VICTIM OF THE GERMANS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17112, 18 March 1919, Page 9

VICTIM OF THE GERMANS.

BRITISH SOLDIER'S DEATH.

BARBAROUS " SURGERY."

Another astounding story of German I brutality to British prisoners of war was told at Fulham Military Hospital recently at an inquest on a thirtl man who has died there as a result of German ill-treat-ment. So serious were the effects on him that his father failed to recognise him. The victim was Private Robert Wra. Verdor, of the North Hants Regiment, The coroner said that Vorder was taken prisoner by the Germans in April last, and according to a statement made by the deceased, he was given an order 1 by las German guard which he apparently i did not correctly interpret, for, in spito of | his weak condition, be was given a cruel I and unprovoked blow with tne butt of a rifle, which caused him severe injury. He ' was Dot allowed to report sick for some I days, and by that time a large abscess had formed in his leg. Blood poisoning superj vened, and death was directly attributable i to the injury. ! The coroner showed the jury photographs of Verder taken when in the army : and since his return. In the former be weighed 12et, and in the latter he weighed I only 4«t, being practically skin and bone. I Ihe father gavo evidence that while his son was in Germany his letters were ad- ! dressed from Tustrow, but it was now | proved that he had never been there. I When he visited his sod in hospital in ' Fulham he failed to recognise him, ! owing to his emaciated condition. 1 His eon told him that after receiving the I blow from the guard he was forced to con- ! tinne work in the timber yard for four I days beforo being allowed to report sick, i When ho became too ill to carry on he was left in a shed lying on some straw, ! and during that time he was fed by his i fellow prisoners, who went out collecting 1 potato peelings, pieces of cabbage stems, I and other garbage. He had no proper food. His son frequently wrote asking for parcels, but did not receive any that witness sent to him. His illness and death were due to nothing but starvation and being struck. Captain Leakey, chief medical officer of the Fulham Military Hospital, said that J when Verder was admitted he was extremely emaciated and very feeble. Deceased told him that while in hospital in Germany the abscess on his thigh was opened without any anaesthetic of any kind being used. The Coroner: What sort of surgery would you call that?— Very bad. Would yon call it barbarous?— Yes, ancl very dangerous. Witness added that Verder said tha" the operation was repeated next day. The wound had never closed. It was lOin long and 3in wide. According to the deceased he had never seen a German doctor from the time the abscess was opened, the wound being dressed by soldiers. Death ' was due to septic absorption from the abscess, the result of fie blow. A verdict was returned that death wn.s due to septic poisoning caused by a blow from a rifle inflicted by a German guard while Verder was a prisoner of war, and by the gross neglect of the German military authorities in not affording proper medical treatment.