THE WILY GERMANS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LII, Issue 250, 17 October 1918, Page 5

THE WILY GERMANS

PEOFESSED CONCERN FOR CIVILIAN®.

(Renter's Telegrams.)

i AMSTERDAM, Oct. 16. ' A Berlin official message states that the German command has requested the Swiss authorities to inform the Frenfch that owing to fears of bombardment a severe panic i s probable amongst' civilians in the region of Lille and Valen-' : •ciennes, and intimates that the Dutch Government has been asked and agreed" ,- to shelter fugitives as far as possible. 1' A further Berlin message announces the plight of 30,000 civilians, ■' an*| * proposes v that the Allies should agrse to refrain from bombarding tbwjw-'jn ' Northern France, adding that is prepared' to come to an» agreement for part of-the population to cross" into * the enemy lines. Failing compliance Germany will not be responsible for ci* vilffans in the occupied territory. ' '

PRISONERS OF WAR.

ILL-TREATMENT OF BRITISH

SOLDIER'S.

■ - t •' (Australian and N.Z. Cable AssociatiottA and Renter.)

_l LONDON, Oct. Uf'; , Mr Justice Younger'** committe'e'svtSport, based on tho testimony' of. vs- - of soventy escapees as>. regarat? the Germans' treatment of war,prison! ers taken during the spring offensive; says it as almost an exact countcr-iipl'i of tho treatment of the earlier prisoner*?" The enemy totally failed, in some 1 comb ' for 48 hours to provide prisoners" WitK any food. This may bo explained %; the number of prisoner/; exceeding' fife . but their sustenance after was inadequate. ', "'' Prisoners were also forced' to' do v , uni authorised work near the battlefroiit. .Many of tho compounds were wi£hou£ warmtli, shelter, or sanitation. . "Sonie of the guards were cruel, and a ' fsw doctors were brutal. Tho prisoner" '-a% Villers were forced to Jive an the c-paty air for* a fortnight. They could not jjlfy their clothes, and they could not wjjjslt. The report adds that Iho Red/ Cross was flown over ammunition dump.?. >» In one instance a prisoners' hut 600 yards behind the lino was shelled and often hit, and fourteen British were kilfed.

A prisoner named Ellis, suffering from 1 a bullet wound in tho lung, cried in pain, and a doctor hit liim on the" jaw. The man died noxi duy.

IRELAND.

VOLUNTARY .RECRUITING CLQS^I*

(Rec Oct. 17, m a.m.) ~ '. ~' • LONDON, Oct. }&* The time-limit for voluntary rqcifuitinpr in Ireland has expired. Mr 'Shorlt announces that 9629 h.ay£ recruited.

AUSTRALIA.

VICTORY SPIRIT ABROAD'.,

(Press Association Copyright.)

SYDNEY, Oct. is>. A big body of reinforcements" hagf «t reception reminiscent' of the enthuslsfinf of the early days of the, war. Tory spirit is abroad. 'President 'vv'ilson'a reply to Germany has dispeljed a Roodj deal of doubt surrounding liis fourteen points, and has heartened) everybody*