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dence visit the Americans. This afternoon, two veterinaries and two doctors from the Yarrowdale, who were in officer prisoner camp at Karlsruhe, arrived at Warnemuende for departure to Denmark.

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Mr. Egan reports that there arrived in Copenhagen on the first instant four American medical officers who were released from the prison camp at Karlsruhe, Germany, on February 27, brought to the frontier of Denmark and placed in charge of Danish authorities who sent them to Copenhagen. Dr. H. D. Snyder, of Norfolk, Va., signed on Lamport and Holt liner Voltaire at Liverpool November fifteenth. The Voltaire was captured on December 2 by a German ship supposed to be the Puma, a converted fruit vessel. Other ships captured between the second and twelfth of December are as follows: Duchess of Cornwall, sailing vessel from St. Johns, Newfoundland; Genitor, White Star Line from Philadelphia; Halbyrg, Norwegian steamer from New York; King George from New York; Cambrian Range from Philadelphia; Mount Temple from Montreal; Saint Theodore and the Yarrowdale. Four hundred and eighty-three sailors and officers were captured, all of whom were treated as prisoners and were transferred from the Puma to the Yarrowdale on the 13th. The Yarrowdale arrived at Swinemunde on the 31st. The sailors were placed in a brick shed, and the officers were taken to other barracks. Eight captains, one English officer and Dr. Snyder were taken to the Neustrelitz prison camp. With the exception of Dr. Davis, the English surgeon, and Dr. Snyder, who were sent to hospital, the men were put in frame sheds. On January 25 the men were sent to Dulmen and on February 5 the officers were sent to Karlsruhe. On February 10 the first interview was had with Major Schoenbeck, the commander of the camp, it being the first hearing of any kind that they were able to obtain. They were released on February 27 and sent to Warnemunde where they were delivered to the Danish police. They have

had no word from the men since they left on January 25. On January 27 all other neutrals were released, including four American, two negro, one unknown white, and one white named Green. All are without money and clothing and all desire an immediate return to the United States.

No. 399.]

Ambassador Willard to the Secretary of State.

[Telegram-Paraphrase.]

AMERICAN EMBASSY, Madrid, March 7, 1917.

Mr. Willard states that it is reported by the Spanish Ambassador at Berlin that the Yarrowdale prisoners at Brandenburg were visited by the Spanish Embassy doctor on the first instant. The doctor approved of the quarantine and stated that conditions were as reported by German officials. The case of typhus occurred on the twentieth of February and unless new cases occur the quarantine will end on the seventh of March. The doctor further stated that the men had no complaint to make other than of diet and were glad to learn of their approaching release. Only five of the fifty-seven Americans were in the hospital, these suffering from slight colds, and five men of other nationalities are under medical observation.

Ambassador Willard to the Secretary of State.

[Telegram-Paraphrase.]

No. 408.]

AMERICAN EMBASSY, Madrid, March 12, 1917.

Mr. Willard reports that it is stated by the Spanish Ambassador at Berlin that fifty-nine Americans of the Yarrowdale detained at Brandenburg left Germany via Sweden on March eighth and one other from another camp was also released.

No. 636.]

Minister Stovall to the Secretary of State.

[Telegram-Paraphrase.]

AMERICAN LEGATION,

Berne, March 12, 1917.

American prisoners from Yarrowdale, to the number of 59, arrived

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Mr. Stovall informs the Department of the receipt of a report from the Consul General at Zurich that no complaint was made by the men of the Yarrowdale of their treatment while on the high seas or in camp near Swindemunde which was their first camp. They were first transferred to Brandenburg about January 10, where, according to their statement, their treatment by the officers was very harsh. It was impossible for them to keep warm. They were kept standing in the cold and snow. Their food consisted, after one cup of coffee in the morning, mostly of boiled, frosted cabbage; once a week beans; and once a week mush. The only sickness they mentioned from which they suffered was one case of lumbago. They knew nothing of any cases of contagious diseases.

Minister Stovall to the Secretary of State.

[Telegram-Paraphrase.]

No. 656.]

AMERICAN LEGATION,
Berne, March 18, 1917.

Mr. Stovall reports having personally conversed with the crews on board the Yarrowdale as to the treatment received by them and submits the following supplementary report:

The most cruel and heartless treatment was accorded the shipwrecked American sailors from the moment of their arrival in Ger

many January 3d. The weather was very cold and they were given no suitable clothes. There was an entire insufficiency of the usual prison food. The statement was made by M. J. Connolly belonging to the crew of the steamship Georgic that a German officer had, without provocation, severely kicked him in the abdomen. This assault is still causing Connolly severe suffering. The arm of Albert Depew of Yonkers, New York, was in a bandage. This was due to a wound caused by shrapnel shot by the Germans at an open boat in which, after the sinking of the Georgic, he and his comrades had taken refuge. Statements were made by all of the men that so inhuman has been their treatment that, in case during their voyage home a submarine was sighted, they would prefer immediate drowning rather than any further experience with the German prison camps.

This inhuman treatment was inflicted upon these seamen a month before relations were broken between the United States and Germany and while the most cordial friendship for America was professed by Germany.

No. 425.]

Ambassador Willard to the Secretary of State.

[Telegram.]

AMERICAN EMBASSY, Madrid, March 18, 1917.

Harlington last American citizen of Yarrowdale prisoners left for Denmark by Warnemunde, 13th instant.

WILLARD.

Consul General Hurst to the Secretary of State.

[Telegram.]

AMERICAN CONSULATE GENERAL,
Barcelona, April 28, 1917.

Remaining twenty-six members of Yarrowdale crew sailed from Barcelona yesterday on steamer Alicante of Spanish Line, due New York about May fourteenth. Also sailed on same steamer the eight officers of American steamer Seward, capture of which reported my telegram to Department April tenth, captain remaining Barcelona with crew.

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Mr. Grew reports that he has received from Minister Whitlock at Brussels copies of letters from the President of the Comité National de Secours et d'Alimentation of Brussels together with copies of orders in proof of the statements contained in the letters to the effect that complete lists of all workmen who are unemployed and who receive aid in the district (étape) have been demanded from the presidents of the local committees by the German military authorities, and that presidents were imprisoned if they refused to furnish the lists demanded. The President states that the object is to send such unemployed to Germany as laborers for military purposes. That men are forced to labor is proved by letters attached.1

No. 3497.]

The Acting Secretary of State to Chargé Grew.

[Telegram-Paraphrase.]

DEPARTMENT OF STATE, Washington, October 19, 1916.

Mr. Polk states that if Mr. Grew should deem it advisable he may draw to the Foreign Minister's attention informally and orally the action of the German military authorities in Belgium and its object as alleged.

1 Not printed.

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