HUN ATROCITIES

Evening Post, Volume XCVI, Issue 40, 15 August 1918, Page 5

HUN ATROCITIES

TREATMENT OF PRISONERS

AUSTRALIAN SHOT,

COMMITTEE'S REPORT.

The Federal Prime Minister's Department has received a report of the Select Committee of the Imperial Parliament on the treatment by the enemy of British, prisoners of war behind the firing lines in France and Belgium.

Ono instance is given of an Australian private who, starving, had fallen out to pick tip a piece of bread left on' the roadside by Belgian women for the prisoners. He was shot and killed by the guard for so doing.

UNDER. SHELL FIRE.

Evidence shows that Germany systematically kept, and are probably to-day keeping, their prisoners in a great many instances under shell-fire, and are treating them in the harshest possible manner, on the ground that the British Government is treating German prisoners in this

German statements to this effect have been repeatedly denied by the British Government. One instance of the effects of Allied shell-fire on their own men may be given. Says the report: "In May, 1918, a British or French shell burst among a number of British and French prisoners in German hands. They were working behind- the lines in Belgium. Seven vrere killed and four wounded.

MEM STARVED.

"The men," proceeds the report, "were half starved. Two,' who' weighed 13st when captured, were reduced to Bst, one of them being too weak to walk when he was sent back from the firing line. The other escaped to the British lines. Another man lost 2st in six weeks. Parcels did not reach these prisoner!,. One soldier stated that if a man stepped out of the ranks.to get food at Moretz ho was immediately shot. At . Marquion the conditions are described as follows .-—"We used to beg the sentries to allow us to pick etinging nettles and dandelions to eat, we were so hungry."

EXHAUSTED MEN fcICKED,

Instances of harshness of guards are given. Twice in one month one soldier sa.w a guard using a dog-whip on prison ere for being slow in getting out to work. Owing to weakness the men fell down from sheer exhaustion, and were kicked until- they rose again.. It was not till they could not get about that they, were sent back to Germany. The accommodation failed to keep out the rain and cold, and >an instance is given of 110 men being accommodated in. a room 15ft by 20ft, sleeping on bare boards and without blankets.

REVOLTING CONDITIONS.

•The only means of sanitation was a barrel standing in. a corner of the room. These men were never given any clothes. Other men had to lie on straw full of' vermin, and had to wash without soap or towels. Others, working eight hours a day behind the lines, were given only one ration daily. That consisted of one cup of coffee, a, slice of bread, and some soup. The report adds that a great many prisoners have died or been permanently broken in health by the treatment.