HUNS’ MEAN TRICK.

Gisborne Times, Volume XLIX, Issue 4815, 12 March 1918, Page 5

HUNS’ MEAN TRICK.

FRENCH ARTIST PRISONERS SWINDLED. A subtle tribute to French art is offered by the testimony of a French prisoner of war now returned to li.s home. His tale appears in tlie Paris Matin: — . “He tells extraordinary stories of the way in which the German officers exploited French artists taken prisoners from the start of tlieir captivity. Inquiirieis were mad© as to who among the prisoners were artists. The N.C.O.’s immediately all had their portraits painted, the. payment to the artist, being an extra bowl of soup! ’l’ll on tho officers heard of this, and also ordered tlieir portraits. They paid 40 marks, for a. life-sizo portrait in oils, it Being 'stipulated that the painter provided file colors and canvas. General Plauel was the first to have liis portrait painted. A colonel belonging to aii old family of the Prussian nobility, and having rank as a Kniglit of Malta, was painted full-length lifesize, in his robes, for 50 marks. Lieutenant Kahl. having been painted, decamped with the portrait, and "ever paid for it. Commandant Boekelmann employed forty artists for a year to draw, paint andl sculp tor him a whole collection. He also had jewellery made, and! himself supplied 20-mark gold pieces to make gold ornaments of. Finally, the limit was reached by General von Ruebonsamen. He . ordered two French sculptors in a prisoners’ camp to design for him a suite of drawingroom furniture for 200 marks. Both the artists worked . for six months, and turned out admirable, designs for the furniture. Ho then paid them 20' marks. They pointed out that price was 200, and thereupon the General had both artists sent off to a salt-mine.”