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Show PRISONERS ARE MUCH ABUSED London. April 21. A Reuter dispatch dis-patch from Cape Towjtf dealing with the report of a commission of inquiry into the treatment of prisoners of war by the Germans in southwest Africa, follows: "A sensation has been caused by the publication of the official report of the commission of Inquiry into the treatment of prisoners of war by the Germans in the southwest African campaign, revealing another story of the shocking treatment of British prisoners pris-oners and showing a complete lack of organization or central control. Food rations were coarse and became be-came so insufficient that men were reduced to waiting in line to drink the blood of slaughtered oxen and to boiling the soft part3 of hides tp extract ex-tract nourishment. They were scantily scan-tily clad and harshly treated, some being be-ing sent on long railway Journeys clad In a tunic, a short loincloth, and sandal? and helmet, a spectacle, says the report, 'for women natives who saw them on the road.' The German governor, Seitz, ordered them placed In irons during their transit. One officer, Captain Geary, "was held In solitary confinement for six months In a small cell of filthy sanitary conditions con-ditions and Infested with vermin and threatened with confinement In a dark cell if he dared to look out ot the window. "When officers complained to Governor Gov-ernor Seitz, he told them they ought to be thankful for what they goL Tlie jll-trearment was not confined to war prisoners. British civilians who were political prisoners, with women and children, were confined In common jails, sleeping ten In a single cell with locked doors, resulting in sickness sick-ness and dysentery owing to the disgusting dis-gusting sanitary conditions. "The report was discussed In the house, assembly members demanding that the guilty German officers be brought to justice. General Louis Botha, in reply, deprecated hate or revenge He said that he had already al-ready protested to the German authorities au-thorities and was In communication with the home government, and added add-ed that, happily, the prisoners had been released and were no longer suffering suf-fering " |