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Evening Post, Volume XCVI, Issue 140, 10 December 1918, Page 7

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CAPTURED AUSTRALIANS

BITTER EXPERIENCES RELATED,

(UNITED PKBSS ASSOCIATION.—COFTUfIBT.)

(AOSTRALIAN-NEW ZBALAND CABLE ASSOCIATION.)

(Received December 10, 9.30 a.m.)

LONDON, Bth December.

The majority of the Australians. who are ,airiving at Bipon (Yorkshiro) were captured at Bullecourt, Fleurbaix, and in the minor Somme engagements. Ono party was shifting coal at Bremen when the armistice was signed, and the SoP diers and Workmen's Council immediately gave them passes into Holland mid paid their railway fares.

Another party was sent from Sassnitz, via Copenhagen, to Leith. They were mostly engaged in coal-heaving at Baltic ports, but downed tools when the armistice was signed, and were sent to Sassnitz. They received a cordial welcome at Copenhagen. ' .

The majority of the men, after being taken prisoners, were compelled to work behind the enemy lines, within range of the Allied shells, until 21st June. They wero then removed after an intimation from fteir captors that reprisals had been abandoned.

Prior to the removal of the prisoners, a long-range AHied shell caused eleven casualties, including seven deaths, among a working party of British prisoners, of which fonr Australians were wounded. Signaller Dawkfns, of the 56th Battalion, relates how, between November, 1916, and March, 1917, the British prisoners, including four Australians, were kept at Queant for six weeks wiifoout a wash or a change of clothes. (The daily, ration was a quarter of a loaf of\ bread and a Kirs of sonp madte from horseflesh and turnips. Wfeen they were removed to Eoourt in March only eighty were left A number hsd died, and the rest were taken to Germany sick and incapacitated, -'