NO MERCY SHOWN

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 84, 2 January 1918, Page 6

NO MERCY SHOWN

GERMANS' WHOLESALE SLAUGHTER OF ALLIED PRISONERS. A pamphlet issued by the United States Committee of Public Information disclosed the.fact that even German soldiers have appealed to Mr. Gerard against tho atrocities and butchcries in which their commanders have forced them to participate. One, signing himself "A German Soldier and a Christian," who was an oye-witnoss of the slaughter at tho Masurian Lakes, said: "It was frightful and heartrending as these masses of human beings were driven to destruction. Above the terrible thunder of the cannon could bo heard the heartrending cries of tho Russians: 'Oh, Prussians!' But no mercy was shown. Our captain had ordered that the whole lot must die to rapid fire." The soldier says that five men and one officer went mad as the result of thoso scenes, but most of tho men and officers "joked as the unarmed and helpless Russians shrieked for mercy while be,ing suffocated in the swamps or shot down."

Another soldier, writing from Poland in December, 1914., declared that wounded Russians wero killed with tho bayonet, and Russians who had surrendered wore often shot down in masses in accordance with the orders given to the soldiers. He added: "I hope you as tho representative of a Christian State will protest there against tlieso deeds."

A further letter written by a German on the Western front to the Government at Washington snys: '"Englishmen who have surrendered havo been shot down in small groups. "With the French one is more considerate. T ■isk whether men let themselves ho taken prisoners in order to bo disarmed and shot down. Is that the chivalry of battle? Tt is no longer a secret among our people. One hears everywhere that few prisoners are taken inul that they arc shot down in small groups. The Germans say: 'We rlon"t wfinfc anv unnecessary mouths to feed. Whore there's no one to outer a complaint there, is no judge,' Is_ there, thon, no power in tho world which can put nn end to thoso murders and rescue tlio victims? Wliorp is Christian' ifv? Where is right? Might is right!— (Sisrnedi A. Soldier and a Man who is no Barbarian."