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Show MISTREATMENT OF AMERICANS WASHINGTON. April 22 Although without any official information to confirm press reports of ill-treatment of American prisoners of war in Germany, Ger-many, the state department has instituted insti-tuted an inquiry to develop the facts. If they conform to the published accounts, ac-counts, a protest will be made promptly prompt-ly through the Spanish government which has taken over American diplomatic dip-lomatic representation at Berlin. If the protest is unavailing, measures of retaliation will be considered. German prisoners of war in America largely outnumber Americans held in German prison camps, and Include the crews of German raiders and prizes, in addition to the crew of the German submarine U 58 These prisoners have' been treated with a degree of liberality that has caused adverse criticism in some quarters and in marked contrast I to the treatment said to be accorded prisoners in Germany One difficulty i in the way of retaliation, it Is said that it might lend color to the stones of American cruelties told by the Ger-1 man military' commanders to their) troops to deter them from desertion, j That such stories have been told has been testified to by prisoners taken by General Pershing's men. It was said at the state department j today that much difficulty is expected j in ascertaining the facts concerning ! the condition of American prisoners in j Germany. Former Ambassador Gerard, 1 who was charged with British and French interests at Berlin before the United States entered the war, found It almost impossible to learn real con - dltlons in German prison camps because be-cause he was permitted to see only I such of the camps and such parts of ! them as the Germans chose to exhibit I It ib regarded as probable thai the Spanish ambassador to Berlin would bave a similar experience. The state department's inquiry will extend to the charges that American prisoners have not been allowed to receive the packages of food and clothing sent them by the American Red Cross and which, under the rules of war, they were entitled to receive. |