GERMAN INHUMANITY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17105, 10 September 1917, Page 5

GERMAN INHUMANITY

HOSPITALS ATTACKED. A DOCTOR KILLED. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. LONDON, September 7. The Germans bombed the American and British hospitals on the French coast on Tuesday night. . The attack was deliberate, and, like their previous raids on the hospitals nearer the front, did little damage, except at the Harvard Hospital, where one American medical officer was killed and three wounded. Sixteen others were wounded, 10 of whom were patients. MORE BRUTALITY. SUFFERINGS'OF BELGIANS. NEW YORK, September 6. The Belgian Government has given the New York Times Paris correspondent a statement describing the sufferings of the Belgian people and impressed workers in the " bungerland" behind the Flanders front. " The press gang system, begun in October, 1916, has been continued without intermission. Men of 17 to 45 years are seized haphazard, irrespective of health or social position, and employed on military ■work and the construction of railroads. They are treated brutally and beaten unmercifully. Complaints,, of illness and exhaustion are unheeded. They are not even permitted to receive packages of food from their families. Six hundred men were taken • from Harlebeke, of whom 22 are j now dead and 108 are reported -incap ; -

tafced.v When any inhabitants refused .j serve they- were forced into service by cruel gangs. The departure of the Americans fro i Belgium removed the last scruples of the invaders. " The cost of living has quadrupled. Butter is 18 francs per lb; potatoes, which were the staple diet, are entirely lacking. The Germans are forcing the Conxtrai residents to distribute their food, and are practising the laosfc dastardly form of blackmail." POISONED' CAKES DROPPED. PRISONERS KTLLED BY GEHMAN j. JRMEN. Reuter'a Tel p prams. PARIS, September 8. (Received Sept. 9, at 5.5 p.m.) During the recent air raids on Calais hundreds of poisoned cakes were dropped. One hundred German prisoners wlio were being removed were mistaken for British, and an enemy plane dropped bombs, killing 43 and wounding 4V,