FLOGGED WITH HORSEWHIPS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 89, 16 April 1927, Page 25

FLOGGED WITH HORSEWHIPS.

GERMAN ARMY BRUTALITY. A hideous tale of military life in Germany was unfolded during the trial of Sergeant Friegnitz ar.d 11 other noncommissioned oflieers of the 14th Cavalry Regimenc at Ludwigslust, in Mecklenburg, for maltreating soldiers. The evidence showed that Priegnitz had impressed upon the corporals that the best way to train their men was to knock them about and flog them. It was proved that orders were given for men to be flogged with horsewhips and leather belts. Medical evidence showed that many soldiers were beaten with such brutality that they had to be sent to the regimental doctor. An attempt to seek redress by an appeal to a superior oflicer was stopped by Priegnitz, who either tore up the written complaint or by threats forced the men to withdraw it. "The evidence of 20 witnesses gives a terrible picture of the brutality in the Republican army, ? ' says the '"Berliner Tagcblatt." Sergeant Priegnitz was condemned to nine months' imprisonment- and ten of the other accused to shorter terms*