THE TREATMENT OF PRISONERS.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16357, 31 October 1918, Page 7

THE TREATMENT OF PRISONERS.

A BLACK RECORD. MEASURES FOR THE PUNISHMENT OF THOSE RESPONSIBLE. (Australian and I?.Z> Cubic Afcociation.) .j, (Received Octobor 30th, 9.15 p.m.) LONDON, October 29. In tho House of Commons Mr "\V. E. Hume-Williams Gtated that the treatment of our prisoners in Turkey was ono of the darkest pages in the history of the war. Nearly half tho English who surrendered at Kufc had died of starvation and neglect. Sir George Cavo, Minister for Home Affairs, replying, said that the rules of international law and humanity had been observed in this country, but had been flagrantly broken by all our enemies, possibly excepting Austria-Hun-gary. We had ascertained from returned prisoners all tho facts concerning their troatmoht, and these facts were available for use when required. In soiuo camps the conditions wero almost unspeakable, and continued so today, according to the evidence of prisoners lately returnod. Sir George Cave described a camp where, it was estimated, 2000 deaths of all nationalities of prisoners had occurred since November, 1916. There was also tho record regarding working parties, which was of the very blackest, owing to prisoner. 1 ; being subjected to the cnprico and common brutality of uneducated, vicious foremen. The prisoners were beaten, tortured, overworked, and underfed. Sir Robort Younger's report concerning the treatment of prisoners in mines would lie published shortly. He had the best of reasons for believing that tho Government would demand the release of British prisoners as one of the essential conditions of an armistice. It was no use talking to tho authors of the outrages. They must be taken by tho throat and made an example to future generations of oviluoers. Well-known lawyers were engaged in putting the record against them into shape. Germany must bo forccd to pay tho penalty.