PRISONERS IN GERMANY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17324, 25 May 1918, Page 7

PRISONERS IN GERMANY

RUSSIANS STARVED TO DEATH. Australian and N.Z. Cable, Association. r j , NEW YORK, May 22. Uidv Muriel Paget, addressing the Red «ute tlon 111 New York ' asserted that 60,000 Russian prisoners have starved to death in uermany. She declared _ that if the Allies had cheered up the Russians and made use of propaganda among them to counteract tho German propaganda, Russia would still be m die lighting line. ESCAPES FROM CAMPS. FRENCH AN© AUSTRALIANS. AMSTERDAM, Mav 23. Owing to fine weather numerous "escapes of prisoners from Germany have recently „ en niostly French, and ocoasionally Australians, ae the British camp is further from the frontier. Most of the escapees have been working on farms, and disappear into the forests. Their chief is in crossing the rivers, which are swift and cold and must be swum, as the bridges are carefully guarded. Escapees narrate that the German country foik no longer exercise vigilance over escaping prisoners, though earlier in the war they would have attempted to lynch them. There is no longer hatred against prisoners. THE EXCHANGE PROPOSAL. GREAT BRITAIN'S DOUBTS. HUMANITARIAN CONSIDERATIONS OUTWEIGHED. rp, -p. LONDON, May 23. y Ex P ress that despite the Franco-German agreement for the exchange of 350,000 prisoners, the British ai. oliorities doubt the advisability of exchanging men capable of further military service, as it would tend to prolong the war. It- is definitely known that the German reserves are becoming exhausted. The 19?0 class of recruits are in the field, whereas the Allies can rely on American resources. . Though the release of British prisoners is desirable on humanitarian grounds other considerations outweigh these. Retaliatory measures against German officer prisoners will continue until the authorities are satisfied that- British soldiers are properly treated. Within a few days a detailed report will be issued of the unspeakable cruelty that British prisoner*! are subjected to, particularly in the Tenth German Army district, by General von Hanisch and his" subordinates, the brotners Nimeyer. Von Ha-nisch'e inhumanity includes forced kbonr in coal and salt mines. The men rarely see daylight, and are starved and constantly insulted. It is rumoured that negotiations will shortly be opened at The Hague between Germany and Britain regarding the exchange of prisoners. (The cable news in this issue accredited to The Times has nppenrod in that journal, bnt only where expressly stated is such news the editorial opinion of The Times."]