WAR PRISONERS COME HOME.

Northern Advocate, 21 April 1915, Page 2

WAR PRISONERS COME HOME.

BRITISH WOUNDED FROM GERMANY.

STORY OF HARDSHIP

Seven British officers and 93 men, who are unfit for any military ser- ( vice—the first batch of the exchanged prisoners of war—arrived < at Utrecht this morning (says a ' correspondent of the London "Express," writing on February 16), on the way to England by Flushing and Folkestone, where they will arrive to-morrow evening. I came here to meet them -and hear their impressions. It was a sad errand to visit the.men in their hospital train. I was allowed to see them for a few minutes. They look i as well as possible, but their severe j wounds, in addition to their captivity. under the most terribly cruel | circumstances, have not a little contributed to undermine their energies. Still they do not complain much. What keeps up their spirits is that they are going to see their homes soon. Both officers and men carry home the leading impression that the Germans are treating British prisoners with the almost avowed intention of starving them. While the French , and Russians are well treated, the English are underfed, and, hardly allowed any clothes. One said: "Our food wa B hardly fit for dogs, and there was very little of it. Do not be surprised that we are all so thin. NOT ENOUGH FOOD. "When we asked for more food, an officer said, 'Complain to your own people; they are depriving us of food.' "For the least offence food was withheld from us, and we were tied to trees and kicked. No smoking ' was allowed. Obviously the Germans are furious at the British people. They acknowledge it, saying, 'Had it not been for the English the war would be over, and w e would be victors.' " The prisoners were a little amazed when we told them about the progress of th e war - , The Germans had not allowed' them to read anything but German papers. They thought the Germans had really been continuously victorious. One officer whose legs were shot off at Charleroi told me he had asked an officer for a softer bed, as his was terribly hard. The lieutenant said, "If I giv c it and the colonel knows it I will have to resign// ■. It was only when the news came that the prisoners were to be exchanged that the officers were more~ considerate towards those leaving, evidently fearing their revelations. The general conduct of the Germans to the British prisoners has been monstrous, and it is wonderful that they managed to outlive their terrible physical suffering, coupled with the humiliations ; which were inflicted on them by the Germans.