THE SLAVE RAIDS.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLVIII, Issue 4459, 29 January 1917, Page 5

THE SLAVE RAIDS.

FIRST AUTHENTIC REPORT

GERMAN BRUTALITY REVEALED.

BELGIAN MEN’S TERRIBLE

PLIGHT.

BADLY FED AND BADLY HOUSED (Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn.) (Received Jan. 28, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, Jan, 28. The Belgian Government has secured the first authentic narrative of the slave raids * from Ghent, deportees. Hi esc stories show tliat men were marched) to the station between troops in mid-November and herded into waggons, travelling foodless all night. The only food they received for 28 hours was a bowl of rlfce and meat. They were then marched in the darkness to a farm, where 656 men were herded into barns and stables. They slept on straw placed on the bare ground, and only on tlie third day got boards on which to sleep. Half flap deportees were exhausted by tlie jouyney, and their quarters were not heated. One victim collapsed on the first day. and nearly died of cold. After a meal of bread and cheese and rice broth the men went food less for 24 hours.

At 5 o’clock in the morning a bugle call summoned the men to work, but they were so worn out with hunger and fatigue that they refused, and tlie order was postponed for two hours, when half Hue number agreed to work. They were given picks and shovels, but saw German military pioneers working ahead and refused to go further, pointing out that they had been promised proper food and lodging, and tliat they would not be employed on war work.

The men were marched back to the farm, and later, when the deportees again refused, an officer informed the Pioneers’ commander, and the latter ordered! the Belgians to begin. Tney again refused, and two German officers rode into tlie Belgians, whipping them, while soldiers kicked them. The German commander began parleying without success, and then ordered 20 soldiers to load and present arms. Some of the Belgians, overcome by fear, then yielded, and the rest followed.

Work began under most unhealthy conditions, the men’s clothes being drenched with rain and they had no means of drying them. They became weaker every day and ate raw cabbages and potatoes, and were glad to cook hedgehogs. The weak fell exhausted and the strongest silenced. Their complaints of cold and hunger were unheeded, despite repeated promises. The men grew seriously ill, and daily their comrades died in the fireless, bedle.ss stables. These sufferings lasted a week, and then the Germans, evidently realjsmg fin at it was useless to employ men under such conditions, allowed them to return home. They arrived at Ghent after journeying for 2S hours and drinkless.