Daily British Whig (1850), 10 Dec 1918, p. 9

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12 PAGES YEAR 85. NO. 287 SEmE-------- MAJOR W. SI0OPER'S STORY OF HUN CRUELTY TO BRITISH ; PRISONERS. He Was Three Years in Germany-- A German Woman Spit. in Cup Be- fore Handing It to Him. Now that the men who have been prisoners in Germany are being re- turned) accurate stories are being re- ceived about their treatment at the hands of the Huns Major W. H. Hooper, the Carleton Place officer who went overseas with the original 2nd Battalion, has recently -returned from thé prison camp. He was se riously wounded and taken prisoner at Ypres in April, 1916, and was for three years a prisoner in Germany He fs now on duty with the casualty company, No. 3 District Depot .at the new Barriefield huts. Ha tells the graphic story of his treatment while a prisoner: "1 was taken ' prisorer in April, 1915. 1 was unconscious, had been wounded a couple of times, and final ly 1 was taken to a first aid statio There ny wounds were treated an was taken a few yards further to an other house. While thege in the second house I came acfss some thing in my pocket. Among these was a bit of paper on which was written the name of & German lieu- tenant who had been a prisoner A young fellow from Renfrew had brought him 4n. He had had seven . wounds, and he did not have enough bandages to go round, and I took my bandages and wrapped up his wounds. 1 also took his name and said to the interpreter to see that this man's mother was notified, must have been some other remarks on the back of the card. 1 was taken away in an ambulance Un- fortunately a wheel came off and I was ditched. Whipped Wounded British, Next day I was taken to another place. I lay on my stretcher. While « there I saw the first act of cruelty, A number. of our soldiers lay wound- ed, and a German officer grabbed a There 1 the operatigh room. and him not to cry. upon from head to toe. 1 was taken to another hospital, where 1 was pht downstairs in a room occupied by ne- groes. In this;place I was told that there was a ro ust upstairs which could ; aS\about seventy of- ficers owever, received every attention, and some weeks after- wards 1 was carried out on my stretcher to the traih and put in a second class car. I was taken off someéwhere that night, and jay is a station, and the next day 1 was taken as far as Brusseis, again taken off and taken to a hospital right oppo site the station. Spit in the Cup. After a couple of days' rest I wa to he again on the train to be sent to Germany They "had not given us very much to eat that morning, and I was hungry and thirsty On our way we stopped at a station, where 1 heard they were going to get some- thing to drink, but when I asked a woman to give me a drink, and when she discovered I was an English of- ficer she spit in the cup before ghe handed it to me I was taken off this train and laid down on the plat- form Not far away a number of men, women and children were standing, and they pelted me with mud, sticks and stones I asked of two French soldiers to move me away a little plece, and they did 1 was taken to a hospital at Gleeson, where the treatment to prisoners bears no comparison with' the treatd ment in the hospitals in Germany Cruelty of Doctors, "I must say that there are skilful doctors in Germany. One morning Ji was taken down on my stretcher to was . laid down on the floor, my straps were taken off my stretchers, and I.was told to take off my bandages In this same room a French soldier wags being operated on by a German doc- tor, and he was erying from the pain, when an English soldier with both legs off in another bed called out to The German doctor asked the interpreter what the Eng- lish soldier had said. The inter- preter made a false translation, tell- ing the doctor that the English sol- KINGSTON, ONTARIO. "TUESDAY. THE SAME MENACE IN A NEW SKIN | { i | wear this same button." | ing from one-half to three-quarters of a mile on the erutches to a street car unassisted, and was made 'enter the car. In order to do so I passed my cruiches to a guard standing near whip and went around all of these men and applied it, and not a move was made. | was taken from there by train while my wounds were bleeding badly, and was taken off the next morning, and was picked up and put on another train again to go to another place. I was there taken off by four men. Two jumped down (these were four Red Cross assistants), slid my stretcher down to the ground; needless to say my wounds simply pained, and | began to bleed all over again. They lifted me down and took me across two railway tracks. 1 heard a train dier said, 'Do not squeal, be an Eng- and painfully drew myself up to the lishman.' The doctor, evidently !level of the car steps This accom- taking this as an jvsult to German |plished, I turned about to ask for my soldiers, picked up 'a sharp instru- crutches, but was sternly told 'Nein,' ment and prodded his wound until he 'that the crutches belonged to the squealed with pain. Another case | hospital, and I would have to get on of cruelty was a Belgian officer who jas best [ could. Dragging myself wis suffering from a burn wound in furth® in I attempted to take a seat, the head, and the same treatmené |but a burly boche in charge of the was given him in the dressing room |car threatened me with all kinds of that morning, and for some consid- |violence and said that the seats in erable time the poor unfortunate suf- jthe car were for no English swine- fered excruciating pain from! his ill {hund. I Was thus forced to stand treatment. This doctor (Dr. Fran- {up at the end of the car among the kel) took every occasion to ill treat {baggage and other articles; swaying and annoy the British who might jaround the sharp curves until the j opened whistle in the distance, and as it Here 1 was and I was forced to shuffle along over a long platform until the ap- pointed place was reached. The pain during this short'journey was excruciating, and my wounds had! anew On arrival of the train I was put into a third class car- riage, where, though not made to, I was permitted to lie on the floor. In this position I was quite comfortable, but when at the end of the journey, Mayenee wis reached, I was so stiff- ened up that it was only with the greatest difficulty 1 was again gotten onto my feet, and some torturing shuffling was necessary to traverse the long platform to the main sta- tion, and on arrival we, that is, two French and a Belgian officer with my- self, were thrust into a dirty cellar to await the arrival of the next train which would take us to .our destina-. DECEMBER 10, 1918 in the trenches when we saw one, conscription." -|--a few lice --a few near | by | sojourners | car slowed up and stopped, emitting PAGES 9-12 Snmm------------ THIRD SECTION sued, but I don't know if ly right. I hope 0." re red bands round s0 of tive officers' hate mean? "1 cannot tell you, lady, though Wa do- one is a that -- ' used to shout 'Peace has been clared." " "Why do so many soldirs wear white bands round their hats?" "1 am pot centein lady, but I hard- ly think these are soldiers. I think it! has something to do with avoiding "Tell me about your life in the trenches?" "Oh, lady, there is nothing to tell tice--an awful lot more lice--mud, water, cold, bullets, gas, splinters of shells, not much food. Bang! Oblivion, then, Hello, sister. Hospital, Blighty. "What does Blighty mean?" "Heaven, lady." "Tell me, are your officers kind to you?" "In France yes; in England, not s0 much; in Canada, practically no You see, lady, if the officer has been in France he understands, and he's a real pal, and if he has not---Oh well lady, vou understand.' "What does that little red chevron and the blue ones on - your right sleeve mean?" "It means practically nothing lady. It is intended to denote service, in France, but the sucké® who has peen 'losing last pay certificates' in the pay office in London since 1914 wears them the same as [ do." "And the little round button? Isn't that cute--'For service at the front'---hiow wonderful!" "Oh ne, lady, these are also worn all comers--cooks, 'tourists, men in the land of En. Just then a khaki colored touring prectically at 'the same moment, an imnraculate officer, and a loud ex- plosion from the muffler. My soldier friend started violently, staggered, and almost fell then, hastily pulling himself together, excused himself, saying the red tape will be nearly ried off. ¥he last words I heard him say were: "It's a great old war." What a peculiar man! And yet have I the right to criticize him? Have'you? [I think not. Perhaps if toria Crosses were not enough for such as he. Who knows--I don't-- you don't. Jt sure is---of was.a ready, and bidding me goodbye, hur |{ all were known a necklace of Vie-] great odd war. SUI % J F a - THE' STANDARD BANK E8Y'D 1973 F. ROWLAND, HEAD OFFICE OF CANADA TORONTO TRUST FUNDS Our Savings Department gives you a guarantee of absolute security and' inferest at current rate. KINGSTON BRANCH, we Qo Managey, RON ce an Draw on Your Customers Head Office: Montreal. OF through the Merchants Bank. With Branches in all parts of Canada, and corres pondents abroad, this Bank is in a position to present Drafts promptly, have them accepted, and collect payment, with the least possible trouble and cost to you. The Manager will be glad to take up this matter with you. THE MERCHANTS BANK H. A. TOFIELD, - a CANADA, KINGSTON BRANCH, Established 1864, Manager. ~ -- WE BUY AND SELL WAR LOAN ISSUES Bongard Ryerson & Co. 239 Bagot 8t. ny Members. Toronto Stock Exchange. STOCKS, BONDS, GRAINS AND COTTON "Private wires to New York, Ghicago, Toronto, Mon- treal. -- A A a, EA Pt BA Phone 1728 We Buy and Sell Dominion and Provincial Government Bonds. Municipal Bonds. Railroad, Public Utility and Industrial Bonds Correspondence Invited. whirled by me I was lying between two cars, with the black cinders and dirt. blowing all around me. This train happened to be a troop train, and from the windows | was spit come under his power. station was reached. "This was shown when, on leaving Fr to descehd and told to come the hospital, although I 'had only |along, I asked for some convey- been on one occasion on my crutches, | ance, or at least x pair of eratehes. I was forced to walk a distance vary- but these werd hrutally denied me, tion." 5 wee gs Ea ---- VITOR TALKS: LKS TO VETERAN SOME IMPRESSIONS BY A LADY FROM NEW YORK. A Returned Man When Xccosted on the Street Answers Scme Ques. tions and Gives Some Interesting Information. Contributed. Arriving in 3 DoMmion SECURITIES GRPORATION . LIMITED. MONTREAL BRANCH . a ig. Canada Life Building Vice-President RW. Sweele - - Mahager Kingston from New York City, I walked slowly along Queen street. soliloquizing: This is Kingston, one'of the famous military cities of Canada where some of Cau. | ada's world-famous fight'ng men were A, mobilized to proceed to fight the LW. . dreaded Huns. -- Might I' be lucky en- . $s + + = Secremty ough to meet. one of these wonderful LA. + + = Treasurer men who has returned from overseas . « Asst Secretary I wonder? Oh! there ha comes. A = .F. Whi « Ast't Treasurer ! fine stalwart type of manhood what strong, determined features, well de- veloped body, erect' carriage, but "las! he has only one Teg, and only one arm. But stay, what a wonder- HEAD OFFICE : 26 KING STREET EAST TORONTO LONDON, ENG. BRANCH No. 6 Adstin Friars A L Fullerton Manager TT HEE merry twinkle, and like a flash his whole expression changes, so differ. dent. Hard, thoughtful, far away, al« most vacant is his Took. He Is see- ing something we cannot ses. He sees the flash of the bursting shells, hears the roar of the guns, perhaps the groans of his dying comrades. 1 must--I shall speak to this Can- adian fighting man *Giodéd morming, soldier!" His greeting was warm and cour. teous, again his whole face changed. What a lovely beaming, honest smile. Good morning, lady." "Will you answer Pye ques. tions?" "Certainly, lady. if 1 can.' "How jong have you been in the ary?" "Four years and three months." "How were you in France?" "Three yours and four months." "What brash of the service do you 'The:Blood Pressure i is the meaning of blood Sigity Which enables them to withstand the ?" you may ask, and, strain put on thers he recommends that has it to do with the ure tested. Then For as much as we hear of blood o sévks 3 means R proving the con- dition of the blood of restoring the health and vigor of the ky filtering and excretory organs. In the t majority of cases th flag oF these organs is Ahi ou have your blood Comfort and convenience count on washday, ps more than on any other day of the week. Anything that will lighten the work is doubly welcome then. EDDY'S INDURATED F IBREWARE \ , Wash Tubs and Washhoards are labor lighteners. They save time and Strength. Icientally Yicy SHA Io ar: ERS ft and water hot a vonefited a "Oh, lady whet a question to ask me. I do not care to answer it." "Do you dike fighting?" Sometimes." "Why do pearly ull the sokdiers in When you buy matches look for the name "on the

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