, where Col MILAN Astray
Britishers and Americans, accusing
them of cowardice, and appealed to
| them to stand by their chief.
will you fight one more battle
and prove your pluck?'' they quoted
the colonel as asking. They consented
| to this request, they said, but were
asked to sign document which
would have meant virtual re-enlist-
ment: and consequently they refused
| further service.
Brown and Stephenson declared
there still was much bad feeling
against America among the Span
iards, who were unable to forget the
| Spanish- American war.