CRUELTY TO PRISONERS

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 16398, 18 December 1918, Page 8

CRUELTY TO PRISONERS

AN AUTHENTIC RECORD

BRUTAL OFFICERS

(By Cab!«.—Precs Association.—Copyright. (Australian and N.Z. Cablo Association.) LONDON, December 16.

Among many testimonies to tho German ill-treatment of prisoners none is more circumstantial than tho authentic diary kept by a committee of British o/licers at Holzminden, and now available on the owners' return. All the entries aro carefully mado, and set down in business-like form. Jndv vidual cases are signod by the officers concerned, and all are vouched for by the iivo senior officers, whose name's are given. The committee declares generally that tho persecution was deliberate, persistent, and systematic. Prisoners were refused outdoor recreation, music, or opportunities for study, and ever, religious services. An English chaplain administered the Sacrament In a passage, at the end of which there was a constant stream of traffic.

Tho Holzminden diary completely establishes Niemeyer's arid Hanisch's evil reputations. The former was normally brutal and foul-mouthed, arid ho incited his subordinates to similar courses.

Among tho many cases dotailed is that of Lieutenant Causton, an Australian aviator, who was detected while attempting to escape. He made a statement to the chaplain. He was shot through an arm while getting through tho wire and turned back, holding lip his hands. The sentry continued firing, missing until Lieutenant Causton was within three yards, when the sentry fired into Lieutenartt Causton's mouth, shattering the right side of his jaw. The sentry, seeing the injury, remarked, "That is cood.'' Captain Godman, of the Sussex, when severely ill, was kept all day in a sen-try-gyarded room. He received a cup of tea in the morning and coffeo in the evening, but ho was entirely foodie sS and he died four days later.