Cite: http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1406680

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Armistice Day

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FRENCH PRISONERS SHOT.

Enemy's Act of Savagery.

Reports from the Spanish Embassy in Berlin state that nine French prisoners in the Landenhalz cnmp wore shot nt point blank range and killed by too Germans, and

15-others were wounded.

The report adds thal the behaviour of the prisoners in no wise justified this act of savagery.

[The previous message stated that Mar slial Foeli l|ad sent hy wireless a threaten ing Note to Germany regaiding German attacks on prisoners.]

ILL-TREATED PRISONERS.

Stories of Repatriated Men.

How Armitice Was Received.

The majority of Australian repatriated prisoners who arc arriving at Upon Camp in England, were captured at Bullecourt, Fleurbaix', and tho minor engagements on

the Somme.

. One party was shifting coal at Bremen when the armistice was signed, and tho Soldiers' and Workmen's Council immedi- ately gave them passes into Holkuul. and paid their railway fares. Another party was sent from Sassnit- vin Copenhagen to Leith (Scotland). Us members for the most part wore engaged in coal-heaving at Baltic portB. Tiley downed tools when the armistice was signed. They received a cor- dial welcome at Copenhagen.

The majority of the men after being taken prisoner were eompclled to work be- hind the enemy lines within range of the Allied -hells, until .lune 21, when they wore removed after an intimation from their cap- tors thal reprisals lind been abandoned. Prior to their removal, long-range Allied shells had caused eleven .-asmiltic?, including seven deaths, among a working parlv of Britisli prisoner., of whom four Australians

were wounded.

Signaller Dawkins, of the 50th Battalion (N.S.W.) relates that between November, 1010, and March, 1017, a party of British prisoners, iiicluding four Australians, were kept at Queant for t-i-v weeks without a wash or change of clothes. Their daily ration was a quarter loaf, anti a litre of soup mide from horseflesh, and turnips. When they were iclnovcd to Econrt in Mnrch only eighty were left. A number had died, .yid the rest wen; tU)wh to Germany sick

und incapacitated.

Some of the war prisoners give horrifying details of the "Black Halo" of Lille. It was a hugo underground cavern, where 270 persons wer confined for Ave weeks in an unspeakable state of neglect, famine, and disease. Thay woro given no clothing or covering except that In which thev left the battle-field. They were only allowed in th: upper air for ten minutes every day. Twenty of them wore taken to hospital suffering from dyeentory. Vermin had to be scraped off their clothing with knives. The place remained unolean during five weeks. The food was so foul and ' uneatablo that men practically went mad. They used to Ile on the ground, killing vermin and singini. hymns. The mon used to fight to reaoh a latticed window 10ft. above the floor to -et air. They were compelled to batho their wounds with coffee.

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