GERMAN BARBARITY.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 15918, 4 June 1917, Page 7

GERMAN BARBARITY.

BRUTAL TREATMENT OF AUSTRALIANS.

Mr O. E. W. Bean, official Commonwealth correspondent with the A.1.F., cabling to tlx; Australian newspapers from .British headquarters in Trance, on May 22nd, baid : — There rcached the Australian lines to-day two "Western Australians who were made prisoners by the Germans when the llindenburg line was liist broken by the Australian troops on April 11 tn. They were cut eft with 760 others from ail parts of Australia, aiurr taat maguilut.-Jic attempt to seize and hold the Mindinburg lino without tiie help ot artilit ry-. r iom the firstthe Germans starved these men, while working tnem mercilessly, and many of them are now falling so ill that even the Germans see that some can work no longer. From the day they wero capturcd they havo never had one blankot. They lay on straw tlirough tho coldest nights. Thoir ration consisted of one loaf of bread between seven men, with stewed turnips and two cups of coffee daily. The French civilians and priests were constantly trying to help them with little gifts of food, but this was done at great risk. Ono woman caught giving them food was knocked over tho head by a German, and taken away. Tlicv say that the Germans are deliberately trying to cause dissension between tho Australians and the British. They wero told by tho Germans that they could write anything they pleased about tho hard treatment and short rations, provided they said in their lettc-rs that it was as punishment for the English employing German prisoners under shell-tire. Needless to say this accusation is utterly untrue, and is only made in order to give tho Germans an excuse for usin c all posj sible labour behind tho front. These Australians said that French prisoners told them that they had been made to carry rations to the front lino —a flagrant breach of all international law. Tho Australians themselves were sent within shell range on working gangs. They became thin and haggard from want of food. Finally two days ago they decided: "Wo will have either bacon or death for breakfast." They escaped, and made their way across tho lino of trenches, and finally reached the Australian lines. They state that the Germans invariably asked them how England was standing the submarine campaign.