Millard County Chronicle | 1949-03-10 | Page 9 | Reds Accused of Using Women Slaves in Mining

Reds Accused of Using Women Slaves in Mining FRANKFORT, GERMANY. Ol 120,000 forced workers in uranium mines operated by Russia near the Bavarian-Czech border, at least 30,-000 30,-000 are women according to a young German who escaped and reached Frankfort. Emil Walter, formerly employed on the police force of his home town of Halle, said that In October one of the ferqaent explosions occurring oc-curring in these mines asphyxiated 290 of 300 laborers underground at Johann Georgenstadt. They were promptly replaced by the same number of individuals from transports trans-ports arriving constantly. Administrative offices for the mines are in Aue, Herr Walter stated. The prisoners are distributed distrib-uted through pits in Annaberg, Niederschlema, Oberschlema and Johann Georgenstadt, working eight hours daily under the worst possible conditions. Although earning 600 to 700 East marks monthly, he declared, they are not only charged for their scanty food but also must contribute contrib-ute to the Russian supervisors, leaving them net earnings for the year of from 120 to 700 East marks. Espionage on the part of Soviet agents scattered through the camps exaggerates difficulties for the workers, ,a large number oi whom were arrested for refusing to join the Social Unity party as in his own case. v