Opening the Multilingual Archive of Australia

Diary of Progonstvo Hrvata, 1917

Item

Title

Diary of Progonstvo Hrvata, 1917

Subject

Internment camps--Australia

Prisoner-of-war camps

World War, 1914-1918--Sources

War diaries

War stories

New South Wales--History

Category

3. World War I

Keywords

Croatia

Current holder

State Library of New South Wales

Period of reference 

1917 – 1917

Link

https://collection.sl.nsw.gov.au/record/YzOg3Nd9

Series number

MLMSS 261/Box 6/Item 55

Item number

YzOg3Nd9

Access rights

Digitised

Rights 

Out of copyright, Please acknowledge: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales and Courtesy copyright holder.

Country of origin

Australia

Place

Holsworthy (Liverpool) Camp

Language 

Croatian

Description from source

1 volume of textual material

Title of diary translates as Internment of Croatians. An anonymous writer describes events in Holsworthy Internment Camp, Liverpool, New South Wales.

Physical format

Manuscripts

Diaries

Transcription

Anonymous author
(1)
No 150 Exercise book
(2)
Progonstvo Hrvata god. 1917. u Liverpoolu, New South Wales
Australia
(3)
Jadran iz Kalafornije U.S.A. Strana 18
Nova Dalmacija u Kalaforniji 20
Ugodna zabava pravoslavnog Božića 22
Iz inozemstva sirotinji šalje
Društvo iz Bouldera oslobodilo svoje članove 24
Oj Hrvati još ste živi 25
Rotnest 23/11 1915. 26
Dolazi ruski barjaktar u Liverpool 28
Mržnja hr. Narodnosti 30
Mržnja sve veća med Hrvatim 36
Pet protjeranih iz ograde 27/3 1917. god. 37
Protjerali 46. na 1/4tog strana 38 i 39
Na 3 /4 tri prošli sami iz ograde 41
Na 1 /4 ne htjeli na antret, dobili zatvor, kog
su nastupili 17 /4 43
Na 1 /5 oglas na tabuli 9 imena za progonit iz ogr. 44
O Josipu Renduliću 46
Oglas 3 /4 tko je pravio molbu neka izlazi iz ograde
Jerbo će proći prebijeni ledja 42
Pjevačko društvo 55
Evo jada glasa iznenada na 30 /5 56
Zanimiva pripovjedka S. I M. 70
Na 12 /7 opet bi trebalo progonit 74
Ja pisac gori od protjeranih M. mi je kazao na 23 /7 75
Počima istraga 77
Upravo smješno strana 78
Na šeširu napisali Hr. Iz Dal. Austrijak 79
Oglas na tabuli prvi put u robstvu mladim Hrvatima 80
Tolj od Vrgorca prima kaznu 81
Tučen ne smije plakati 84
Koncert pjevačkog Austrij. Društva 16 /11 1917.
Društveni ured Aust. Slavena
Nakanio sam početi novu Engl. Školu 85
Pismo Dalmatinca
Engl. Komesaraj pregleda stanje zarobljenika 21 /10 1917.
Dobrovoljci zarobljenici 86
Znanje neškolovanih 87
Roblje i kupanje 88
Hrvati izdali u robstvu urotu snuju jedni protiv drugim 89
(3)
Pokvarenost naroda na što doći može
Dragi čitatelji, evo sada u ova slaba ratna vremena pade mi na um da opišem življenje u inozemstvu našemu narodu Hrvat. i Dal. U drugu narodnost ne diram. Najprije dokazat moram ukratko svoju opačinu i pokvarenost, te ću onda krenuti napred. Hrvat sam iz Gorskog Kotara. Otac mi je bio siromah kao što ima i danas većina sirotinje u našem Kotaru. Otac mi bio nepismen, jerbo nije bilo škola i seljačkim se poslom bavio, zdrav čovjek je bio, uvijek radio što kod drugoga gledajući uvjek da dobije nadnicu kakova bila za prehranit mene i maćehu mi. Majke se ne sjećam, jerbo je umrla dok sam malen bio, te kada sam navršio sedmu godinu, morao sam polazit našu pučku školu jerbo je vlada izdala strogi nalog za djecu da moraju polazit na školu. To sada mogu dokazati da taj Vladin strogi zakon za školu mnogo je koristan za seljaka. U školi sam učio prilično. U školskim knjigama imali smo pjesmica kao što ima i danas. To još i sada pod stare dane dodje mi na pamet kako je učitelj pjevao pred nama diečacim, Bože živi čuvaj Bože Cara našeg i naš Dom. To mogu sigurno dokazati da sam u školi znao o našemu Kralju i Habsburškoj kući u Beču (o tom danas dosta jih ima što ovde u robstvu mute glavu, o tom naprvo ćete se osvjedočiti). Kada sam svršio školu, bio sam u dvanaestoj godini. Otac siromah to jedva dočekao, vodi me sa sobom na radnju. Prvi put me poveo u Sriem preko zime sjeći drva kod Popova, te nejačak dan i noć pilim po sniegu, tako do proljeća, a u proljeće idemo kući preko Slavonije pješice tražeći rada.
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To me tako zapade iz Sriema po nogam upravo kući. A šta smo dobili, upravo ništa, nešto poslali kući za prehranit maćehu. Od kuće smo pošli odma u šumu sjeć drva u našem Kotaru, u kom su gore velike, tu se pali ugljen. U zimi opet svuda po Austriji, tako dok sam navršio 20.-tu godinu. Otac zadovoljan, ima uvjek novac, ali ja siromak nejak se počeo teško mučiti, srdce mi je zdravo ali slab šivot, uvjek sa Otcem radim, ne znam šta je novac, riedko kada mi baci krunu, ali ja isto zadovoljan slušam otca. U to vrieme i maćeha mi umre, djece nebilo njezine, ja i otac živimo u kući bez ženske glave. Kuću smo imali malu i niešto zemlje. Ali sada red dolazi meni pod Levu (vižitu) [mobilizaciju]. Kada sam došao pod levu, nije me zapalo služiti jerbo sam bio slaba života. To mi je bila žalost, jerbo u ono vrieme u našoj okolici svaki je bio veseo kog je zapalo za vojnika, i dievojke ga sasvim volile. Ali toga danas nema. Te tako ja i otac unapred živimo bez ženske glave u kući. Obavijestit ću ja Otca, da mi dozvoli oženiti se, al me otac odvrati, ima vremena, ja isto zadovoljan, Otca mi je poslušati. Jesensko doba bilo, a mojih seljana nekoliko sprema se na radnju u Srbiju. Tu podjem i ja š njima, putovali smo s vlakom do Beograda, te napred do Ćuprije, odavde se radila pruga na selo Senj, napred na Manastir pokraj kule Miloš Obilića, izmed dvijeh veliki planina Klisure i Kačanika te napred do ugljenokopa. Tu gori uvjek jedna glavica. Tu smo radili par mjeseci, te dodje i otac mi k meni, dao sam mu sve što sam dobio, tu smo radili malo vremena, te se krenemo kroz Srbiju u Lapovo, na birtiji smo stali jedan dan i jednu noć. Tu nam se nije dopadao narod. Birtaš nam nije dao daleko
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setati od kuće u večer kad je sunce zalazilo, zabranio nam iz kuće izlazit napolje. Od tale sjednemo na vlak za Beograd, te tražeći rada zaustavimo se u Valpovu, Slavonija. Tu radimo do prolieća, te onda krenemo kući. Otac ima sve što smo dobili, ali kuća nam bez ženske glave. Birtija nam uz kuću, otac uvjek tamo. Hrane nešto kupio te ja kuham i jedem, a otac za moje kuhanje i ne mari mnogo. Ali ću ja otca upitati nebi li mi dopustio da se oženim. Otac kad me razumi o čemu govorim, odvrati mi, još imaš vremena. Nu što sada razmišljam, otac je otac, starijeg mora se slušati, za otca je dobro ima novaca, a meni kad se sjeti baci krunu, a neimam niti odiela kao ostali mladići. Otac me drži uza se upravo kao cigan medvieda. Malo zatim počeo sam prislušavat da mi se otac namislio ženit, već čujem isprosio udovicu. Šta da počnem sada, moram upitati otca o ženidbi njegovoj, ali na moj upit otac se strašno razljutio, za ubiti me da ne pobjegnem. Kako da počnem sada, hrane što bilo u kući potrošio sam a otac više ne kupuje, on jede po birtijama. Na sreću mi priskoči komšijica, bila žena dobre duše, te vidila šta se radi od mene, ponudi mi putni trošak, moram odlazit, namislim u Oršavu [Romania], tamo sam čuo da ima mojih seljana. Platim do Oršave 8 kruna, radnja bila na Srpski kraj u Grebenu, tu sam radio kroz ljeto. Otac doznao za mene, te dodje k meni, oženio se nije, stao raditi ali mu se ne dopada, mjesec dana što je radio ali više neće, ostavi te podje u šumu. Zove i mene da idem sa njim. Ali ja taj put ne htjede poći a novaca mu nisam dao. Za malo vremena piše mi iz Pančeva da dodjem k njemu nu tu sam se prevario, pošao sam tamo, najdem ga u šumi, izgleda kao bolestan pileći drva dan i noć. Tu dok ga ugledam bacim mu sav novac što sam imao, odma otac dok dobio novac veselije izgleda. Tu radimo malo vremena
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te se premjestimo u Topolovac kod Temešvara. Tu smo bili nekoje vreme te se premjestimo u Detu, Banat [today Romania], tu otcu pade nešto na pamet, ode kući, novac pobrao sav što smo dobili. Ja ostade tu raditi neko vrieme te opet podjem u Greben di sam prije bio, tu radim malo vrieme, te podjem kući jerbo mi je poći pod levu treći red. Došao sam kući, izručim otcu nešto novca što sam imao, za vojnika me nije zapalo. Opet ću upitati otca o ženitbi. Otac me odvratio kao i prije, počeli smo popravljat kuću, tu za mene rada i previše, prat i kuhat i sve ostalo, žene u kući nema, sve na mene pripada. Dodje jesen a ja odlazim na radnju u Oršavu, platim 8 kruna vlaka, iz Oršave preko Dunaja u Sip na Srpski kraj, tu je radnja bila tri godine, tu dođe i otac mi k meni, preko zime radimo do prolieća, tu dobijemo liepu svotu novca. Otac se odpravi kući, ponio sa sobom sve što smo dobili, a ja ostanem dalje, radim par mjeseci, te dobijem glas od prijatelja da mi se otac oženio. To me razžalosti kako sam otcu prekomjerno bio dobar, pak mi se nedade oženiti, a on treći put. Što ću početi razmišljam tužan al koristi nije, radim dalje a za otca i ne marim više. Kad sam već novaca niešto zaslužio, priuči se ja sa ostalim barakinim kartati, ali moja sreća na karte, uvjek gubim. Dodje mi na pamet da je bolje za me ostavit se igre i birtija, tako i učinim. Radim nekoliko mjeseci, pričuvam 200 kruna, ali u jesen eto mi otca od kuće, novaca ne dam ja više. Otac stao raditi jedan mjesec dana, te ostavi tu radnju ide nekud u šumu, zove i mene da idem š njim, ili da mu novaca dam. Odgovorim mu hajde sretno otče, ubrzo ću i ja doći k vama; tako se rastade sa otcem. Za nekoliko dana mojih nekoliko drugova sprema se za Carigrad i ja ću š njima. U Kladovu (Srbija) sjednemo na ladju do Crne Vode u Rom. I od tale sa vlakom do Kostanca Rom. A iz Kost.
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Parobrodom do Carigrada. Iz Carig. parobrodom u Arbaniju do Porto Lago. Tu je stanovao naš Konzul Austrijski, njemu se prijavimo te krenemo napred na noge kroz planine do sela Karasa. To je bio prvi dan, tu smo noćili, drugi dan stigli smo na mjesto zvano Anikoj. Robu su nam deve nosile. Tu se radila pruga, ali kad smo razgledali, nije nam se dopadala ta radnja, tu ćemo se razdieliti, jedni podju na Salonice u Bulgariju, a ja sa dva druga vratim se natrag u Portolago. Dodjemo do Konzula, pitamo kad putuje parobrod za Carigrad, odgovori nam danas ili sjutra, ovo mu je zadnji put za ovu zimu. To je bilo pred Božić, voznu cienu platili mu na polak. Parobrod stigao i vraća se natrag za Carigrad. Kad smo u Carig.. zimsko doba, radnje nema, kuda ćemo, novac potrošili, nešto malo još imamo, nije drugo najliepše bi nam bilo da idemo natrag u Srbiju ali nemamo za platit parobrod. Podjemo do našeg G. Konzula, kad nas saslušao dao nam karte za putovanje, platili smo četvrti dio. Tako krenemo parobrodom za Kostancu u Romaniji, iz Kost. vlakom u Crnu vodu, od tale ladjom po Dunaju do Oršave. Tu predjemo preko Dunaja na Srpsku stranu u Sip di smo prije bili. Tako sam se svuda skitao, prolaze mjeseci i godine ništa ne prištedi, naučio kartat isto tako i piti. Dosadilo mi 27.-mu godinu na više. Dodje mi na pamet idem kući da vidim kako mi otac živi od kad se oženio, novaca imam sasvim malo. Dodjem kući, vidim siromaštvo ko što i prije, o ženitbi i ne mislim više. Malo vrieme bio sam kod kuće, te se vratim opet u Oršavu. Tu sad radnje nebilo, vratim se natrag u Hermeštat [Romania], tu se radila pruga do granice Romanije. Tu sam radio ciele zime, o prolieću krenem u Kralovan u Českoj, tu pruga nije bila počela raditi, od tale pojdem u Bukovinu nedaleko granice ruske, radila se pruga, tu sam malo vremena bio, zapalo me odatle sa jednim mi drugom putovat na noge u Černovitcu pak na Stanislav, te

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Kroz planine na Kerešmezu pak napred na Siget Marmaruš, te onda u Satmar, dalje u Noćkarol. Tu sam sjeo na vlak za Oršavu, imao sam 8 kruna u koje se nisam smio dirati, čuvao sam jih za potrebu veliku koja me je sada stigla ovde u Noćkarolu u putu vozeć se u vlaku, nesreća ide uza me za koju se nisam ni nadao, u Temešvaru iztekla me karta, napred ne mogu, nije druga hajd na noge po starom običaju, 4 dana do Orš. Proseći kruha. Tu stadem raditi malo vremena nasta zima, nadjem druga te podjem u šumu sjeći drva kod Karašebeša, o prolieću krenem u Kralovan u Česku, tu radim nekoje vreme, slaba plaća, ne mogu ništa zaštediti, na moju nesreću skupi jih se nekoliko, idu u Beč, namislim i ja s njima, platili vlak do Beča, preteklo mi nekoliko novčića. Došli tamo, radnje ima, pravio se kanal po sredini grada, nekoliko mi drugova podje odma u Njemačku, samo dvojica ostanemo raditi, na 13.stom bicirku (kotaru) kod Talijana, radio sam jedan dan, Talijan me odpravi, ne da mi više raditi, stanovanje sam bio pogodio u jednoj kući 4 krune na sedmicu, spavao sam na petom katu dvi sam noći prenoćio, drugu noć ujutro rano ustanem i obučem robe malo više, te podjem kroz grad, nemam komu reći Zbogom jerbo ako čuje kućegospodar morao bi platiti 4 krune, a ja nemam nego 10 novčić, roba mi ostala ali malo vriednosti, kupim kruha za sav novac što sam imao te putujem napred kroz grad, po pol dana izidjem na kraj grada, ogladnem idem u kuće pitati kruha te već pred večer naidjem na jednu kuću kod Dunaja tu prevozi preko na Česki kraj, dokažem čovjeku u kakvom sam stanju. Čovjek dobar preveze me preko, tu radnje ima dosta ali slaba plaća, tu sam prenoćio te ujutro putujem pomalo napred, poslie podne u nieko doba stignem u grad Prežburg (Požun), tu ugledam puliciju idem k njemu upita me

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šta bi rada, zamolim ga da me povede do gradskog Načelnika, odma pulicaj rada posluša i povede me do njega. Načelnik me upita šta bi rada. Odgovaram mu da me odpravi u Hrvatsku. Progovori Nač., ne mogu do subote, a taj dan bio je ponediljak, metne me u zatvor, tu jih nadjem petnajst, jelo dobivamo jedan put na dan ali sasvim dobro i dosta ga je bilo. Dodje subota, polazim na vlak, sa mnom ide jedan pulicaj upravo do Pešte. Tu sam stao 2 sata, odprave me preko u Budim do gradskog Načelnika. Tu najdem osam drugova iz Like, idu isto kao i ja. Tu nas spremi na vlak, do Zakana jedan pulicaj ide s nami. Tu smo došli na noć kod Upravitelja. Ujutro nas odpravi na vlak i pošalje s nama jednog čovjeka do Koprivnice u Hrvat. Tu smo stigli popol dana, dozvoli nam da možemo ako noćemo tražiti radnje. Ličani podju na jedan kraj di jim je poznato bilo, a ja kući ne volim, krenem preko Hrvat. na Osijek te u Sriem na Petarvaradin, tu predjem preko Dunaja u Novi Sad, a od tale bos i obujen preko Banata u Temešvar. Dana koliko sam izgubio to nisam brojio, bez novca uvjek, di bi ogladnio tu se najavim u kuću. Iz Tem. put upravo u Oršavu. Tu sam stigao baš sasvim dobro, Dunaj pao sasvim malen, tu sam dobio radnju zidati jednu krunu od metra. Tu sam radio pet sedmica, digao se Dunaj, radit se ne može više, u to pet sedmica ostalo mi 260 kruna, to bilo u Sipu na Srpsku stranu. Sada kuda ćemo krenuti, preko moramo u Oršavu. Podjem sa društvom u birtiju, tu sam malo vremena bio sa družinom, ali se brzo izgubi od njih, znao sam za drugu birtiju di se kartaju, dodjem tamo društvo za kartati uvjek gotovo, počeli kartati, ali ja ubrzo izgubim 190 kruna, ne smim više, moram ostaviti igru. Zima ubrzo, radnje nema, mora se odlazit, prešli u Orš. Te krenemo u Peštu, od tale se razletimo kud koji. Ja sa jednim drugom vratim se opet u Oršavu, tu smo bili par dana te podjemo opet na Peštu pa u Sriem nedaleko

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Karlovaca uz Dunaj, kopao se kamen koji služi za Banat, tu ja stadem raditi 2 krune nadnica, moram jerbo nemam više ni novčića, a drug mi ne htjede tu raditi pošao dalje, tu radim nekoliko dana, dobijem plaću 10 kruna te odma podjem igrati na karte, izgubim sve, te se onda umirim, opet bez novčića ali na moju sreću, sprema se nekoliko ovakovih kao i ja u Brzavu (Simbirg) i ja bi rada šnjima. Kupili kartu i za mene, došli tamo kopati kamen za vapnenicu (krečanu), radimo tri mjeseca, novaca nemamo zakartamo i zapijemo, odma dok dobijemo plaću. Prestade radnja, tu se razletimo kud koji, a ja sa jednim drugom namislim u Romaniju. Imamo obadva 6 kruna, stali putovat malo gdje se povezemo, ali većinom pješice, na Hermestat pak na selo Bojicu, te u Lazaret na granicu našu i Romansku, odma preko granjice radi se pruga kroz Rom. Ali nije lahko preći preko granjice u Lazaretu, na birtiji ima 150 Talijana koji su poslali putnice u Peštu na Rom konzula da podpiše, jerbo drugčije ne da u Rom. Ali nama nije do podpisivanja, tu nas se skupilo šest koji bi rada preć u Rom. Dogovorimo se, hajdemo preko planina, tako i učinimo, cieli dan smo hodali po planinama, u večer se spustimo med barake, tu najdemo poznatih, cieli dan što smo hodili po brdinam, to bi bili prešli za pet minuta da smo smieli pravim putem. Sjutra dan podjem ja sa drugom napred, najdemo radnju za zidati, tu dok smo počeli raditi platimo porez, jerbo je taj običaj u Romana. Ako iz druge države dodje svaki mora da plati. Stanovali smo u baraki sa Crnogorcima i našim Tirolcima, bilo nas trideset, hranili se na kantini svak za sebe kupovao, gospodar nam bio Talijan kod kog smo radili, dozvoli nam da jedan kuha, to je zapalo mene, plaća se primala na dva mjeseca. Kad sam navršio kuhajuć dva mjeseca, svaki koj je hranu davao traži plaću od mene kuhara, a ja tražit moram ljude što kog po računu zapada. Počeo sam kupiti novac, neki plati sve što dužan

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A neki Polak, a dosta jih koji ništa, govore mi platit ćemo drugu plaću. Što ću početi, za mlieko došao Roman, platim ga odma, isto i kruh, a sjutra će me svi napasti za plaću, oružnici su na konjim doći će i oni, a ja komaj skupio polak novca a svog novca imam do 200 Lei (kruna) te ako stanem pošteno plaćati, sav moj novac neće dosta biti za podmirit račun, onda ću još dobiti batine od oružnika. Razmislim treću godinu se skitam, pa sada plaćati za barakine gore nego sam sam oni bez brige piju a ja još se nadam i batine dobiti. E tako neću pa nikako, dva su sata do granjice di sam ulazio ovamo, mrak se ulovio, putujem pa što Bog dao. Di bi čuo štropot konja, to sam već znao da su oružnici, sklonim se u brdo dok prodju pokraj mene, te opet napred. Kad sam bio u blizini granice, sklonim se u grmlje te čekam zoru, rano u zoru idem polako uz planinu, provlačeć se kao mačka kad miša lovi. Kad sam se popeo na vrh, bila je magla, čujem pod planinom stražu razgovarajuć, moram niz planinu. Spustim se polahko u dolinu, ali preda mnom je voda duboka do pojasa, koja dieli Austriju [crossed out] Ungariju i Rom. Preko vode put kud mogu kola prolaziti. Tu vojnik Roman na straži šeta, preko puta naša velika planina. Sada mi druga nije, moram napred, nazad nesmim. Motrim dobro iza grma vojnika kuda će krenuti. Vojnik šetajuć krene zaokret, a ja sa svom brzinom preko vode uz planinu svoju. Popeo sam se u brzini 40 metara, čujem glas šćapće moj (stani). Nasmijem se i viknem, nu me plaše napoj (ne volim nazad). Tako idem uz planinu, i gustokrat se nazad obrnem, ne bi li se on penjao za mnom, ali razuman mladić pak neće. Da se je krenio uz planinu za mnom, vraćao bi ga natrag, ne bi mu dao na svoju zemlju, jerbo na svomu je čovjek mnogo siguriji negoli na tudjem. Tako dodjem u Hermeštat, tu promjenim novac, te krenem u Peštu. Tu najdem
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družine više idu u Beč, i ja krenem š njima. Iz Beča podjemo do Rahinberga. Tu se radila pruga, ali slaba plaća. Tu nećemo ni jedan ostati. Družina mi podje u Nemačku, a ja se odpravim kući. Treća godina što se skitam, dosadilo mi, u tridesetoj sam godini. Dojdem kući, najdem otca i maćehu, živu u siromaštvu kao i prije kad sam od njih otišao. Novaca što sam donio to jim dam. Lietnje doba, idem raditi po nadnicam, a o ženitbi više i ne mislim. Kod kuće sam bio malo vriemena, nasta jesen, došao jedan iz obližnjeg sela, koji je bio sluga kod jednog poslovodje od fabrike. Kašnje sam dočuo da je ta fabrika bila u Kočevlju u Hrvat. Ovaj poslovodja govorio je nemački, drugog govora nije znao. Imao je nieku tisuću kruna, te se dogovorio sa slugom da će skupa u Zapadnu Australiju i povest hoće sa sobom radnika njekoliko. Tako je i bilo. Ovaj sluga dodje u moje selo i skupi nas sedam neženjeni. Kazao nam da njegov grof hoće platit sav putni trošak od Rieke napred. Došlo vrieme za putovat. Dodjemo na Rieku, tu nas dočekao grofov sluga, vodi nas u birtiju, plati nam pit i jest, ali tu ugledamo više družine za skupa putovat. Ovaj grofov sluga ima sa sobom ženu i dvoje diece, jedan vrtlar iz Požege ima sobom kćer i sina, isto iz Pož. Jedan radnik šnjima, i tu je tog grofa žena, a njega nema. Šesnajst svih nas ima bez lažljivog grofa. Idemo u vlak za Genovu. Došli smo u Veneciju, tu nas dočeka i taj grof, te putujemo zajedno napred. Tu nam se taj grof činio sumljiv kad nas nije na Rieci dočekao, ali nama to ne smeta, samo neka plati parobrod. Stignemo u Genovu, tu stojimo jedan dan te sjeli na njemački parobrod. Stali smo u portim u Napuli te u Port sajt, u Ademu pak u Kolombu te u Fremantlu, tu smo izišli na kopno, izgubili smo 25 dana na moru. Odtale smo krenuli sa vlakom do kolodvora St. Mary, dvadeset milja od Albani. Tu radimo četrnajst dana, al da vidiš grofa i sluge njegova, ne zna se koji je gori, rado bi da jim radimo 14 sati
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a ovde se ne radi nego osam sati. Tu za četrnajst dana što smo radili, dali nam svakom svoj ček od niekoliko šilina (šilin 60 novčića). Živit se ne može kod te naše gospode, ugovora nikakova putem nismo pravili, hajdmo do Albani da tražimo drugu sreću. Došli u grad, idemo na banak da promjenimo čekove što smo dobili, ali na banku čekove nam prekriži, ne vriede više, to je naš grof brzojavio na banak da tako učini, što ćemo sada, govorit ne znamo engleski. Ali gdje je nesreća tu i sreće ima. Namjerimo se na jednog Talijana koji je kući hodio, a ja sam razumio niešto malo govorit talijanski, te mu dokažem što je s nama. Advokat nas primi i hrani nas četiri dana do suda, kad je bilo na sudu, pravdu dobijemo mi, sud nam dozvoli da možemo kuda hoćemo, ako ne mislimo u ovoj zemlji biti, da nas mora voziti natrag. Još nas advokat stao putiti da nam je liepše hoditi natrag di smo i radili, dok zaradimo koju liru, a moguće koju rieč naučimo govoriti, te onda kud hoćemo i kad hoćemo možemo proći. Tako i učinimo, podjemo natrag, te radimo šest sedmica, nećemo više, primili plaću te odlazimo. Kupimo kartu do Kalgoorli. Još u putu vozeć se vlakom na kolodvoru Satinkros [Southern Cross] dodje k nama jedan od naši krajeva od Senja. Engleski zna govoriti, veseli mi njemu, š njim će nam lašnje biti. Došli u Kalgoorli te nas naš novi drug odma vodi u Boulder. Tu su sve sami zlatokopi. Tu žive mnogo našega naroda iz Dalmacije, ali nama nije nitko poznat. Od tale naš novi drug povede nas napred 20 milja na noge do Padigtona. Tu najdemo dva Talijana sa ženami, koji su došli skupa s nama na parobrodu. Tu stanemo raditi, radimo dva mjeseca, ali naš Senjanin cieli barakin, razboli se jednog dana ne ide na radnju, ali ta njegova bolest slutila drugčije. On je mislio dignuti ček od sve radnje te uloviti maglu
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Ali dok je on ostao ne ide na radnju, to je meni sumljivo bilo, jerbo sam više puta prije bio naučen od nepoznatih drugova. Podjem ujutro sa Tal. Na radnju, te ga zamolim da se vrati do gospodara od posla i javi mu ako bi koji odlazio od našega društva da mu nesmi dati novac dok ne budemo svi skupa. Talijan me posluša te se vrati i dokaže gosp. sve kako sam mu dokazao. Kad na veče dodjemo na mjesto di su nam šatori bili za spavati, vidimo Senjanina, ljutit izgleda, nije mu pošlo za rukom, te nam progovori da idemo š njim do gosp., jerbo da će odlazit. Podjemo svi ujedno do gospodara od posla, te nam plati svakomu svoje što smo radili. Tu se rastanemo, jedni podju sa Senjaninom, a ja sa trojicom ostanem dalje raditi, nama se dopada ta radnja. Služimo mjesečno 8 do 9 lira (funta) i hranu, tu radimo niekoliko mjeseci, te onda ostavimo. Podjemo do grada Kalgoorli, iz grada se razišli tražiti svaki svoju sreću. Novaca imamo, i naučili smo niekoliko rieči Engleski, te smo sigurniji nego onda kad smo došli od kuće. Ja podjem na Kurrawang, tu je kumpanija koja ima najviše ljudi u šumi za sjeći drva. Dodjem u šumu, radnje dosta, ljudi trebaju. Tu sam stao raditi. Od Austrije našao sam niekoliko Tirolaca. Za šest mjeseci nisam imao s kim progovoriti hrvatski. Nakon tog vriemena počeli dolazit Hr. I Dalmatinci. Radnja u šumi sasvim teška, ali se isto moglo prištediti liepa novca, ali o štednji nije govora, malo jih takovih, Englezi igrači i pijanci, što dobiju to lahko urede, ali k njima se ubrzo pridruže naš narod i Talijani, igre ponedieljom bey prestanka, pivu voze na kolim po šuman, di kod koji radi, tu trgovci sa pivom nadju ga. Tako prolaze badave vremena pjani. Takovim društvima više tri godine, mogu reći da sam zaslužio liepu svotu novca, al zaludu kad je prošao svuda. Dvi hiljade kruna poslao sam otcu, a meni nije mnogo preteklo, odniele igre i piće prekomierno, evo kova na žalost našega. Naroda ima veliki broj, koji ne može zaštediti upravo ništa. Sada polazim kući
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Novaca sam imao do 70 lira [funti], platim parobrod, i što sam u putu potrošio svega do 30 lira. Dodjem kući našao sam ništa bolje nego što sam ostavio. Otac potrošio sve što sam mu poslao, još se i zadužio. Šta ću početi, nikako mi nije po volji, stojim tri mjeseca kod kuće te se vratim opet u Australiju. U to sam se vrieme i oženio, neću da duljim sve potanko, jerbo bi knjiga velika bila, već u kratko da prije svršim. Sedam puta sam prešao ocean u Australiju i iz nje u Domovinu, 1900. pošao sam prvi put u Austral. A 1915. na 20/5 zapao u robstvo, di se i sada nalazim ovo pišuć u god. 1917toj. Dalje mogu dokazati da u svo ovo vrieme mali imam napredak, putni troškovi mnogo koštaju, kući sam slati morao uvjek. Englezi u ovoj zemlji sasvim razkalašeno živu, igre kud se kreneš svud jih ima, u Boulderu na zlatokopim. Tu našeg naroda radi veliki broj, ali malo koji što zaštedi, a mladost upravo ništa. Primili običaj od Engleza, na zlatokopim radi se osam sati, tu mladost naša kad dodje s rada, odma se presvuče, obuče na se novo odielo, odieven je svaki liepo, lanac zlatni riedko koji se nadje da nema i prstenje po rukama, te takovo društvo podje u grad, u pivaru di toče engles. Dievojke piju. One su lukave kao lisice kad kokoši love, tu jedan zovne piće za sve i za dievojke koje su u pivari, novac izvadi i plati prije negoli piće dodje na banak. To je običaj engl. Taj običaj naša mladost rada prima. Kad piće natoče dievojke i metnu na banak, uzme svak svoju čašu, te se kucnu jedan sa drugim i sa dievojkam govoreći izlok, to je valda zdravo ili sretno, te se pijući razgovaraju sa dievojkam, od tale podju u drugu pivaru, tamo plati drugi za sve kao što je i prvi, te tako redom dok se svi obrede, tako prolaze mjeseci i godine, uvjek prazni džepovi, takove mladosti veliki broj, po stotine moguće bi našao deset koji štede i pomažu roditelje. Boulder je mali grad, tu je najveća

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radnja od zlatnih ruda. U blizini Bouldera grad je Kalgoorli, na toj radnji ima našeg naroda veliki broj, ima i takovih koji su mladi došli u Boulder te su i ostarili uvjek pokraj ove radnje, kući nikada ništa poslali nisu, a niti putnog troška roditeljim nisu poslali, ostavili otca u dugu te isto danas ništa nemaju, izučili govoriti engleski, to jim sav profit u životu njihovu. Dosta jih koji se oženili sa engl dievojkam, množina jih dopremilo dievojke iz domovine, ožene se s njima, naprave kuće od drva i pleha, nieki veću nieki manju kako koji može, te živu sa družinom svakako a najviše naopako, riedko koji može štagod prištediti, svaki oženjeni prodaje potajno piće, tu su sastanki od naših radnika, tu su igre za piće i za novac, tu se mladost uduži dok plaću primi, kad plaću primi plati što komu dužan ne ostane mu ništa, mora da zaboravi roditelje, kad nemore sam sebe pokrivat. Da me tko upita da li ovaj narod ide ikada u crkvu, to bi lahko odgovorio, jer sam siguran da o crkvi ni pojma nema, a mogu istinu reći, znam da se prevario ne bi, da jih ima i takovih koji još nikad nije bio kod sv. Mise, Bog i Gospa to skoro u svakoj rieči čuti ćeš psovati. Učeniji koji su izučili govoriti engleski s tim se mnogo ponašaju, u domovinu ne misle nikada, izmišljaju skloniti kakove zajednice, sastajanje društava svakojakih, u Boulderu najprije su izumili društvo Jugoslovensko, predsjednikom se prozvao Jure Stela, tu nagovara jedan drugoga, hajde upiši se u društvo di se čitaju novine, Jadran iz Kalifornije, Zora iz Zilande, Sviet Hrvatski iz Amerike. Dalje govorit ću malo od oni što sječu drva po šumam. Kumpanija Kurrawang tu je bilo najviše i našeg naroda na radnji nazad šest godina uvjek je bilo previše naroda, sve dok je rat nastao, svaki koji dodje od kuće, najprije se najavi u Kal. i u Boulder, te ako tu ne dobije radnje, ide u Kurrawang u šumu (Kalgoorli izgovara se Kalgurli, Boulder izg. Bolder, Kurrawang izg. Kuravan).

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Radnje se nije moglo lahko dobiti, Englezi su postavljeni svuda kod posla za nadgledati radnike. Radnici od naših krajeva, koji stoje više vremena na jednom mjestu, oni su poznati sa poslovodjom, te moraju moliti i svakako ugovarati za nove koji dojdu od kuće, tako nieki dobiju radnju a niekoji i ne mogu po šest i više mjeseci. Tako prolaze u grad i svuda po šumam tražiti radnje, zaduži se i tako mu prolazi badave vrieme, koji rade u Kur. U šumi, i njihovo vladanje slabo izgleda, ljudi naučili poslovodje na piće, te malo koji da uvjek u šatoru pića nema jer puno svieta te se svaki boji da će ga odpraviti s radnje. Narod ovaj šest dana radi a sedmi posla najviše ima, pere robu, krpi, orudje popravlja to sve do pol dana, popol dana igra za novac, još i cielu noć, pive puna kola na više mjesta, familijarni ljudi koji ne igraju oni zaštede i kući odlaze i vraćaju se natrag, a mladost uvjek prazni žepovi, ne znam bili mogao u svoj ovoj zemlji naći deset postotini koji štede, nije jim moguće ni trošak otcu vratiti, tako jim godine prolaze da zaborave na domovinu. Iz šume koji dodje u grad odma nadje poznatih koji dokazuju za društvo Jugoslavensko, u čitanju svakojakih novina. Sada u ovo ratno vrieme u robstvo goni, puti jedan drugoga društvo će te osloboditi, hajde se upiši, takovi jedva čekaju, jerbo godine izgubio badave, kući ne bi rada nikako, od kuće mlad pošao, nikakva nauka nije donio u svojoj glavi, krenio za nevaljalim društvom, te i ono malo što bilo izgubio, ostala mu glava prazna, te luta kao muha bez glave kud ga tko naputi, jer ne zna razabrati zlo i dobro. Pokvarena i razkalašena ova zemlja, tri diela naroda ima. Tu je i mene igra upropastila, isto i piće sam se prekomjerno držao, ali isto sam nastojao da mi barem štogod preteče, jerbo kad bi došao u robstvo di sam sada bez ništa, star sam sada 47 godina a po hrani
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Kako me ovde hrane uvjeren sam da ne bi danas pisao ove knjige. Još mogu dokazati i ovo, sve ovo vrieme što sam po ovoj zemlji, i koliko sam hodio svuda po Evropi, mogu kazati da nikada nisam znao niti slušao govora o državi, već sam nastojao svoj rad i uludo uništijo svoj trud. Za to danas ne mogu kriviti nikog nego svoju ludu glavu. Ratno je vrieme nastalo, cieli sviet strada, nije mi druga, nego moliti se Bogu da dušmani ne provale u domovinu. Dalje dokazat mogu i ovo, došao sam iz šume u grad Kal. To je bilo prije nego sam pošao u robstvo, tu sam stao niekoliko dana, prislušavam o čemu se narod razgovara, jednog opazim di čita novinu engl. I govori hoće stric Rus, slušam dalje razgovore, ima jih koje sam poznavao, ima jih koje i nisam, svi su iz Austrije, mislim da bi jim što odgovorio, al se bojim jerbo sam bio sam, a oni su svi jednog društva, al mi dosadilo slušajući, ne mogu podnositi, progovorim, čujete, Austrija može stradati, ali rata izgubiti neće. Odgovore mi oštro, hajde bolje da mučiš, što moze Djerman i Austrija, dosta jim je samo Rusa, niti njemu neće moći ništa učiniti, a gdje su svi ostali koji će udarit na nje. Opet moram jim odvratiti, ako ta sreća Rusu i Montenegru, Srbiji preskoči da rat dobiju, onda će se morat oni prekrstiti na vjeru katoličku, tu sam jih uvriedio, ljuto mi odgovore pusti vjeru na miru, u vjeru ne diraj. Zamislim se, nu djavola, kakovi tudju vjeru čuvaju, a svoju neprestano grde, sjetim se da su ovi Jure Stele društva Jugoslavenskoga iz Bouldera, odgovorim jim, kako da vjeru pustim na stranu već evo sada dvi hiljade godina da se Isus radio, i ostavio zakon novi po kojem moramo svi vjerovati a više se rodit neće, za Rusa i ostale. Dalje me prestave Francu, i tu sam jim odgovorio, koliko razlike izmedju Fran. I Austrije, tog bilo više neću da duljim, i jedan mi progovori da će dovest pulicaja, odgovorim nu kad hoćeš dovedi ga, ja ga se ne stidim. Tako se rastanemo taj dan
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Još i ovo, u šumi gdje sam radio, poznavao sam ... od ... la, najdem na radnji trojicu, namećali drva u vagone, došao sam iznenada, diele zemlje Austrije i Njemačke. To su bila dva, jedan katolik, ovaj katolik bio veliki prijatelj Kriš. Izašao sa školja Rotnesta na slobodu, pod tri neprijateljske zastave, zatečem u rieči ovog kat. Govori Carigrad bi morao zapasti Rusu. Kriš. mu odgovori, e kako podiele (opaze me, Kriš. Mi progovori o kako je Švabo) znao bi mu odgovorit, ali ne smiem, odgovaram liepo, razmislim što liepše i polaganije dalje se može doći. Još i ovo, jednog dana u nedielju pod drvom u hladu, ovaj gore kat. I njekoliko mu drugova, veselo se razgovaraju, e vala jim našim u Zilandi, junaci su kad su zapalili na kući Konzula zastavu Austrije. Tu je viest novina Zora iz Zilande odma veselo razglasila po Australiji. Dodje vrieme, polazi se u robstvo, ljudi u ovoj šumi nisu svi na jednom mjestu, ima jih kod ove kumpanije Kurrawang na četiri mjesta. Jednu milju i do dvi daleko jedni od drugi zadnje jutro dodje. Nadziratelj svih ljudi u šumi na kanap (mjesto) di sam bio, poznat mi je više godina te mi progovori, vi ljudi sada odlazite, ali ubrzo hoćete natrag, pet do šest nedielja siguran sam da se hoćete vratiti. Na to mu odgovorim, može biti da se kada vratimo, ali može biti i nikada. Nije dalje govorio, upita me... kaže mi jih po imenu, govori mi oni su Srbi (odgovorim mu, jedne smo zastave, u ovoj šumi nema Srba), on mi još govori, oni kažu da su Srbi, odvratim mu, kazao sam što su, neka budu što hoće, ja odlazim sa ostalom družinom u robstvo, a ovi ostali, kašnje sam dočuo da su potrošili liepu svotu novca praveći molbe na ruskog Konzula. Još bi mogao štogod o njima govoriti, al ne volim o vragovima toliko pisati ni trošiti karte
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Kad smo došli na školj Rotnest, tu sam razgledao mjesto, naroda tu mi bilo poznata i nepoznata, govora nisam mnogo imao sa nijednim. Kad za nieko vrieme, vidim di se sprema društvo na slobodu, tri zastave pred njima, pjevanje sa vojnicim engl. A ovi što ostaju hule za njima. Vojnici jih raztjeravaju i pucaju. Od tada sam počeo izpitavati ove poznate i prislušavat, jerbo nisam znao do sada niti ikada čuo o čemu narod snuje. Kad nas premjestilo u Liverpool, već mi je bila puna glava te sam motrio šta narod radi i kako se ponaša, te sam počeo pisati štagod glavnoga. Tako mi i vrieme prolazilo. Napred o svemu.

[newspaper clipping]
Jadran (The Adriatic)
The Leading Croatian Newspaper on the Pacific Coast
San Francisco-Oakland, Cal., četvrtak dne 13. siječnja (January 13) 1916.
Piše Jadran iz San Franciska na 13/1 1916.
Boulder West Australia 23/11 1915. Hrvatsko Slovensko Društvo Juro Stela presjednik, Stjepan Borić podpresjednik, Šimun Borić Tajnik, Mihovil Silić blagajnik, Čedomir Bušelić knjižničar, Narodni odbor Mihovil Roščić i Nikola Marić. Ovo društvo ima do sada 126 članova
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Obrazovani Jugoslavenski Odbor sakupio 400 lira do dvi hiljade dolara. Poslali našoj kosovki dievojki, bratckoj Srbiji i Crnoj Gori, Jugoslavenskom odboru u Londonu i Crvenom krstu Australije. Naš velevriedni Hrvat gosp. Anton Kličinović i Šantić ravnatelj tamburaškog zbora priredili u korist bratske Srbije i Crne Gore divni koncerat, uz sudielovanje biranih pjevača i pjevačica, i engleskih plesačica u Kalgoorlie gradskoj viećnici, koju dobismo badava, dne 26/8 1915. Koncerat je liepo uspio, a čisti prihod poslan je Srpskom i Crnogorskom Crvenom Krstu. Jugoslavensko društvo u Boulderu West Australia pozdravlja i hvali Jadran da pošrtvovno radi za svetu Jugoslavensku stvar, tj. Za slogu i jedinstvo Hrvata i Srba i Slovenaca, Društvo iz Bouldera. Da dugo živi i uvjek napreduje naš dični Jadran, Upravni odbor H.S. društva u Boulderu. Ovi pišu mi ne da smo hrvati, nego oduševljeni Jugoslaveni.
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Svi ovi rodom iz Dal. Poglavice od izdajstva domovine svoje. Članovi njihovi bili zatvoreni na Rotnestu malo vriemena, te su izišli pod zastavom pjevajuć na Engl. Fran. I Ruskom, izišlo jih 75, svi iz Dal. Bila su tri Hrvata medju njima. Za ovim bilo jih još zapisano za izić na slobodu rusku, te jih niekoliko izišlo a svim nije uspjelo. O njima napried hoćete naći. Urednik Jadrana Frano Akačić.

Iz Merike gdje si sad Jadrane
Ta novina ne vidi nam rane
Hrvatom se tamo mnogo hvališ
Srbe Ruse ti jih puno slaviš
Crnogorca njega sasvim štuješ
A za roblje danas i ne čuješ
Dievojke nam u robstvo su slale,
Oko Sidni što su stanovale
Što su mogle to su sakupile
I čarapa one su kupile
Tužnom roblju one jih poslale
Sirote jih same neimale
Ti Jadrane kamo tvoja hvala
Hrvat zvati nije danas šala
Zatvoreni Hrvati su danas
Ali Jadran ne mari za nas

U robstvu je pedeset Hrvata
Mogo si jim poslat malo zlata
U boju su Hrvati Jadrane
Družini jim tko će dati hrane
Hrvat gladan u robstvu se pati
Ali Jadran ne može doznati
Da su Srbi, Jadran bi doznao
I novce bi njima sabirao
O Jadrane di su Dalmatinci
Šest stotina ovde su robnici
U boju je danas Dalmacija
Austrijska svaka provincija
Tuku Ruse koji more jače
Ta novina samo Srbe plače
U Meriki žive Jadran liepo
Okol sebe skupio je sliepo

Nova Dalmacija u Kalaforniji
Vid žalosti malena dieteta
Komu nema još ni sedam ljeta
Na Jadranu krunu ugledalo
Suze roni majku zazivalo
Dodje majka dietetu govori
A što diete tebe plač mi mori

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Dalmacije više Majko nije
U Meriki eno tamo ti je
Preselili jesu je onamo
Vidim kuće prevezli su tamo
Neplač diete nemoj suze liti
Dalmaciju tko će preseliti
Čuvaju je junački sinovi
Kao što jim bili i diedovi
Plače diete po volji mu nije
Vidiš Majko di se kruna vije
Hrvatska se naša kruna vije
Nasred one nove Dalmacije
Mila Majko kaži meni pravo
Kaži pravo tako bila zdravo
Kako more mogli preseliti
I kajiće eno jih viditi
Muči diete al si valda ludo
Što govoriš upravo mi čudo
Čekaj Majko upravo je zgoda
U Istriji eno vidit broda
On prevezo more Dalmatinsko
Sad će odvest i more hrvatsko
Ono malo od Rieke do Senja
Što će onda od sama kamenja
Kazat ću ti ja diete od broda
Ono brod je crnogorskog roda
Crnogorski Kralj njega imade
Zet Talijan koji mu ga dade
Te on traži gospodara svoga
I onoga vladara srpskoga
Gdje se Majko oni izgubili
S Austrijom diete zaratili
Austrija raztjera jih tada
Te se za nje ne zna još ni sada

Brod jih traži naći jih nemore
Valda jih je progutalo more
Što bi Majko kada bi se našli
U novu bi Dalmaciju pošli
Jedan njima za kralja bi bio
Hrvatskom se krunom okrunio
Na Jadranu koju su razvili
Na glavu bi njemu postavili
Izdajica na sve strane ima
Dalmacija nova rad jih prima
Izdajnici svi će tamo sada
Kralj Srbije neka njima vlada.
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Ugodna zabava Pravoslavnog Božića 1916. god.
Urednik Jadrana polazi u goste Mihajlu Radkoviću. Mihajlo govor držao, te se skupilo Mihajlo Radković 5 dolara, supruga Jelena 1 dolar. Jedinac Miloš 1 dolar. Zatim po 5 dolari. Nikola Mirić, Vaso Šorak, Nikola Knežević 2 D 50 centi, supruga Evica 1 dolar po 2 dolara Nikola Popović, Frano Akačić, Djuro Marinković, Miho Klaić, Nikola Car 1 dolar Rade Jerković, Mika Rakić, svega 32 dolara 50 centi. Malo društvo je bilo to kod proslave Božića. Gosp. Urednik je otišo u goste Bože Djonovića, tu se proslavila Božićna slava, sakupili smo liepu svotu za našu siročad Srbije i Crne Gore. 13/1 1916. god. Ovo pisao Jadran. Za Srpski Crveni Krst i Srpsku sirodčad Fresno Kalifornija u sječnju 1916. Spomenice Srpske Nar. Odbrane u Americi, ovdašnja naša mala kolonija poslala je u Srbiju i Crnu Goru 3229 dolara 65 centi, od 3/8 1914. do 3/8 1915. dne 4/10 1915. poslala je opet svotu od 175 dolara 85 centi a 17/12 1915. 901 dolar. Sloga Slavena osj. Broj 16. K.S.Na.P. Gibson N.M. Broj članova 77.

Iz inozemstva sirotinji šalje
Hvala tebi Bože na nebesi
Koj na zemlji ovako uresi
A i ljudi liepo raditi znadu
Kad ovlike skupštine imadu
Svuda kupe sirotinji daju
Za sirote oni dobro znaju
Za sirote Srba Crnogorca
Uvjek kupe te jim šalju novca
Crnogorac i Srb slat moraju
Da sirote njima ne stradaju
A i svaki koji može dati
Sirotinji treba pomagati
Mi kod Boga svi jesmo jednaki
Sirotinji mora pomoć svaki
Kog je Kralja ne gleda se sada
Ako možeš daj mu da ne strada
To i Bogu milo hoće biti
Ali prije svomu udiliti
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Kod Boga ti velika griehota
A kod ljudi velika sramota
Otac Mater tebi pred očima
Ruke pružaš preko njih Srbima
Brat bez ruke i bez noge plače
A i sestra da ne more jače
Kako tebi čini se na srdcu
Preko svojih šalješ Crnogorcu
Pržunera imaš svojih svuda
Da jim pošlješ ne bi bilo čuda
Al za svoga nećeš ni da čuješ
Domovinu u Meriki snuješ
Povukla te želja u Rusiju
A za mrziti na Austriju
Stara zemlja di si se rodio
Otca Mater komu ostavio
Rusa nikad nisi ni vidio
U čemu je tebi omilio
Poslušajte ko razum imate
Da vam kažem što još ne znate
Učenjaki zovete se sada
Al što vriedi na um vam ne pada
Ne gleda se koje vjere bio
Mila zemlja gdje sam se rodio
Ja izdati svoju domovinu
Otca, mater moju diedovinu
Izdajničko ja ime nositi
Volio bi u more skočiti
Junacim se pjesmice pjevaju
Izdajnici kleti ne prestaju
Austrija mogu reći sveta
Puno vjera al nikom ne smeta XXXXX
Molmo Boga kako koji znade
Car nam jedan na svietu imade
Franc je Josip koji Bogu služi
S katoličkom crkvom on se združi
Ne možete kazat za drugoga
Nema danas cara nad ovoga
Kojemu je i Bog u pomoći
Nije lahko Rusu u Beč doći
Kom Krišćanu Srbija je mila
Austrija nije zabranila
Zemlju prodat poći u Srbiju
A ne mrzit uvjek Austriju
U tudjini kad je vama milo
E na dobro nek vam prosto bilo
Gdje je bolje tu možeš živiti
Rodno mjesto nikad ne mrziti.
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U Boulderu J.S. društvo oslobodilo svoje članove iz robstva
Sa Rotnesta školja, mjeseca lipnja 1915., West (zapadna) Australija
Izišli pod zastavama engleskom, franceskom i ruskom, veselo pjevajuć englesku pjesmu sa engl. Vojnicim. Evo jim i ova.
Iz Bouldera glasi doletili
Po Rotnesu brzo proletili
Slaven društvo brzojavom javlja
Po Rotnesu Slavene pozdravlja
Svi Slaveni koji jeste tamo
Slobodni ste hajte k nama amo
To je bilo zamisliti meni
Rad bi znati koje su Slaveni
Vidim društva svud se sabiraju
Od veselja ni mira nemaju
Jednog dana u jutro je bilo
Kod straže jih mnogo se skupilo
Te jih Major preda se je zvao
Što radili tko bi točno znao
Kad se vrate vidim neveseli
Žalostnih je kud su se zapleli
Jednog starog čujem di pitali
Zašto su ga pred Majora zvali
Kazat ne htje, jao meni reče
I po robu on brzo uteče.
Bolje roblje za uvjeke biti
Neg dušmana slobodu moliti
Koj s dušmanom prijatelj će biti
Zastavu mu mora zagrliti
I dok žive pod njom mora biti
U izdajstvu sramotno umriti
Izdajniku svakomu je tako
Koj ga znade kleti će ga svatko
Svi do straže robu su donili
Po četiri u red se stavili
Oni prvi tri zastave drže
Da ti gledat ovo bilo druže
Tri zastave viju se pred njima
Trojica se zagrlila š njima
U sredini vije Britanije
A sa strana France i Rusije
Koj englesku zastavu nosio
U družini najveći je bio
Obukli se što su liepše znali
Nek se znade kad jesu izdali
Zamrzili oni Austriju
S dušom tielom mole za Rusiju
Tako su se liepo nakitili
Ne bi tako kad bi se ženili
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Vojnici su svuda krajnji stali
Te svi skupa pjesmu zapjevali
Sa vojnicim hure vikat stali
A ostali pram njima kukali
Vojnici se na to naljutili
Te s puškami oni razgonili
I pucanja tu je tada bilo
A neko je u rešt zatvorilo
Kada oni napred putovali
Vojnici jih uvjek pozdravljali
Ovo društvo vojnicim je bilo
Svoga kralja di je ostavilo
Ni njihovu vjerni biti neće
Od ovakvih nitko nema sreće
Izdajici domovina di je
U njemu ti nikad vjere nije
Sedamdeset i pet svih ji ima
Tri Hrvata jesu medju njima
U primorju negdje se rodili
Izdajnici da prokleti bili
O nesrećam stid me i pisati
Izdajice žalostna jim mati
Znat se mora za vakvog svakoga
Izdajice roda hrvatskoga
A ostali jesu Dalmatinci
Svi ukupno oni katolici
Ne mogu jim imena doznati
Njihovi će o njima kazati
Evo Jadran poglavice ima
Zapisao ja imena njima
Koji ljubi danas Dalmaciju
Neka kaže on imena sviju
Vražje braće još dosta ostalo
Na slobodu što se zapisao
Zatim brzo opet jih puščalo
Al mi kažu da jih još ostalo

Oj Hrvati još ste živi
Na sud s njime koj vam skrivi
Neka sudi njega sude
Da ne buni druge ljude
Oj Hrvati braćo mila
Kazat moram goni sila
Gledat ovo jesu jadi
U tudjini šta se radi
Od našega slavnoga
Hrvatskoga imena
Hrvatskoga imena
Kog ne spada njim se piše
Izdajničkim duhom diše
Svog imena kazat neće
Sa hrvatskim traži sreće
Prodo bi ga on za malo
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Nije njega za to stalo
Ne žali ga pogrditi
Samo novca ćel dobiti
O Zagrebu slavan ti si
Ovome se nado nisi
Od rodbine negda tvoje
Kazat će ti pismo moje
Pozdrav braćo vam Hrvati
Sada ćete sve doznati.

Rotnest 23/11 1915. Ovog dana preseli (premjesti) nas jedanajst stotina u Liverpool Ney Soat Wales, Njemaca i Austrijaka. Tu smo našli do 2500 naroda, većinom Njemci, oni su imali upravu u logoru. Dočekali nas mogu dokazati savim liepo, namjestili nas u barake, pravo imao svak jednako. Skupilo nas iz četiri države. Njemci nisu dielili napose nikoga, oni su držali da smo svi jedni, kao što i jesmo, sada u ovo ratno vrieme. Zatim za par dana valda su se dogovorili nieki nesretnici sa Rotnesta, i ovi što smo jih ovde našli, za razdieliti se od Njemaca. O tom nisam ništa znao, na pol dana šetam po logoru, te ugledam jedno društvo do 30 ljudi što su došli sa Rotnesa, dodjem bliže i slušam o čem razgovaraju. Jedan pripovjeda, kog smo ovde našli, bio je kumpani firer (brojač) moje barake 31. Zvao se Rendulić Jozo. Pripovjeda jim, dobit ćemo svoju kuhinju i svoju kancelaraju (pisarnu) bit hoćemo sa svim napose od i Njemaca. Ovaj narod ga sluša, ništa mu ne odgovara. Meni se taj govor njegov učini neobičan, progovorim, čuješ Jozo, kako da se mi razdielimo od Njemaca, to ne bi bilo liepo, mi smo sa njima na Rotnesu živili sasvim dobro, znaš li Jozo šta ćeš učiniti, mi imamo Austroungarske gospode (Rotnest pisano, izgovor Rotnes Livepool izgovor Liverpoli).
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Upitajte jih o tom pak ćete čuti što će vam odgovoriti. Jozo mi odvrati, vidi jednog pametnjakovića, da je mladji dao bi mu jednu u glavu. Tu smo se malo prepirali i tako se razstanemo, od dielenja napose taj put nije jim uspjelo.

Tako stalo sve u miru do 27/6 1916. god. Ovog dana pribijen oglas na tabuli, Hrvati prelaze u barake 37 i 38 što su na kraju u blizini straže, imaju sve što spada, kuhinju napose. Kada to opazili Hrvati, pita jedan drugoga, što je ovo s nami, što mi radimo ovom narodu u ovom logoru nema nas nego 50, što smo stanovali u četiri barake. Kumpani fireri (brojači) bili nam Dal. Odma jedni podju do pržunerske kancelarije (Komitet), upitali upravitelja logora, zašto moraju Hrvati napose i koji je to tražio. Odgovara već su dva mjeseca što je molba predana, evo vam je, glasi ovako: 200 Hrvata, podpisani, traže napose kuhinju, i još žicu između njih i ostali pržunera. Dokazali mu, to niti napamet nam ne bi doći moglo, što takova tražiti napose. Kad je razumio podje do Majora, dokaže mu kako je razumio te se vrati i odma pošalje oglas odkinuti, a ovi nesretnici kad vidili oglas odkinut, uzrujani stali vikati, pa zar mi nismo Hrvati, zar mi ne govorimo hrvatski. Hrvati odgovaraju, mi znamo da vi jeste Hrvati kao i mi, mi vas u tom ne dielimo, ali nećemo da se posebno ništa traži u ovom logoru u ime Hrvatske. A u drugo kako vam drago, smetati vam nećemo, mi smo u ovoj ogradi svi jednaki dielenja nema medju nama. Tako se umirilo

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Dolazi ruski barjaktar u Holdsworty Ogradu
21/2 1917., Jozo Radalj od Vrgorca, koji je god. 1915. izišao sa Rotnesa školja na slobodu sa družinom pod tri zastave, ruskom, engleskom i franceskom. Jozo nosio rusku a pogazio svoju, evo ga danas hvala Bogu dodje iz Zapadne Australije, dodje sa Jozom 17 zarobljenika, 5 jih Dal. A ostali Njemci. Narod se skupio kao crne vrane gledati jih. Ulaze na vrata u ogradu pržunersku, pulicaji Englezi idu pred njima, vode jih do kan. Pržunerske, kad su malo odmakli od vrata, Njemci idu prvi za pulicijom, a Dal. za njima, ali u jedan mah dogodi se buna, jedan od oni zadnji dobio dvi teške batine, od kojih je odma morao poći u špital. Nazivlju ga Jurjević Ante, a ovaj koj ga je udario zovu ga Slimar. U to skoči pulicija te umiri. Pošli pred kancelariju da popišu imena. Narod se kupi uvjek okol njih. Njemci kad se popisali, i dva Dal. š njima, podju mirno razgovarajući u barake, nitko jih ne smeta, ali još su dvojica u kancelariji, Marko Skender i ruski barjaktar Jozo Radalj, te kad su dali imena, pulicija jih vodi u baraku gdje će stanovati, al se našao koji dokaza puliciji, da bi ljepše bilo da ih vodi van iz ograde, ako misli sjutra viditi žive, pulicaji kad to čuli, odma jih vode pred Majora. Kad ih Major ugleda, razgovarao se malo š njima, te jih dao zatvoriti u zidani rešt. A Ante Jurjević kad je ozdravio, došao i on u rešt k njima. Nekoliko dana stali u zidanom reštu, te jih premjesti u jednu malu ogradu, u kojoj stanuju Crne ruke ubojice, te su sva tri sada š njima.
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Prijatelji da mi jeste zdravo
Al vas molim kažite mi pravo
Što barjaktar ovaj zaslužio
Kada ruski barjak zagrlio
Pod zastavom ko General stao
Još sa društvom engleski pjevao
Jozo Radalj rodom od Vrgorca
Pošo tražit kralja Crnogorca
Njega tražeć on je zalutao
Sa Rotnesa školja kad prošao
Nesreća ga sad amo donese
Sretan Jozo što glavu iznese
Iz Holdsworty tužnog našeg stana
Di Radalju ostala ti fana (barjak fana, zastava)
Kaži Jozo što si zadobio
Za plaću te Englez zatvorio.
Pred vami barjaci vijali
A mi drugi na školju ostali
Na Rotnesu kog more obliva
Vami na um pala za pit piva
Napili se vi do mile volje
Vidit ćemo komu će bit bolje.
Još o njima. Slimar koji je udario Antu Jurjevića, sjutra dan zvao ga je Major preda se, malo se š njim razgovorio, te ga dao zatvoriti do suda u zidani rešt. Slimar prenoćio dvi noći te uplašio sam sebe, da će ga premjestit u malu ogradu
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medju ubojice Crne ruke. Misleći junak što bi učinio, namjeri se na nekakovo oštro te stao junak sam sebi parati trbušinu. To kad opazili ostali što sa njime stanovali jave stražaru, a stražar santecim, koji ubrzo kola dovuku, te Slimara u spital odvuku. Dobro je bio proparao trbušinu, ali isto ostade živ. Za njeg kupili imena da bi izašao bez kazne, ali zakon ne poznaje imena pržunerski. Kad je ozdravio, sudio jim sud civilski, te je Slimar dobio tri mjeseca tamnice, koja je negdje u blizinu Sidni. A Jurjević Ante vratio se na svoje mjesto, u malu ogradu stanovat medju ubojice.
Mržnja naroda hrvat. jedan proti drugom
1917. u logoru zarobljenika zvanom Holdsworty
Na hiljadu devetsto sedamnajste mjeseca sječnja, popis u ogradi. Cielo vrieme od početka rata do sada podpisivao se narod kako je neprijatelj zahtjevao. Ali na žalost ovog puta porodi se mržnja i uznemirenje naroda. To je valjda neprijatelj i hotio, izdao karte kumpani firerim (brojačim) za popisat svaki svoju kumpaniju, a nije jih uputio ni raztumačio kako treba podpuniti karte, a nisu ga valjda ni savjeta pitali o tom. Ja sam došao podpisati k mojemu brojaču 31. kumpanije, uzeo sam kartu u ruke i gledam na početku naslov, nationality (to valjda narodnost), upitam ga kako ću podpisati. Odgovori mi, ja ne marim kako tko hoće neka piše, Major nije o tom ništa kazao. Ja razmišljam kako bi podpisao, al mi ubrzo pade na pamet, kažem mu piši naslov Austrija, rodno mjesto. I Hrvati Dalmatinci u mojoj kump. zapisali kao i ja, Aust. rodno mjesto, i Da.
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Tako je u mojoj kump. svaki podpisao. U 30. kump. čujem jedni da neće tako, u 29.toj upitam jednog iz moga mjesta, kako si podpisao kartu, odgovori mi zapisao me Aust. i rodno mjesto. Upitam ga zašto nije Hrv. uz rodno mjesto, odvrati mi ja sam mu kazao pa nije htjeo, pak što ću ja kad neće. U 28. 27. i 26.toj tu jih bilo dosta pisali svakojako, jedni zapisali naslov nationality hrvats. (narodnost), rodno mjesto i Dal. tako ima i njekoliko Hrvata koji su pisali Hrvatska rodno mjesto i Hrvat. Upitam jednog Hrvata, jesi li pisao nationality Austrije, odvrati mi nisam, brojač kumpanije mi kazao ništa u onaj naslov nationality, ono je narodnost, te sam upisao narodnosti Hrvatske, rodno mjesto i Hrvat, pak ako Englezu nije dobro neka on ispravlja. Na ovo mu nisam mogao odgovoriti, vidim da govori pravo. Iz toga se protegla velika mržnja jedni izmedju drugi. Ovi njekoji koji su pisali naslov Austrije, proti onim što su pisali narodnosti Hrvats. Vičući jim svi koji nisu podpisali naslov Austrije, ono su Srbi. Za malo vriemena Major zove brojače kump. firere, karte koje nisu bile napisane Nationality Austrija, nanovo pisati, dao jim karte druge, te jim dokazao kako treba pisati. Te poslje po nalogu Majorovu karte podpisane u miru. Ali mira nikad med ovim narodom, tko je bio s kim i za mržnju lanjske godine, ili moguće prije i ovde u robstvu, tebi se rada osvetiti jedan drugomu, te od mržnje jedan drugog nazivlje Srbom. Vidim više puta svadjaju se kao djavli u paklu i tako se rastanu crne jedan drugog, nu ovo još mogu kazati od kad sam u robstvu, ako se kada dvojica potuču ali jedan drugog teško ozljede još nije do sada.
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O ovoj narodnosti hrvatskoj do sada ne mogu kazati ništa o ubojstvu, o drugoj narodnosti ovde ne pišem, jerbo mi je dosta opisati mržnju Hrvata, koju imaju uvjek uza se jedan proti drugome. Još ću o mržnji govoriti. Kad bilo liepo vrieme hodio sam u ogradu koja nije davno što je razmaknuta, sva obrasla travom. Tu je liepo ležati u hladu, tu bi sjeo uz koje društvo poznati, po svoj ogradi svuda društva, po dva po tri i više leže po travi, svak se druži koj je s kim poznatiji. Tako di sam sjedio s kojim društvom, prislušavao bi o čem razgovaraju, ali uvjek govore čujem o Srbim, još dapače mi i pokaže koji kad vidi ono društvo, ono su svi Srbi. Tako mnogo puta slušao bi o tim Srbim, ali ljudi što jih nazivlju tim imenom, poznati mi jesu dobro; šetam jednog dana više dok sam se osvjedočio o tim ljudim, sjednem kod njih da čujem o čem razgovaraju, ali ne mogu nikada čuti da govore što proti svojoj domovini. Razgovor čujem najviše o ratovanju jedni kao i drugi jerbo posla drugog nemaju, pretresaju sve odavde do Europe. Došao sam u trag i onom svakom koji mi pokaže Srbe. To sam izvidio da svaki onaj ima svog protivnika u onom društvu koje nazivlje Srbim. Ta društva donieli bi novinu, to vidim na više mjesta di čitaju. Gdje god se zaustavim, upitam ima li što nova. Isto tako niekoliko jih dobavilo knjiga iz Amerike, te u barakam i u travi čitaju, tako da lakše sprovode vrieme, ali mi i to dolazi u uši. Dodjem do takovih di mi pokazuju, vidi kako izdajice čitaju srpske knjige. Vrebam iza knjige da vidim kakove su. Prilika mi se namjeri, upravo u mojoj baraki 31.oj. nosio je uza se Rendulić Jozo, te ostavio koji hoće čitati. Ovaj Rendulić Jozo bio je brojač (kump. Firer), moje
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Kump. te je brzo ostavio, jerbo je imao drugi posao u kafani. O njem hoću unapred dokazati, te i ja dokučim tu knjigu srpsku da vidim kakova je i o čem glasi. Razgledam po njoj, ali braćo mila, ovi klevetnici prokleti bili koji mi kazuju za srpske knjige, kojih ovde nema. Ovo vam je knjiga od prošlosti od naših pradiedova starih Hrvata, engleski pisana. Tu sam progovorio, knjiga je dobra svaka ovde za pokratit vrieme, jer ako čovjek više čita, on je prosvietljeniji, dalje može dokučiti, te more lakše razabrati zlo i dobro, jerbo ako čovjek ima bistar um, čitanje ga ne može nikud zanieti. Ja pisac ove knjige pročitao sam sve knjige srpske o Balkanskom Ratu, koje su došle u zapadnu Australiju na Kurravang, što su jih Bokezi hrišćani dobivali, poznati mi bili, te su mi jih davali čitati. Jedan mi je bio poznat više godina, te je imao dvi knjige jednake, jednu mi je darovao. Kad sam je proučio, razumijo sam dobro što čitam, al što je u njoj sve proti Austro-Ungarskoj Monarhiji. Tu sam knjigu čuvao, misleći poslie rata poslati je zagrebačkoj Vladi, da vidi oholiju srpsku. Ali iznenada pokupi nas dvi stotine Hrvata i Dal. u robstvo, te ostalo robe, orudje, šator i knjige, jerbo nisam mario za ništa. Niekako mi dodje na pamet o knjigam, te ponesem sa sobom Zakon Zavičajno Pravo i Babić molitvenu knjigu, te mi je danas žao za onim što su ostale, jerbo vidim ovde, jedan Njemac ima više knjiga nego ciela narodnost hrvatska. Njemci imaju dvi knjižare, svakojaki knjiga, a naš narod hrv. na žalost šta radi, svakog dana svuda kroz barake vidim neprekidno kartanje briškulu i trešete, a drugi po ogradi u travi leže, prepire se jedan s drugim tko zna
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bolje upravo kao babe stare kad se skupe na prelo. U tom prepiranju zavade se, mrzi jedan na drugog i nazivlje Srbom. A još k tomu napuni mi se glava klevetanja, večerom kad bi s kojimi šetao, pokazuje mi koji od društva s kojim šetam, vidi to su Srbi pred nami, a i ovo iza nas. Tako svake večeri. Zamislim se o tom i osvjedoči se kako to izgleda, svaki onaj koji mi pokaže vidi Srbe, onaj svaki ima protivnika u onom društvu koje mi pokazuje, te radi njega nazivlje cielo društvo što grdje može, a najvoli Srbom. Poznatih mi dosta koji su došli u robstvo bez novčića, večere ne dobiva, gladan je a rada bi zapalio, te ovakovi šetaju sa svakim, samo da dobije cigar duhana da zapali, ovakovi ne misle mnogo o Srbu niti o ratovanju, već o svomu trbuhu koji je gladan svaki dan. Nisam mogao nikada čuti da će onaj što došao ovde bez novčića nazvati ikog Srbom, već onaj koji ima koju liru (funtu), onog nije prazan trbuh. Nagledao sam se nepravde velike, vidim tko je jači on je ovde slobodniji, uzanj je veća uvjek družina, ima jih gdje jih više rodbine i prijatelja, i gdje ima više složni seljana,ovakovi su slobodni mogu reći što hoće, neće jih nitko nazvati Srbom, jer su dobri za potući se. A pojedinci slabijeg društva, oni uvjek moraju mučati, ako će govorit proti jačoj stranki, odma je nazvan drugim imenom, pada bi upravo on govorio liepe rieči, ove stranke mu tog ne priznadu. Ovakove sirotinje najviše prozvano slabim imenom. Spomenut ću i ovo, slušam svuda govor, najbolje bi bilo protjerat Srbe sve iz ovog logora jerbo je strašivo šetati od njih, oni će zametnut bunu (skandal) i noževe imaju. Govora čujem i više, oni su rekli da će se pobuniti, te da hoće ubit pulicaja, onda će
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Englez sa strojnom puškom (Gever mašin.) ubijati redom. Kad sam ovo čuo, upitam ima li jih mnogo, dobijem odgovor više od dvi stotine. Razmišljam o prokletoj mržnji, te se gledam sastati sa ovim prozvanim Srbim, poznati mi je dosta na obe dvi strane. Sastanem se sa ovim što jih nazivlju poglavice, koji da su najgori. Razgovaram se sa jednim, koji mi je poznat više godina. Upitam ga, zašto si se jučer svadjao, odgovori mi, jur me ti dobro poznaš već ima deset godina i više, da nisam nikad u nikog dirao, koji meni mir da, ali se namjerim na goreg od sebe, koji me uvjek napastuje, te se š njim lahko zavadit, još i potuć. Tako mi je sada ovde u robstvu. Znaš da sam došao bez novčića, te vidiš kako me napastuju, od onog popisa nationality (narodnost), te mi mira ne daju, nazivlju me Srbom. Oni imaju lira (funti), te nisu gladni kao što sam ja, zato uvjek vode nevaljale parlamente, proti siromašnom narodu, i nazivlju ga sa imenim nevaljalim. Dosadit će mi, a već mi i dosadilo, te sam prisiljen svadjati se. Ovakovih sam više saslušao, te ne znam što reći nego mržnjo hrvatske narodnosti, kad ćeš prestati da se ne kolje jedan s drugim. Mržnjo, već su stoleća od kad si počela med ovom narodnosti, te ni danas prestala nisi. E daj Bože razumit čovjeku da razmisli kad nakani brata rinuti u jamu, koji će mu dohodak ostati. Na vašu mržnju koju na žalost uvjek nosite jedan proti drugomu. Odgovaram vam od tog koristi nikakove nemate nego grieha naprtite na dušu, te se samo vrag veseli toj vađoj mržnji. Bog dao da bi mržnja medju vami prestala, da ne mrzite jedan drugog, već da se ljubite kao braća, jerbo slogom napred ćete poći, a neslogom nikud nemorete doći. Crkva uz vas, u nju se bojite, u svakoj rieči gospi svieta ružite, da bi vam pamet prosvjetlio i griehe oprostio. U robstvu Holdsworty, Australia
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Mržnja na žalost med hrvat. narodnosti sve veća
Od mjeseca sječnja god. 1917. do 20/3 god. iste. Ovog dana izabralo se društvo za kupiti imena od ljudi. Jedan popisuje imena u mojoj baraki 31. Došao do mene, upitam ga zašto se kupe imena, odgovori mi, za izagnat neprijatelje Austrije iz ovog logora. To malo razmišljam o neprijateljim Austro Ungarske Monarhije, te podpišem ime da vidim koji su. Sakupe do 300 imena i predadu Komandantu (Zapovjedniku) logora, Majoru, ali jim on to odma ne odobri, već jih izpitava za cielu nedelju (sedmicu) svaki dan. U sedam baraka stanovali ovi ljudi hrv. narodnosti, iz svake su hodili po dva i po tri polagat izpit pred Majora. U ovom društvu ima jih što još nisu četiri mjeseca u robstvu, jedni godinu dana, nazivlju se Austrijaki, te zamrzili na one koji su već od početka rata, jedni dvi godine i više radi podpisa hrvat. narodnosti, te jih namislili sa svom silom prognati iz ovog logora. Ja pisac odgovaram, ako dodje do suda, o ovom društvu zvanom Austrijaki, izaći će dokazi proti njima, kojih sam prislušao dosta. Kad jih Major iztraživao, vidim jih kod vrata glavni od ograde, čekaju dok dodje pulicaj po jednog ili dva, te jih vodi pred Majora na izpitivanje, radi ovih ljudi što ih misle proganti iz logora, radi podpisa hrvatske narodnosti.
Hrvati i Dalmatinci imaju dvi narodnosti u robstvu
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Tuda sam šetao više puta, te ugledam jednog, koji je imao mnogo brige za izgonit narod pod srpskim imenom. Uvjeren sam kakvo ima srdce, te kad bi mu pošlo za rukom, on bi sve izagnao iz ove ograde, samo bi svoje prijatelje ostavio. Engleski govoriti ne zna, on uči one što idu na izpitivanje pred Majora, kako hoće govoriti proti ovom narodu što jih prozvali Srbi. Ovaj mi je prijatelj veliki, kao lisici kokoš. Upitam ga je li mnogo Srba predano Majoru. Odgovori mi, nije za sada nego šesnajst, ovih što su najgori. Major nas je molio da se umirimo za malo vriemena, jerbo da nije ograda gotova. Na to progovorim rieč koja će mu biti po volji, ima prijatelju djavola dosta, treba jih što prije iztjerati. Veselo mi odvrati, ne treba se o tom misliti, ima osam 8 ljudi tvrdi koji su se zauzeli za to. Te kad je Major izpitao ovo društvo zvano Austrijaki, odobri jim, da hoće već javiti, kad bude ograda gotova. Al to sve badava, mira nemaju, od 20/3 uvjek napastuju Majora do 27/3 god. ove. Ovog dana Major jih obavjesti da nema mjesta nego za pet, 5, te pošalje puliciju po njih. Ljudi ovi zakonu se pokoravaju, idu sa pulicijom mirno, ne govore ni rieči. Rodbina i prijatelji robu jim donili na glavna vrata, do straže, tu jim robu pregleda, a njih slika (futografira), te jim dovuklo mala kola, pa metnu robu na kola, te sami odvezu dvistotine metar daleko, u malu ogradu, gdje stanuju Crne ruke ubojice, pulicija šnjima hodila.
(ograda. logor. mjesto gdje stanujemo)
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Kad su vozili robu, ovi ostali dosta glasi bilo što za njima kukalo. Sjutra dan na večer 28.og pokaza jih na tabuli od kazališta, koja je bila na sredini logora, a ovi što su gledali, od veselja proti njima hu hu. Od ovog dana u barakam sve mirno. Ali mira nemaju oni što se zauzeli za izgonit van iz ograde. Svaki dan napastuju Majora, a on jih odvraća da puste na miru ljude, ograda gotova da još nije. To jim je žalost, mira neimaju. Obdržava se skuština na 1/4 1917. za pravljenje kazališta, o kojem ću unapred dokazati.
Na toj skupštini uzvikalo se, hajdemo gonit izdajice domovine van iz ove ograde, pa neka jih Major namjesti gdje mu drago. U tom vikanju podju raztjerivat narod, kao vuci kad med ovce zajdu. Podigla se četa prva iz barake 30.ete, tako do trideset jih podje, ne boje se puške a ni bode, nit se boje zakona engleskoga. Tu jih gledam kuda hoće, a i gledam radit što će, marširaju u ogradu koja nedavno razmaknuta. Tu ljudi leže po travi, a ovi što dodjoše samo zapovjedaju hajde. Od tale jih digli, pet ljudi slušaju zapovjed, idu mirno ne govore ništa, jedan da je upitao kuda ću ići, ali slušam pripovjedke vesele, da je dobio pod rebra. Drugo društvo vidim di idu u istu ogradu tražiti. Podjem hitro do vrata glavni gdje straža stoji, da vidim oni pet prvi, dognali jih do vrata, poznati mi. Pulicaj otvori vrata, pusti jih unutra, zatim opet gone po dva i po tri, tako jih brojim do dvanajst. Pulicaj otvara vrata i pusti jih na militerski kraj, zatim vidim di dvojica po tri vode,
(U ovoj ogradi jakost i veće društvo slobodu ima, pojedinci slabijeg društva (dupli) dvostruki robovi)
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a jedni i sami dolaze do vrata, uplašili se jerbo su čuli govorenje, tko je podpisao hrvatske narodnosti, a nije austrijske, i koj je pravio molbu za izić na slobodu, taj svaki mora izlazit odavde. Vidim i njekoliko Čeha, sami došli do vrata. Ali pulicija što je pustila prvih dvanajst, više ne pušta. A ovi koji izgone, samo zapovjedaju hajde, tu se sluša, nije govora, jerbo se boji svaki udaraca. Kod 26. barake gledam šta rade ovi što izgone. Njekoliko jih napalo jednog i govore mu hajde, a drugi se javi, njemu ćemo oprostit, i oproste mu, on ima rodjaka u onom društvu. Napanu tako i drugoga, te i njemu oproste. Opet vidim napali jednog, ali čovjek neće odma da ide. Jedan progovori od onog društva, akoli koji od vas zna što proti ovom čovjeku neka se javi, jerbo nije vriedno prava čovjeka goniti van iz logora, nitko ništa ne pregovori. Jedan se javi od onog društva što progone, ja sam čuo kad je rekao, samo ga goni. Ovaj mu čovjek odgovori, jesi ti čuo di sam se s tobom zavadio, isto ga protjeraju. Ovo isti primjer Žudija govoreći, propni ga, propni.
Što protjerali i što uplašeni sami prošli, ovaj dan svega 46, na militerski kraj 12. a za vratim ostalo jih 34, kojih pulicija neće da pusti unutra k onim dvanajst. Vidim preko plota oni dvanajst, sjede uz kuću pulicije, nieki u košulji, nieki u majici tankoj, a ova 34 kod vrata, isto tako obučeni, jaketu koji kad ima na sebi, a najviše jih nema. Oko njih svieta na sve strane. Dolazi Major gledati to veselje, te progovori, pustite za noćas ljude na miru, ja nemam kuda šnjima. Njemci odgovaraju
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nećemo jih nazad pustit, a naš narod kad to čuo, nećemo jih nazad pustit, nećemo na antret, ovde jih hoćemo čuvati. Uto ornist zapiri 5 ½ sati na antret, po zakonu svak mora da ide. Ali oni koji su izgonili ne mare za antret, uzvikali se nećemo na antret. Tu jih se zabunilo i oni koji ni mislili nisu o ničem, već gledajuć što narod radi, misleći neće valjda nitko na antret i tako ostali. Njemci, oni su pošli svi na antret, nije nitko od njih izostao, samo naše narodnosti hrvat. Na tabuli pribijen oglas, dvi stotine ostalo, koji se ne plaše zakona. Toliko jih bilo nije, od ovog ću u napred dokazati.
Ulovio se mrak, Major otvorio vrata, pusti jih unutra k onim dvanajst. Jesu li gdje večeru dobili, o tom neznam. Ujutro vidim u novoj ogradi četiri šatora, što su po noći namjestili, tu jih prenoćilo 46., robu jim pokupili i donili do glavni vrata do straže, te ujutro pulicija dovezla do njih i pregledala, kako su spavali to najbolje sami znadu. Od ovog glavnog logora nisu daleko, prilika je na pogledu da su sasvim slabo spavali. Dalje slušam od ovih što jim robu paketali i nosili, da su našli noževa i oštrog svake vrsti svega 25 komada, kod jednog samo da su našli pet komada (nemoguće vjerovati), te da su predali Majoru. Ja sam vidio iste večeri žicu debelu zaoštrenu i u drvo usadjenu, jednu stopu žica i drvo daljina, nož sam isto vidio 18/9 1916. O noževim ću govorit u napred. oževa i kojekakvog oštrog ima dosta u ovom logoru. Isto mi se desila prilika za poslušati, od mladića oko 17 god. koji je prodavao kruh izmed baraka, došao pred moju baraku, stade u razgovor, ja pišem i slušam
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o čem razgovara. Mladić se hvali, ja sam njih gonio, majku jim srpsku, samo sam jih lovio za ruku, pa hajde, mora da ide, poslao sam jih niekoliko, neka jih tamo. Isti ovaj dan 2/4 1917. preselili jih osam iz male ograde no. 2. u kojoj stanuju Crne ruke ubojice, k ovim 46. te su ovaj dan pravili šatora više. Po jelo su morali dolazit u ogradu no. 1, gdje su prije bili na kuhinji. Dolazilo bi jih po šest, sa kotlim na ramenu, prolazili bi pokraj ovih što jih protjeralo upravo kad bi na antretu bili, a ovi jim se stali rugati kukati, tako da čovjek ne bi podnositi mogao. Po jelo su dolazili za tri dana, te jim onda kuhinju napravili, te više nisu dolazili. Na ¾ trojica se odpravili sami za onim protjeranim, i Major jih pustio, jedan od ove trojice bio je u društvu onih što su progonili, te je i on pomagao goniti, a sada ode za njima. Upravo smješno. Isto ovaj dan ovi zvani Austrijaki što su protjeravaliskupili niekoliko imena te predali Majoru za vratit natrag jednog starog čovjeka, ali ovaj kad je čuo nazad se ne da, isto slušam da bi još dvojicu vratili, al badava neće da se vraću. Pravi ljudi, ali sila nepozna toga, ona radi kako hoće. Ljudi kažu neće dokle hoće. Sud će suditi pravi se nadaju. Dalje ovi prognati radi hrvatske narodnosti podpisa prozvali su svoju ogradu (lager) Kroatien Camp no. 3, a ovi što jih prognali, slušam razgovor ljute se na to, još čujem di govore trebalo bi javit Majoru, zašto bi se oni pisali tako. Upitam jednog, kaži mi kako bi trebalo da se zovu. Odgovori Srbi ili Rusi. Začudim se na ovaj odgovor, radi imena kog su prognati, te njim se sada zvati ne smiju. A prozvati Austrijaki pjevaju hrvatske pjesme,
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a proti narodnosti hrvatskoj jesu. Ovo mi je za čudo što mogu čuti i viditi. Bože prosvjetli pamet narodu. Oglas na tabuli pribijen 3.4. popodne, koji glasi ovako, svaki koji pravio molbu na društvo u Boulderu, najdalje za dva dana mora da izlazi iz ove ograde, jerbo će proći prebijeni ledja. Ima moguće da je koji pravio molbu na ovo Slavjansko društvo u Boulderu, o tom nisam siguran dokazati, je li tko ili ne. Ali znam na Guveran da jih je pravilo i koji su upisali hr. narodnosti, a nisu austrijske. Sve se uplašilo batine dobiti po ledjim, te bolestan isto izići. Na 4/4 u jutro pet jih pokupilo robu, te odnili do glavni vrata do straže, odpravili se u prozvani Camp (ogradu) Kroatien no. 3., ali jih pulicija ne pušta unutra. Došao Major te jih upita šta je š njima, dokazali mu kako je pisano na tabuli. Major kad razumio, vrati jih natrag. Odma zatim izdata objava po nalogu Majora ako bi se koji od danas ulovio da pribije što protivno na tabulu, bez dozvole Majora, šest mjeseci tamnice dobije. Kad bi Major bio dozvolio prelaziti u prozvani Kroatien Camp no. 3 ovog naroda hrvat. Narodnosti tri diela bi bilo preselilo. Onda bi se najbolje znalo, koje su vragovi sa rogim a ko je bez njih. Isti ovaj dan 4/4 na večer prikazuju na tabuli od kazališta koja je na sredini ograde sve što su protjerani na 1.4. Njemci jih narisali grdje se ne može, a njihovi protivniki napis nad njima postavili. Na sliki prikazan prvi Jozo Rendulić o kojem ću u napred dokazati, a za njim ostale. Jozu Rendulića naslikali, ne bi tako najgrdjeg ubojicu, za pasom revolver, pokraj noge nož. Ostali pokraj njega jedan do drugoga, napis nad njima
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hrvatski pisano Jugoslaveni putuju u Siberiju. Na drugoj sliki vatra gori, njekoliko jih se grije, napis nad njima, naloži vatru. Jedan bielio stupove od ograde, u ruki drži lonac sa krečom (vapnom). Napis nad njim, bielim svaki dan za 1 šilin. Ovi što jih gledaju vesele se i hule hu hu prema njima na sliki. Tako jih prikaza dva puta, ali više ne. Iz zapadne Australije kazuju mi da jih došlo niekoliko, te da su trojica odma otišla u Kroatien Camp. no. 3. a Njemci u glavni logor no. 1. Sada ću dokazati od onih što nisu došli na antret ¼. Na tabuli Njemci upisali 200, ali ja računam da nije više od 120. Na 15/4 svaki brojač (kumpani firer) popisao svaki svoje, koji nije bio na antretu, te pošli na sud pred Majora, odsudi jim da se za nje ne kuha za tri dana. Počimlje post za kaznu od 17/4. Tu nastade psovka i svako govorenje, koje se opisat ne može. Englez mi je dušmanin, ali dokazat moram pravo pa tko bio od suda Majora nije veliki zulum, jerbo zatvoreni nisu, kafana puna ograda, mesa, kobasa, i svakojaka voća, samo novaca treba. Za ručak dobije svaki malo kaše od zobi, kafe ima dosta, jedan donese za dvojicu, večere nema za nikog, nego samo teha i njega donese jedan za dvojicu, a za obed isto nije mnogo, svaki lahko pojede. Njemci u sve tri kuhinje ostavljali su tebi u večer raznosili ovim što jela ne dobivaju nego samo kruh, jerbo u danu nisu mogli od pulicije, dokazati mogu za ovakovu kaznu da je ni bilo nije. Ovaj naš narod hvali Njemce kako su dobri ljudi. Za ovo jim i ja zahvaljujem, jerbo je sloga kod njih, i ne mrze jedan na drugog, kao što na žalost naša hrv. narodnost od postanka
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svieta pa još i danas, mrzi brat na brata, a tudjina i sluša i hvali. Mi smo svi robovi jedni kao i drugi, treba da jedan drugog u nevolji pazimo. Jao brate tudjin na te pazi, te si mu zahvalan kako ti je dobar. A ti što radiš promisli. Zadnji dan navečer kad su izvršili kaznu, sakupili nješto novaca te platili muziku, namjestili se u dvi kafane, u kafanu Franc Jozef i u Rudana iz Lovrana, tu kafu piju. Muzika jim svira, veliko veselje. Pjevaju hrvatske pjesme, jerbo drugih i ne znadu, Austrijaki se nazivlju. Pulicija tuda šeta, izpitiva radi čega se pravi veselje, nekoji se našao te jim dokazao. Sjutra dan prislušavam razgovore na više mjesta, liepo smo uradili kad smo jih protjerali, dobit ćemo od naše Vlade svi medalje. Odgovaram vam, sve izgleda protivno, glupost, ne znate šta radite. Kad vam se budu dielile medalje, to ću već čuti ako ne umrem prije. Poslie ovog veselja nije bilo čuti ništa novog sve do 1/5. Ovog dana pribijena karta na tabuli, napisano devet imena na njoj, i piše, gonite jih braćo van od ovud, a svog imena podpisat ne htjede. To čitam i progovorim, zašto nije ovaj ime podpisao, da se vidi što on zna od ovih ljudi. Na to se javi niekoliko, ima pravo nije lud podpisati. Odgovorim, pa zar vi tako sudite, znadete li vi da nisu ono ovce protjerane već ljudi, za svakog onog biti će prisege (zakletve). Jave se dvojica koji su zapleteni u ovo protjeravanje, progovore lahko se za nje zakleti, ono su svi Srbi. Zatim idem viditi ove što su jim imena na tabuli pisana, dodjem k trima, dva mladića i jedan neoženjeni, upitam jih kakovu bunu vi pravite (mržnja i jakost veća stranka ovde vlada, pojedinci slabije društvo strada)
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med ovim narodom. Začude se, pitaju me kakovu bunu. Eno vam imena na tabuli za protjerat vas od ovud. Začude se te mi kazuju, ovde kartamo za pasati vrieme, sa nikakovim društvim se ne sastajemo, najviše šetamo sami. Upitam jih, bi li vi mogli dokučiti, tko bi ovo bio koj je ovo metnuo na tabulu. Kazuju mi jednog starog čovjeka oko 50 godina. Na ovog i ja sumljam jerbo se on mnogo zauzimlje o protjeravanju. Zatim sretnem jednog koji bio upisan na tabuli, upitam ga, kakovu praviš komediju ovde u logoru, gleda me, čudi se što govorim. Progovorim mu, ime ti je na tabuli da te protjeraju od ovud. Ide vidit na tabulu, ali su već odparali kartu. Odputi se ovaj do Majora te mu pripovjedi što se radi u logoru. Major kad ga saslušao, kaže mu gledat ću ja koji se prvi javi. Zatim ovaj isti napiše kartu pribije na tabulu, na njoj piše, ako se koji od vas nalazi u ovom logoru da je ikada čuo od mene da sam rekao što proti Austro Ungarskoj Monarhiji, neka stane preda me, te neka mi kaže pred cielim narodom da čujem, te ću onda sam izići, podpiše ime. Stoji ova karta više dana, ali nitko ništa, sve miruje. Ovako su prognati iz mržnje svi (vragovi s rogovim prognali vragove bez rogu). Dokazat hoću i ovo, komandant i cieli militer popustili svu opačinu koju su prije upotrebljavali sasvim ova dva mjeseca, travanj i svibanj u ovoj godini 1917. te se ovaj narod sasvim razkalašio. Na antret se nikad ne može skupiti, ne boji se pulicije, niti zapovjedi ne vrši. Ugledao to Nadporučnik više puta, te 5/5 ustavi koji su zadnji došli preko 30 i odsudi jim devet dana zatvora, ali jih nije držao nego četiri. Zatim se hodilo na antret po vojnički, tko će prije.
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Sada ću malo govoriti o onim protjeranim iz ovog logora, i o 25 komadi oštrog što mi kazuju da su jim našli u robi. Prvo. Sami robe svoje nosili nisu, drugi jim pokupili i odnili, mogli su vrći što su hotjeli. Drugo. Ako su imali kako se govori, nije jim se što čuditi o tom, jer toga ima dosta u ovom logoru. Treće. U 1916. godini, u ovom logoru bili su lupeži, Crne ruke ubojice, od kojih je svatko strah imao, krali robu, i svako zlo činili. Opisao sam njihovo ponašanje u knjigi prvoj zarobljenika. Svak se njih bojao i u strahu spavao, dok jih nisu pobacali kao živinu preko plota, ali još dosta ostalo, samo su mirovat morali, jer su vidili što jim družini bilo, poznatijih se nije moglo, tako se u strahu dugo vriemena spavalo. Svak je imao uza se po noći batinu, kolac i što je koji mogao dokučiti.
Sada ću pripovjedat o Josipu Renduliću, kojega sam već na dva mjesta u ovoj knjigi upisao. Ovog Rendulića našli smo ovde, kad smo došli sa Rotnesa školja iz Zapadne Australije, u mjesecu studenu god. 1915. Jozo je odma postao brojačem (kumpani firer) moje kumpanije 31. Malo vriemena bio u ovoj službi, ostavi ovu službu, uzeli ga dvojica koji su novaca imali u kafanu. Malo vrieme bio u kafani, te brzo ostavi, nije se mogao podnositi sa drugovim. Stanovao u baraki istoj 31. Ovaj Josip Rendulić star oko 27 god. bio po Ameriki svuda, engleski govori dobro, isto i njemački i talijanski. Na popisu zapisao na karti, hrvatske narodnosti, podanik Austrije, rodjen u Foči, Bosna. Učenjak pravi, glavu ima dobru, o svačem zna pripovjedati, sa teškim se poslom ne bavi, u razgovor može doći sa odličnim ljudim, prijateljstvo on ulovi ubrzo sa svakim ako mu je što od potrebe i sa učenijim ljudim,
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Bio je u kazalištu negdje u Ameriki, naravi je slabe, ne može podnositi kad mu tko ne da za pravo, a manje zna od njega. Naljuti se brzo, najviše se prepirao pred svojom barakom 31. Rada pripovjeda, ali mu nikad zapravo ne dadu. To sam vidio dosta puta, u tom se naljuti i posvadi, ali ga nisam vidio od kad je ovde, da se s kim potukao. Vidio sam i to, ako mu tko prigovori koji zna bolje od njega, to rado posluša, ne protivi se. Tako malo vriemena šetao bez posla, ali Josipu R. pade na pamet da bi postavio kazalište, te skupi družinu jednog od Zagreba, zvao se Zlatko Fišer, učenjak kao i on, a ostale iz Dalmacije sve radnike. Pošli do Majora te ga mole za jedan veliki šator. Major kad jih sasluša, obeća jim da će dati, ali prije neka donesu imena od ljudi, da vidi jesu li ljudi zadovoljni, tako i učinili po zahtjevu Majora, podju skupiti od ljudi imena te predadu Majoru. On jim obeća što prije bude mogao. Zatim podju da skupe od ljudi što novaca, da nabave robe za početak prestavljanja, jerbo u njemačkom kazalištu prestavlja u njemačkom govoru, a to hrvatski radnik ne razumi. Sakupili od ljudi 25 lira (funti) za kazalište, šator namjestili, napisali mu ime Prosvjeta. Robu nabavili, te hoće početi prestavljati prvi put na 13/8 1916. bezplatno. Naroda se skupilo do tri stotine, pun šator. Za prvi put prestavljanje narodu po volji, drugu večer plaćanje od 1 penu 3 i 6 i 1 šilin. Naroda uvjek dosta, prestavljača svih do 17. Josip Rendulić i Zlatko Fišer upravljaju sa k. Josip R., on je učio iz romana po danu, te bi u večer predstavljali, a Zlatko F., on je bio tajnik, i učio prestavljati.
(1 pena 5 novčića. 1 šilin 60 n.)
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Na 18. kolovoza 1916., rodjendan Nj.V. C. I k. Franje Josipa I, zamole robovi komandanta kampa (logora) da jim dozvoli činiti paradu ovaj dan u ogradi, da proslave rodjendan svojega vladara, dopustiti ne htjede. Navečer u kazalištu priredili što mogli liepše za proslavit rodjendan Nj. Veličanstva. Govor je držao nadporučnik koji je robovao u Siberiji Ruskoj, te preko Čajne poletio kao ptica orao, te njemački on govor držao, završujuć hr. zaviknio, Živio. Za njim nastavi hr. Dalmatinac Grgo Šajin iz Vodica, koji je držao govor na rodjendan Nj.V. na Rotnesu školju 18/8 1915. u Zapadnoj Australiji. Za par dana za proslavom Nj.V. rodjendana, odstupi iz k. Prosvjete tajnik od prazne kase Zlatko Fišer i niekoliko njegovih drugova, jerbo se zavadili glumci izmedju sebe, novac što bi sakupili za ulaz, to bi potrošili ne znam kako, kad ne znadu ni oni sami. Ljutiti svi na praznu kasu, za robu posudjivaju novce, Prosvjeta ide u dug. Josip Rendulić, on ne mari za Zlatka F. I druge što su izstupili iz kaz. Jozo R. upravlja sam, namjestio nove drugove, te Josip R. po danu uči družinu kakove smješice iz romana, te navečer prestavljaju. Muči se Jozo R. po danu i po noći, samo da kazalište Prosvjeta ne dobije drugog gospodara. Al badava muka, onaj koji bio kao i on, još moguće i bolji, Z.F., on je ostavio. A šta može Josip R. učiniti sam. On bi bio glumcim dobar pomoćnik, a družina mu nerazumna u takove poslove. Nije lahko čobanu postati profesurom, niti radniku koj siekiru baci glumcem. Vidim ovde ja ove seljake, sa znanjem su već prestigli djake. Pisat učit jedni sada stali, mudri ljudi da su pisat znali, ovakvi bi državi trebali, račune bi brzo pretresali.
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Tako se Jozo R. muči sa družinom sve do 9/9 1916. Ovaj dan sazove skupštinu narodnost hr. Skupio se narod na sabor u k. Prosvjeta. Josip R. nastavi govor, gospodo, prisiljen sam bio da vas sazovem jerbo se nalazimo u slabom stanju, bieda nas ulovila, koju ne možemo podnositi, al se nadam da nam hoćete priskočiti, i biedu nama olakšati. Naša je krivnja ali sad pomoći nema. Naše kazalište pada u dug, kažite mi što hoćemo od njega. Na skupštini bilo do 200 ljudi, počeo ovaj narod vikati, kako ste se mogli zadužiti. Nieki viče, svi ste hodili po kafanam jesti dok je novaca bilo, nieki viče zašto ste upisali Prosvjeta na kaz. Josip Rendulić pita, kažite mi kako volite da zapišemo, ja hoću kako vi hoćete i neka vas dodje koji k nama u društvo, sa niešto novaca, te hoćemo paziti bolje u napred. Opet larma i vikanje. Vi nemorete sa vašom Prosvjetom nikog prosvjetliti, nego još zaluditi. Na 18/8 niste dali gosp. nadporučniku govorit hrvatski. Josip R. odgovara svim. Ovo larmanje i buku nemoguće točno opisati. Jozo Rešetar pristao u društvo sa niešto novaca, te prestavljaju napred ali bez koristi. Na kazalištu napisali Austro Ungarsko k., pak zatim ubrzo promjenili, Narodno k., a najzad Estrajh. Prislušavamo gdje se narod razgovara, ono su svi Srbi u kazalištu. Zatim za njeko vrieme, zove Josip Rendulić Zlatka Fišera da ide natrag u kazalište, ali Zlatko Fišer neće da ide natrag. Iz toga se zavade Josip R. I Zlatko Fišer. J. Rendulića društvo uvjek napastovalo Fišera i pred stan mu dolazili za tući ga. Sramota, jedan učen čovjek da ovakvo ruglo podnosi od ljudi svakojaki. Duplo robstvo žalostno.
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Zlatko Fišer kad je ostavio kazalište, učio je niekoliko ljudi Njemački i Engleski pisat i govorit, i niekoliko Njemaca učio pjevati hrvatske pjesme, tako je dobivao za duhan. Pravi ljubitelj domovine svoje, rodom je iz kraljeva grada Zagreba. Ali Josip R. zamrzio na njeg, tuži jedan drugog Majoru, kojemu su poznati obojica, ali uspiela tužba Josipu R. kod Majora te protjera Zlatka Fišera na 28/11 1916. iz ovog logora u Dry by, gdje stanuju imućniji ljudi, žalostan prošao bez novčića, ovo je sramotno za jednog seljaka, a sasvim za jednog učenjaka. Napred se muči Josip R. po kazalištu do 6/12 1916. Ovog dana sazove skupštinu, te nastavi govor, gospodo ja sam vas sazvao da vam dokažem naše tegobe koje više podnosit ne možemo, dug nam platiti treba. Vika larma, od kud dug, nieki viče zašto ste prognali Fišera, jedni vole da je prošao, Josip R. u larmi odgovara tako da se i ne razumi što viču, kao na sajmu kad smokve prodaju. Za malo vriemena Josip R. namjestio Njemce za prikazivat na letriku, plaćali mu rendu (fit) njemu i Jozi Rešetaru, a ostali jim drugovi ostali bez posla, te od tada mržnja uvjek proti kazal. Stalo tako sve do 4/2 1917. Ovog dana Bog dao veliki vjetar, te sruši kazalište mržnje, i vjetar podmiri dug Jozi Rešetaru. Glumci se razišli, zemlja komaj upočinila, gdje Prosvjeta bila riešila se grieha. Bog je moguć, eto vidite kako med djavlim mir učinit može. Zatim Jozo Rešetar razmišlja kako bi počeo novo kazalište, da naplati nieke lire (funte) što su mu propale u staroj Prosvjeti. Govorit razumi Engleski dobro, podje do Majora te niekako zaplete u ime naroda. Onda Jozo Rešetar pošalje radnike u šumu, sjeći drvlje
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za gradnju kazališta, a Major mu dao konje i kola za dovesti bezplatno. Tako Jozi Rešetaru radilo njekoliko ljudi jedan mjesec dana. Dva Njemca bili poslovodje, pitali Jozu Rešetara plaću, Jozo jim odvrati da će platit Major sa procentom od dućana pržunerskog. Njemci se na to naljute, te posječu četvero najliepšeg drvlja. Zatim Jozo Rešetar sazvao skupštinu za dokazat kako i u koje se ime pravi kuća. Tu nastala vika buka, tko ti je rekao radit u ime naroda, a naroda ne pitat. Izabrali pet članova koji će upravljat sa gradnjom kaz. Tako se u napred radilo dok se sav lies podigao, ali nitko ne pokriva, stoji kao Arena vilenska stara gradina u Poli. Odbor izključio Jozu Rešetara iz kazališta, i duga što računa da mu je stara Prosvjeta dužna, to mu nitko ne prizna. Ovo dosta o mržnji za razpravljat.
Sada pitam one Hrvate Dalmatince, koji su se nazvali Austrijaki u ovom logoru, a zamrzili one što su se zvali Hrvati, ono što i jesu, te jih protjerali. Kažite mi kakova uvreda našoj Austro Ungarskoj Monarhiji, kad se Hrvat Dal. piše i nazivlje hrvatske narodnosti, Ungarez ungareške, Hrvat hrvatske, Slavonac isto hrvatske narodnosti, itd. Ja mislim da tu prekršaja nema nikakova, Austrija je carevina, u Beču je cesar kraljem ovih sviju. U ratno doba Hrvat u boj ide za Hrvatsku, Dalmatinac za Dalmaciju, Ungarez za Ungariju, Austrijak za Austriju, al svi ujedno kao braća u boj idu proti neprijatelju, za Vladara i svoj Dom. Nad svim ovim Carev barjak vije da se slogom dušman predobije.
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Dalje neću da vas kunem, jerbo i onako puni smo mržnje, nego ću vam dokazati, kad na žalost ne znate koji ste. Austrijsko državljanstvo od god. 1849 bilo je sve jedno, do god. 1867 od krieposti pako zak. Članka XII 1867. god. kojim je priznata državopravna samosvojnost Ungarske i š njom u zajednici živućih Kraljevina. Te of god. 1868. mogu se nazivati svaki svoje narodnosti. Ja pisac ove knjige kažem vam da sam Hrvat, a ne drugi, ali to ovde nije slobodno reći o Kraljevini Hrvatskoj, medju vama Hrvatim i Dalmatincim prozvatim Austrijakim. Evo vam zakon koji mi kaže da nisam drugo nego Hrvat, ali čovjek se mora sili poklonit, jerbo se sila ne obzire na zakon, nego protjerava u drugu ogradu pod srpskim imenom i još batine dieli, sudaca nema na svietu silni tako kao što ste vi Hr. I Dal. prozvani Austrijaki. Ali ja nisam silan, podnosit hoću da mi je i gore, te se nazivljem kako vi hoćete, i bilježim šta radite, dat će Bog sloboda će doći. Evo vam pročitajte Zakon Zavičajno pravo od 30. travnja 1880 god.
Mi Franjo Josip prvi po milosti Božjoj Cesar austrijanski, kralj česki itd. i apostolski Kralj Kraljevina Ungarske, Hrvatske, Slavonije i Dalmacije, potvrdjujemo predloženi nam u osnovi po hrvatsko-slavonsko-dalmatinskom Saboru Zakon o uredjenju zavičajnih odnošaja u Kraljevinah Hrvatskoj i Slavoniji.
Odgovorite mi na ovo, da li se mogu zvati Hrvat ili ne, Hrvat sam a ne drugi. Samo ovde medju vama to nesmim kazati.
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Ovu nepravdu gledajući opisujem, te u nadi očekujem da će doći Nj.V. C. I K. iztražniSud, te sam namjenio slav. Sudu predati ovu opisanu vašu mržnju, koju ste počinili braći Hrvatu i Dalmatincu, da ne bi tako bio učinio niti jedan upravo divlji narod. Odgovorite mi da li vas boli srdce, ili duša, a li se ikada sjetite na njih. Znam da ne, jerbo ste jih odsudili sami i uvjek govorite o njima, to sam se naslušao, da koji god je iztjeran iz ovog glavnog logora, da mu hoće država odsieć glavu. Dobri sudci, a ne znam što hoće sada oni u Beču i Zagrebu, kad ste jim vi preuzeli službu. Oni će morati odstupiti kad vi dodjete kući. Ali po zakonu, vi Hrvati, vi bi morali doći u Zagreb, te sudcim i županim predstavit se da vas vide koji ste. Zagreb hoće vas veselo dočekati, jerbo to nije šala. Seljak u robstvu doći do velike časti i suditi bez zakona, što ni Nj. V. sam Kralj ne bi mogao. Doći ćemo tamo, zdravlje Bože samo Dalmatinci, ako nas odavde razpusti , raziće se kud koji, te ne znam što reći. Ali ako pako odavde podjemo svi kući, onda će se od vas Dal.naći Sudaca za Dal. i Hr. Još da pače biti će koji i za Srbiju, jerbo vas je veći broj negoli Hrvata. O mržnjo hoćeš li ikada prestati med ovom narodnosti, stoljeća je već puno, od kad mržnja u Hrvatu leži na brata mu srdce reži, te mu glavu pod mač meće, požaliti on je neće, duh kršćanski jel u tebi, družine mu požalio ne bi. Razbojnici vi prokleti, dieca mala vas će kleti.
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Ove mržnje i zla mišljenja što sam se naslušao od ovih što ne dadu spomenuti o Kraljevini Hrvatskoj a niti o Ungarskoj, prozvali se tvrdi Austrijaci, imaju sa sobom familije, ima jih koji su bili uz puliciju špijuni, gledali ulovit kog našeg čovjeka u kakvoj trgovini, to jim je bila radnja. A sada dotjera Englez u robstvo, te nije kuda, postati je tvrdim Austrijakom. Dalje da pišem bilo bi previše, moram preskočiti kao da za sada ni čuo nisam. Za pripovjedat imam dosta, svakomu na kog se namjerim, od ove časti, popovim i samomu Sv. Otcu Papi, do kojega ovaj narod ne drži upravo ništa. Do gospodara neba i zemlje isto ništa, nemoguće opisati ovu opačinu ljudsku. Ovakvi narod da štuje vladara to ne vjerujem, imao bi za pripovjedat profesurim i djacim, o Hrvatim prozvanim Austrijacim, koliko imaju ljubavi o Domovini K.K. Ne znam što jim je toliko omrzla, da ne dadu spomenuti o njoj ovde u robstvu. Srdce puca pukniti ne more, podnosit je ma bilo i gore. Dalje pripovjedat ću o Pjevačkom društvu, koji Hrvatske pjesme pjevaju, što su pjesme hrvatskih sinova, obraću jih oni sad iz nova. Evo jada vidit ćete sada. Mi smo braćo hrvatskog sinci plemena. Nemojmo se dakle tog stidit imena ta na svietu starijeg nema roda od našeg. Nema nad hrvatskoga roda slavnoga. Promislite vi što se stidite ovog svog imena Hrvati ste a i Dalmatinci prozvali se Austrijci. A koji se ne stidili imena svog iztjerali iz logora vi ovog. Sudci jesu, ovo će suditi, krivac nietko mora biti, jer to zakon neće dopustiti da rob roba može odsuditi (o popovi, slabo sada, socializam svud zavlada.
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Još da upitam Pjevačko društvo, Hrvatska vam mila nije, protjerani Hrvat di je, ne bi pjesme ja pjevao kad se Hrvat ne bi zvao. Ovu kitu preskočili, zašto nje se zastidili. Svi što poslje Slovinsko ime dobiše. Svi ti nekad hrvatsko ime nosiše itd. Gdje Slovenci nam Štajerci, gdje Koruška a i Češka, gdje su Kranjci nam Ljubljanci itd. Zašto njih se vi stidite kad jim pjesmu priskočiste. Razmislite sada ovu što pjevate pjesmu novu. Brat i brat Austrijak i Hrvat, uvjek brat i brat Austrijak i Hrvat. Ovo vidim u niti pjevača, te mu smijući progovorim, zašto nisu složili u pjesmi A. I H. brat i brat, Ungarez nam polubrat. Odvrati mi, njega ne volimo pjevati.
Evo novo još i ovo
Ne razumi brata. U mjesecu lipnju god. 1917. Major dozvolio da se izabere jedan čovjek za poglavara u logoru, i dvanajst odbornika (zastupnika), koji će zastupati zarobljenike. Tako se i učini, izabrali upravitelja logora. Upravitelj nastavi govor nasred ograde, govori njemački o upravi koju će on nastupiti, plieskaju mu sa rukami. Upitam one što su bili pokraj mene što govori, ja ga ne razumim, odvrate mi, a koji ti ga djavo razumi. To mi bilo za čuditi se, s rukam tuče a ne zna zašto, brata ne razumi što mu brat govori, a onoga kog je razumio protjerao ga, i još mu junačko srdce kuca da progoni koj kaže da je Hrvat. Razmislite pjesmu ovu, malena je Dalmacija, al je dika rodu svom, još Hrvatska trobojnca na kalpaku sokolskom (meni dužnost ovo zapisati, nek prosudi koj će bolje znati).
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Evo jada glasa iznenada na 30/5 1917. Ovog dana ujutro officir neprijateljski donese vjest. Hrvatima koji su stanovali u osam baraka u 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31. 8, i 38, da se sprema roba, i nosi na glavna vrata ograde, gdje će se mećati na kola. Narod taj glas čuo, svak sprema što može brže i nosi na odredjeno mjesto. A protjerani Hrvati, oni već prošli rano u zoru ne zna se kuda, a ne znamo ni mi kuda idemo. Nieki govore u Zapadnu Australiju gdje smo i prije bili, jedni govore hoćemo kući, a nieki ovde nas hoće razpustiti, ali točno nitko ne može doznati. Tako do pola dana odpravljeno pet kumpanija, jedni za drugim prošli pješice. Vojnici š njima. Roba na kolim za njima. Tri kumpanije ostale za poslje podne, 29, 38 i moja 31. Popodne u dva sata odpravljena prva 29. a za njom 38 i moja kumpanija 31. ujedno. Putujemo napred, roba na kolim za njima. Tri kumpanije ostale za poslje podne, 29, 38 i moja 31. Popodne u dva sata otpravljena prva 29, a za njom 38 i moja kumpanija 31 ujedno. Putujemo napred, roba na kolim za nami, kad smo učinili četiri milje puta, tu nas ustavi, šuma svuda naokolo. Opazimo šatore i vidi se mala ograda žicom opletena, po starom običaju, da koji rob ne uteče. U ogradi vidimo one što pred nami prošli, skupili se kod vrata ograde. Izvan ograde vidimo uzporedane protjerane Hrvate, i roba se tovari na kola. Što je novo to ne znamo. Zapovjedi nam napred, podjemo dalje od ograde do sto metara, tu nas zaustavi, gledamo gdje krenuli na put protjerani Hrvati, od kuda smo i došli, i roba na kolim ide za njima. Onda nas pusti u ogradu. Noć ubrzo, ornist piri na antret. Tu se uzporedali kumpanija jedna do druge, prebroji nas po starom običaju. Zatim prošetam po ogradi da vidim
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kako izgleda. Ograda mala tako do 130 metar širine, a toliko daljine, napravljena od malo vremena, šatori postavljeni u redove, i vidim gdje još postavljaju druge. Mjesto napravno gdje će kotli stati za kuhati, ali ne znam kada. Izvan ograde niekoliko šatora za vojnike, u ogradi drva bi debeli panji što su ostali od stabala kopanih. Tu naložili vatru te se griju. Viču kao na sajmu, a psovanje strahota slušati. Mislim tužan da ni pakao gori nije, ali što ću podnosit je, živ u zemlju ne mogu. Donesem robu u šator gdje ću spavati, mokra zemlja, potužit se nije komu, tu je boraviti dok su ledja zdrava. Pet nas ima u šatoru, kruha smo dobili koliko pripada. Ornist piri, to mi kažu da se čaj dieli. Idem i nosim lonac da čaja dobijem, ali me zapalo da ga ne pijem. Na kotle su prvi navalili, te ga zadnji nisu ni dobili. Gladan sam ali nije pomoći, prislušavam kako ovde prvi došli, i kako protjerani nazad prošli. Ovi protjerani Hrvati pod srpskim imenom, prvi u ovu ogradu, a ove druge kumpanije kad je koja stigla ulazila je u ogradu k njima, tako da je bilo sve mirno, razgovara se jedan sa drugim, prijatelj sa prijateljem, protjerani da su govorili da ćemo svi na slobodu, da su nas oslobodili niekoji iz Londona. Ali protivnici prijateljstva nemaju, oni se gledaju kao pas i mačka. Na pola dana ornist piri za dobivat jelo. Uzporedale se kumpanije kako spada, i protjerani Hrvati u istom redu. Stoji sve mirno, ali tko se na koga ljuti mora da kavgu zamuti, jedan od protjerani Hr. mira nema, udre jedni zavika, ti mene protira, zaplela se komedija. Skočili prozvani Austrijaci
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na ovog protjeranog. Vojnici okolo ograde gotovi za pucati. Major uletio unutra, vikne gori ruke, tako se ne umire. Upita jih Major koji vole da van izidju. Prozvani Aust. Odgovaraju, jedni moraju, koje vam drago. Protjerani Hr. mali je broj, njih Major odpravi nazad. Slušam ove što ostali, hvale se ja sam udario toga, oni drugi toga, jednog čujem, e da nije glavu nakrenio, u vrat bi mu bio kolac zabio. To je sreća što se tako dogodilo, da nisu ostali u noć svi zajedno. Slušam one od 38 kumpanije, koji su bili još na putu sa 31 kump. Govore šta bi bilo od njih da je bila naša kumpanija unutra, koja je najgora. Osveta će uvjek biti dok bude ovaj narod živio jerbo protjerani uvjek misli tko ga je sudio i protjerao. Ovo pišem i meni zamisliti kako rob jedan drugog more odsuditi. Protjerani Hrvati kad su izlazili iz ograde, izišlo š njima još niekoliko od one strane prozvati Austrijaka, uplašili se jerbo su nazivani Srbim i imena jim iznašali na tabulu, te su volili izić sa protjeranim, nego ostati uz one prozvane Austrijake, jedni su od straha i robu ostavili, to su dobro učinili, bolje biti zdravi ledja, negoli prebijeni, jerbo se ovde nije komu pritužiti, jakost sudi ovde koja se ne obzire na zakon. Englez to i voli da se mi lupamo u čije zdravlje to će se već znati. Kako Hrvati i Dalmatinci rat vode, medju sobom u robstvu, brane od neprijatelja Austro Ungarsku Monarhiju. Dosta jih ovde ima ovi vjerni tvrdi Austrijaka, koji uvjek nastoje da se kakovo zlo dogodi. Pripovjedat ću kako sam prenoćio prvu noć, bio sam više uz vatru negoli u šatoru.
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Ujutro nas prebroji, te na 31/5 za ručak dobijemo svaki malo crne kafe i kruha koliko pripada. Izgleda slabo, za kupit nije ovde ko što je bilo u staroj ogradi, ovde je sve šuma, kuće nije vidit. Tako smo pod ovim šatorim kao u kakvoj pustinji. Vojništvo što vidimo gdje ovud prolazi, a civila i ne vidimo. Na 9 sati dodje niekoliko officira i Major sa njima, dobijemo zapovjed da se roba nosi do vrata do straže, te odma donese. Jedna kumpanija zapovjed dobila da svak svoju robu iznese van iz ograde. Počeli iznašati robu po redu, kako koji iznio ostavi i vrati se natrag u ogradu. Kad svi iznili, počimlje novo. Kola već stigla, vojnici slažu robu na kola. Dalje ova kumpanija što jim se roba tovari na kola stoje uzporedani četiri i četiri u blizini vrata, čekaju zapovjed za izlaziti. Pred vratima izvan ograde do 4 metra daleko, šator bio postavljen, tu se izmienjivala straža. U taj šator sjela četiri officira, te izdali zapovjed da dolazi od one kumpanije, što jim se roba tovari na kola po jedan u šator. Počeli ulazit po jedan pred officire. Mi ostali gledamo iz ograde, ali ne možemo ništa čudi, koji dodje u šator stoji pred officirim nieki 3 minuta a nieki 5 minuti, tako redom ide niešto ga izpitiva, ali vidimo da se ne saginje za podpisivat ništa. Kolni put udaljen od ograde do 30 metara, tu vojnici čekaju koji gotov sa izpitivanjem u šatoru ide na put k vojnicima te kad jih se skupi 20 ili više, vojnici jih povedu onim putom od kuda smo i došli, povedu jih napred toliko da jih gledati ne moremo, te čekaju dok dodju drugi kad se skupi ciela kump. Onda je vode u stari logor gdje smo prije stanovali.
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Ali mi nismo znali iz ograde kuda jih vodi i što jih pita. Počeli smo se zdogovarati sa onim što će izlaziti, kako nam hoće dokazati kuda idu i što jih izpitiva. Nieki skine klobuk, a nieki kazuje sa rukom, ima jih koji sa nogom, kako se koji s kim zdogovorio, te smo tako doznali da pita koji hoće izić na slobodu u ime srpsko, i da idu natrag u Logor od kud nas je krenuo. Sada ću pripovjedat kako nije bilo okol 10 sati isti dan, ogladnio sam da nisam mogao nikuda, ali gladni bilo i više, koji su ugledali brašna od zobi pol vreće, što izdato sjutra za ručak, vatre bilo što noćom gorila tu na mjesto niekoliko kotlova, te ne čekaju niti da voda dobro zakuha, nego siplju brašno te promješaju, koji put ali ne mnogo, jer nije kad čekat, odnesu u šator, ne gleda se kakova je nego samo daj, tu i ja donesem tanjir ne gledajuć kakova je jerbo me sa svim glad osvojila. Dopol dana izpitane i odpravljene dvi kumpanije. Obed gotof, ornist piri za dobivat jelo. Reda nikakova nema, tu se tiska do kotla tko će prije, tako da svi nisu ni dobili. Poslie podne odpravljene opet dvi kumpanije, dajuć znake kud se ide. Protjerani Rendulić Josip koji je bio u Kazalištu Prosvjeti cieli dan se šetao okolo šator gdje su izpitivali, ne mogu dokazati čega radi, ali vidim od kako je protjeran da je stekao veliko prijateljstvo sa militerom, a i prije je bio prijatelj njihov. Vidim iz ograde njega vojnici ne čuvaju više, ujutro je bez vojnika došao, u večer bez njih opet pošao. Slušam ove što su sa mnom da Josip R. nagovara one
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protjerane što stanuju u no. 3 Kroatien Camp da se upišu u Jugoslavensko društvo u Londonu, te da je tako mislio i nas ovde nagovarati, i tako da bi na slobodu izišli. Četiri kump. ostaju za sjutra. Večera se sprema, niešto mesa preteklo, kuhara ima više negoli kotlova, svak rada pomaže samo da se najede. U večer nas prebroji, te i večera gotova, opet reda nema kao što nismo po pravom redu ni došli u ovu ogradu, jelo se dieli ali jih isto opet ostalo niekoliko bez njega. Vatre po ogradi na više mjesta, oko njih se griju i razgovaraju što se radi od zarobljenika. Na deset sati ornist piri za spavati, tu nieki ode spavati a ima jih koji se griju cielu noć. Ustanem tako okolo četiri sata ujutro, idem k vatri grijati se, te vidim na više mjesta gdje kafu kuhaju. Tu i ja dobijem. Kafu su dokučili od one što za ručak izdata. Pije se crna kafa za glad i za žeđu. Osvanula zora, petak 1. lipnja kuhari skuhali kafu za ručak. Ornist zove za prebrojit, prebroji nas te idemo uzimat kafu, kumpanija jedna za drugom red napravili kad se crna voda dieli, a jučer kad se jelo dielilo tko prije do kotla. Poslie ručka dvi kump. dobile zapovjed da nose robu kao i one jučer, na devet sati došli officiri, oni što su jučer izpitivali, ali ne idu u oni šator gdje su jučer bili, već u drugi koji je odaljen 20set metara od ograde, da mi koji ostajemo ne moremo gledati kao što smo jučer. Zapovjedi ovim dvima kump. da dolazi po jedan u šator na izpit i Rendulić Jozo došao te malo dalje od šatora šetao i niešto čekao. Ne mogu kazati za čiju korist Jozo šeta sve do podne dok su bile izpitane i odpravljene ove dvi kumpanije. Za poslie podne ostaju dvi kump. 29 i moja 31., od kojih su odma ujutro brojače (kump. komandante)
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izazvali van ograde, te jih nazad više nisu pustili. Od moje 31. kump. Izabrali smo drugog čovjeka, ali nam i njega izazovu van ograde te ga nazad ne puste više. Gotov obed dobijem, jelo po navadi, zatim poslie obeda čujemo glas drugi, officiri otišli neće izpitivati poslie podne. Dovezli slame, te mi koji smo ostali dobijemo da ne ležimo na zemlji. Komandant nad nami i vojnicim je najstariji nadporučnik, koji ne izgleda da je roda Britanije već mora da bude od naših krajeva, lukav kao lisica. Tu prenoćimo, dan osvanuo subota 2. lipnja. Glas dobijemo da neće doći officiri kupovati nas, da imaju nieku svetkovinu, ostat ćemo za drugi dan. Nu i ne marimo, kad jim drago neće mnogo kupiti, slabo nam nije jerbo nas je malo, red smo postavili kako spada. Odma za ručkom dodje ovaj nadporučnik k nama u ogradu te smijući se govori da se svi preselimo k jednomu kraju, nieki viče neću, nieki zašto kad smo sad napravili ovde mjesto, gos. Obrlajtnet on se samo smije, ali se namjerio na jednog, koji mu počeo govoriti, vi Englezi ne znate što radite, vi ste se već smutili, zašto ste nas doveli ovamo, vi ste kao voda koja se preliva sad onamo sad ovamo, tako vi s nama postupate, da ne bi čovjek tako sa crnim narodom postupao. Gosp. se samo smije, preselili se vičuć i psujuć svi k jednom kraju. Gospodin opet smijuć, porušit je prazne šatore te složite u jednog, imat ćete više mjesta za šetati, nieki hoću nieki viče neću, ali se isto radi, kad su uredili šatore, opet gosp. Nadporučnik, sjutra je nedielja, doći će tko stariji danas treba da očistimo ogradu da nas ne nadje u neredu, uzmite grablje te na vatru pokupite. Uredilo se i to. Onda će gosp., nu vidite da je sad liepše za šetati.
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Tako cielog dana u subotu, gosp. izidje iz ograde i opet dodje na razgovor k nama, izpitiva gosp. o svačemu, pita jeste li vi svi Austrijaci, ogovaraju jesmo, kako se austrijski govori ja bi rada naučiti, počeli ga učiti, govore pred njim hrvatski (drugčije i ne znadu), on za njima čisto izgovara i smije se, čujem ga gdje progovori, ja čitam vaše knjige. Ja mučim i slušam o čem se razgovaraju. Gosp. u govoru navodi, kaže Talijani su dobri, a naši mu ružno odvrate, počeo gosp. hvaliti svoju vojsku i ostalih njihovih saveznika, naši mu ne dadu ni progovorit, govore mu vaše ništa ne valja. Gosp. govori, mi imamo ovde veliki topova, naš se jedan u brzini javi, ja bi vaš top nosio na ramenu, drugi se javi, ja bi dva nosio. Sluša gosp., nije mu po volji, dokučio sve što je hotio (i lahko mu dokučit kod ovog naroda). Gosp. izidje iz ograde, a naši se razgovaraju kakvi je ovo oficir, tko mu čast dade, on je pravi barakin. Na to progovorim ovim našim, ovo je mudra glava, on vas iztraživa o svačem, da vidi kakvi bi bili da vas pusti na slobodu, a vas ima i sa družinom ovde koji bi moguće ovde rada ostali, te potom vašem govorenju ne more vas pustit na slobodu po ovoj zemlji. Čuvajte se njega. Naslušao se gospodin nadporučnik što još dosad čuo nije do mile volje. Subota nam prodje. Osvanilo. Nedielja 3. lipnja, tu vidimo gdje vojnici prolaze pokraj naše ograde i sester dolaze braću vojnike gledati. To roblje gleda rado, jerbo nisu vidili od kad su u robstvu ženske glave. Pitali smo gosp. nadporučnika kuda su otišle one prve kumpanije, odgovori ne znam, a naši mu odvrate, otišli su na stari kamp gdje smo i prije bili. Gospodin odgovori, to ste vi
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doznali od njih što su s rukam i klobukim mahali, zato ste vi uvjek u njih gledali. Nedielja nam prodje, prespavamo, osvanuo ponediljak 4. lipnja. Ručali smo i zapovjed dobijemo da nosi robu 29. kump. do vrata, a moja 31. kump. ostat hoće za poslie podne, za nju se kuha obed. Kump. 29 robu donila i komesija dolazi, četiri officira i jedan u crnom kaputu. Zapovjed izdadu da ova kump. iznese robu iz ograde, te da se vraću opet u ogradu. Robu iznili, vratili se u ogradu, kola već stigla za robu. Rendulić Josip nije došao, zdogovaramo se sa onim što hoće na izpit, kako nam hoće dat znak od onog u crnom tabaru, počeli zvati po jednog na izpit, znake nam daju da onaj u crnom tabaru izpitiva hrvatski tko će u Srbiju. Tako do podne odpravljena 29. kump. Za misliti nam, jerbo ne moremo doznat da li koji ostane u srpsko ime, gledamo uvjek di vodi sve ujedno, po onom putu od kud smo i došli. Vrieme dolazi i mojoj kump. 31. posljednoj, obedvali te nosimo robu kao i oni prvi. Zapovjed dodje po jedan ulaziti u šator na izpit. Dodje red i na me pisca, dodjem unutra. Pita onaj u crnom tabaru kako se zovem, to sam mu kazao. Pita koji sam, odgovorim Hrvat. Pita opet bi li vi rada na slobodu, odgovorim slobodi se svak veseli. Pita me zašto ste zatvoreni, odgovorim za Kralja i Domovinu. Pita opet koje vam je domovina, odgovorim Kraljevina Hrvatska. Na to mi odvrati, gdje vam je K. Hrvatska, ugrabili su je Madjari, odgovorim gosp. u crnom tabaru, po zakonu do sada Hrvatske nitko ugrabio nije. Ungarska i Hrvatska kraljevine živući u zajednici državopravne u nagodi
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pod krunom ungarskom. Pita opet pa gdje je kralj tih kraljevina. Nu eto mu moram kazati onoga u Beču, Cesar austrijski. Više me ne htje pitati, zove drugog. Došao sam k onim što su izpitani prije mene, pitaju me što je pitao gosp. U crnom tabaru, odgovorim pitao ma kako se zovem i koji sam i ništa više. Niekoliko mladi Hrvata kazuju što jih pitao, jedan pripovjeda, pitao me koji sam, kažem gospodinu u crnom tabaru Hrvat, opet me pita tvrdi Hrvat, ogovorim tvrdi Hrvat, pita dalje je li ti otac bio tvrdi Hrvat, odgovorim bio je tvrdi Hrvat pak sam i ja. Pita, bi li vi pošli za srpskog vojnika, odgovorim to nikako. Slušam drugog, pripovjeda pitao me koji sam, kazao sam Hrvat u zajednici sa Austrijom, pita bi li vi pošli za srpskog vojnika, odgovorim to nikada, pita bi li vi pošli u rat za Austriju, odgov. Drage volje, onda mi kaže budite na red druge nedielje, doći će brod po vas, odgovor. Na red sam uvjek. Ovakvi pripovjetka čujem više, od mladi Hrvata koji još vojnici bili nisu, ne stide se svog hrvatskog imena pred gospodom kazati. A Hrvati stariji još koji su i vojnici bili, oni su tvrdi. Austrijaki ne smi se pred njima spomenut o Hrvatskoj ovde u robstvu. Slušao sam od jednog Hr. koji je i vojnik bio, kaže mi pa tko ti zna za Hrvatsku, razgovaramo se dalje, progovoram mu o Zagrebu i sveučilištu, na to mi odvrati, sveučilište je u svakom gradu. Govorim mu, valda ne znaš da je Zagreb Kr. grad, vidi u knjigu koja istinu kaže, odvrati mi, vas hoće knjige zaluditi. Kad sam ovo čuo, vidio sam da na žalost nije s kim razgovarati, progovorim proklet bio koj se svog imena stidi.
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Kad je izpitao cielu kumpaniju, idemo natrag od kud smo i došli, u putu se razgovaramo. Slušam Dalmatine, govore pitao me koji sam ja mu rekao Austrijak, onda me opet pita di sam se rodio, ja mu kažem u Dalmaciji. Opet me pita bi li pošo za srpskog vojnika, ja mu kazao to ne bi, zove drugoga. Ovakovih je većina koji ovako pripovjedaju. Dodjemo do starog logora od kud smo i prošli, tu nastala vika hure. Došli u baraku gdje smo i prije stanovali, ali nadjemo sve prazno, raznieli oni što ostali, razbacali smo dosta misleći da idemo na more. Što da pišem više, zna se kako je u praznoj baraki, tko ima novac kupuje kao da je jučer došao u robstvo, a tko nema, spava na podu. Gospodin Major ne da ništa, počeo namještati željezne krevete u one barake što su bile na trgovištu, na mjesti kreveta svaki dan za 20 ljudi. Pripovjedat hoću o onim kumpanijam što su došle prije moje 31prve, bio je jedan za upravitelja u logoru, zvao se Cimerman, postavio ga Major. Ove kumpanije kad su došle i Njemci sa njima, iztjerali ga iz službe sumljajuć na njega da je on znao kud se ide, te da nije htjeo kazati. Zatim Major dozvoli postaviti novog upravitelja i 12 odbornika, od kojih su izabrani sve Njemci, a od Austro Ungarske Monarhije sa velikom silom zapalo jednog Istrijana i to bezplatno za zastupnika. Zatim opet Major dozvolio za prevodit u špital hrvatsku narodnost, dva Dalmatina jedan do podne a drugi poslie podne, imao je za plaću svaki 1 šilin. Dokazati hoće o gospodi oficirima i onom u crnom kaputu koliko su kupili za Srbiju. U ponedeljak na 4. lipnja kad smo došli u stari logor gdje smo i prije bili, poslie večere otvorena vrata od ograde na tri kraja.
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Tko bi znao mudrije gospode, oni bi valda rada da koji izidje, ali se ne da nitko, za malo vrieme dodju dva pulicmana po jednog, izvedu ga kroz vrata do stražara, te mu onda pulicmani donesu robu. Kazivao je da je od Beča, to bilo na vratima kod moje barake 31. podju sa njim pulicmani u Kroatien Camp no. 3., tu se bio narod sakupio kao vrane, slušam razgovaraju se, sramotno je, Austrijak pa pošo za srpskog vojnika. Tu jih pulicija raztjera i zatvori vrata. Dalje podjem šetajuć do glavni vrata od ograde, tu vidim gdje pulicmani nose robu jednog Čeha i on š njima, zatim vidim jednog Dal. tvrdog Austrijaka, prodje sa pulicmanom na militerski kraj, a robu mu kašnje donili pulic. Još i ovo, jedan Dalm. tvrdi Austrijak, koji je izgonio iz ograde Hrvate na ¼ i još tukao, a sada ga kupili za Srbiju i odveli ga iz ograde prije nego je došla moja kump. 31 sa trgovišta. Upravo smješno. Iste večeri slušam mlade Hrvate koji su mi prije pripovjedali kako su na izpitu govorili, pripovjedaju onim što su došli prije u ovaj logor nego moja kump. 31, jedan pripovjeda, pitao me koji sam, ja mu odgovorim Hrvat, on opet, jesi li tvrdi Hrvat, odgovorim tvrdi, opet pita je li ti otac bio tvrdi Hrvat, odgovorim bio je, pa sam i ja tvrdi Hrvat, pita me bi li vi pošli za srpskog vojnika, odgovorim to nikako, ovako njih više pripovjeda, a ovi tvrdi Austrijaci gledaju i slušaju kako se ovi kvale, da su kazali da su tvrdi Hrvati, i misle u sebi vidim na njima lice jim kaziva, kazao da je Hrvat, pak ga nije oteralo za srpskog vojnika. Mislili su ovi prozvani Austrijaci da su Hrvati izgubili svoje ime, da se sada moraju prekrstiti, ko što su se oni ovde prekrstili pa raztjera Hrvate pod srpskim imenom
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kao kurjaci ovce, koji se više nikada neće sakupiti. Tu prenoćim prvu noć, u ovom logoru iz kog sam bio prošao na trgovište. Osvanuo dan 5. lipnja, šetam ujutro po ogradi i pogledam u camp protjeranih, vidim gdje spremaju robu i nose na kup. Ubrzo Ornist zapiri, idem na antret i ručak uzeti. Kad sam bio gotov s ručkom idem da vidim protjerane, pogledam ovako na njihovu ogradu, vidim gdje su uzporedani četiri i četiri u liniji, roba jim se tovari na kola, krenuli na put onuda od kud sam jučer došao, ne znam kuda idu, dalje gledam u šatore njihove, i vidim kad kog čovjeka di izidje, još su nekoji ostali, ali ne znam koliko i koji. Šetam dalje, namjerim se na dva čovjeka, jedan je koji od početka nastoji za progonit, stanem š njima razgovarati, progovorim meni se čini da još Srba ostalo, progovori jedan, samo dva sto su ostala, kaza jih po imenu, da se nisu dali, da su rekli da jih neka ubije, da neće krenuti nikuda iz ograde, i još ovaj pripovjeda da je bila cielu noć larma (vika) medju njima i da su se potukli. Još progovori neka jih, bit će i gore. (Što ovaj o njima zna neka kaziva, a ja pisac što čujem i vidim to ovde i pišem, na što ću moći odgovoriti) Sjutra dan porušilo šatore. Gdje su protjerani stanovali, to ne znam dalje što je s njima dok ne čujem. Sastanem se sa jednim starim Hrvatom, upitam ga šta ga je pitao onaj u crnom kaputu, odgovori mi, pitao me da koji sam ja sam mu kazao da sam Austrijak, onda me opet pitao da jesam li Talijan ili Dalmatinac ali Hrvat, pa sam mu rekao da sam Hrvat, onda me opet pitao da li znam pisati. Rekao sam da znam.
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Onda mi je pokazao jednu knjigu da čitam, pa sam rekao da ne znam, upitam ga je li knjiga hrvatski pisana, odgovori mi je, pa zašto nisi vidio što u njoj piše i kakova je knjiga, nisam htjeo, rekao sam da ne znam, onda me opet pitao hoću li poći za srpskog vojnika, rekao sam neću. Dalje namjerim se na jednog učenjaka Istrijana, liepo se razgovaramo. On govori ča ovi da su nekakovi Hrvati, ovi ča su Istriani, mi smo si Austrijaki, ja Hrvat nis, ja govorim malo hr. malo tal. Malo njem. i engl. Od ovoga svakoga govora, ja po malo znam, ja Hrvat nis. Dalje jednog dana sjedim kod kazališta na ogradi, dodjoše dva Istrijana k meni, poznati mi dobro, jedan sjedi ne govori ništa, a ovaj drugi nastavi govor o državam, i počne o onim protjeranim govori ča oni prokleti Srbi, oni bi hoteli Srbiju da pomogu. Odgovorim njemu, ono nisu Srbi, ono su Hrvati, odvrati mi, ovde ni Hrvati, mi smo si Austrijaki, odgovorim njemu, ja nisam Aust. Ja sam Hrvat, odvrati mi onda ste vi kako i oni vavek vi Hrvati neč išćete pak ne morete nikad niš nać, vavek van je krivo. Pitam ga, kako vi znate da je Hrvatu uvjek krivo, odvrati mi, san videl vavek se neč bunite, vavek neke komedije pravite. Odgovorim njemu i vi ste hrvatske narodnosti, nije sramota da se zovete Hrvat, imate i škole hrvatske, kažite mi od kud nabavljate knjige za nauk koga znate, odvrati mi iz Trsta i Ljubljane. Pitam ga koje ste knjige čitali, odgovori mi, bil san kupi. Pulitički katekizam pak nis mogao va njem niš razumet pak sam ga zahitil. Na ovo se nasmijem ni pučke škole ne svrši, pak odma na pulitički katekizam. Ovaj isti na 30/6 1917. šetali malo zajedno kad smo na antretu bili, ovaj počeo razgovarati
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o protjeranim. Odgovorim njemu, sud će trebati za one ljude, odvrati mi ča će jim sud, seć glave drugo niš ono su si Srbi. Odgovorim njemu, bit hoće za nje zakletve (prisege) i svjedoka proti njima i za nje, odvrati mi ča svedoki, sa sam svedok za sih.
Još i ovu zanimivu priču na ¼ kad su Austrijaci protjerali Hrvate, mislili su prognati i jednog Hrvata iz Žumberka, ali jim se nije dogodio u baraki. Sjutra dan ja pisac hodio sam na radnju, te na pol dana idem u baraku u putu vidim gdje se skupilo pred barakom 28 ljudi do dvadeset, gdje ovaj Hrvat stanovao, tu vidim Arambašu koji je uvjek podučavao za izgonit, i uza nj je njegov jaki čovjek, koji je malo vremena u robstvu, i koji je kupio imena za predat komandantu logora, i koji je rekao, svaki je Srb koji ne da imena, ovaj zasukao rukave kad je progonio govori ovom Hrvatu ili voliš sam proći iz ograde ove ili da te gonimo kao i one jučer, progovori Hrvat Stjepan kad je tako ja ću sam poći poslie obeda u dva sata popodne obdržavali skupštinu za pravit kazalište, na toj skupštini (siednici) bili samo Austro Ungarske monarhije ljudi, i Hrvat Stjepan sjedi u banku (klupi) nedaleko od mene. Govor nastavi ovaj zasukani rukava što je protjeravao, pita je li onaj Hrvat otišo iz ograde ili je možda tu. Digne se Hrvat Stjepan, vikne evo me, pa zat niste otišli, progovori Hrvat Stjepan proći hoću, ali vas molim kažite mi koji ste što čuli od mene da sam rekao ikada što proti državi, neka se digne i neka mi kaže. Nitko ništa, nitko ništa. Onda ovaj zasukani rukava što progonio kao iztražni Sudac pita Stjepana, hoćeš li biti vjeran državi unapred.
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Odgovori Stjepan, vojnik sam bio vjeran Kralju i Domovini, a sada me ovde zapalo, te ne mogu pomoći Državi a ni sebi. Opet Iztražni reci da nikad nećeš biti proti, odgovori Stjepan, kad bi bio proti Državi, bio bi i proti sebi, to nedao Bog, onda ga taj dan pustili u miru. Je li ovo smiešno kako ovo izgleda. Poslie ove istrage, dodjem u baraku, čujem govor, pak se nije htjeo dignuti nitko da kaže proti njemu. Šetam na večer Stipom i drugom njegovim Mikom, oba su iz Žumberka, pripovjedaju mi da koliko su svieta prošli da ovakva naroda vidili nisu, koji se samo sa jakosti hvale, što namisle to rade, ne obziru se oni na zakon, govori mi Stjepan, jesil vidio kako me izpitava, ne bi onako Nj.V. Iztražni Sudac, a tko je on, rob kao i ja i svaki ostali. Usred pakla da je moguće volili bi stanovat negoli ovde šnjima.
Na ¾ oglas na tabuli prebijen, a imena nije podpisao tko ga je pribio, na njem piše, tko je pravio molbu na društvo u Bolderu neka izlazi iz ograde, jerbo hoće proći prebijeni ledja, to ugledali Stipan i Miko te se uplaše jerbo su prozvani Srbi podpisa radi hr. narodnosti, te ujutro pokupe robu i š njima dva mladića od Hr. Primorja i jedan Dal. zajedno su stanovali, odnili robu do glavni vrata ogade, došao Major k njima, te mu dokazali, poslao jih natrag, ne htjede jih pustiti k onim protjeranim, poslie toga čujem razgovor više puta, treba da su protjerani, što jih ostavilo, uvjek su sami, pravi su oni Srbi. Stalo tako do 1/5 god. iste, ovaj dan ujutro rano prebijen oglas na tabuli, upisano devet imena, ovaj Stipan i ova dva mladića, i Miko Cukfirer, prezimena mu nije znao, i pet drugih imena, i još (sve ovo bilo u god. 1817.)
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Piše gonite jih braćo van iz ograde, svog imena podpisao nije. Tu jih se skupilo čitati, veselje veliko, pitam ja pisac, zašto ovaj nije svog imena podpisao, da dokaže što on zna proti ovom narodu, odgovaraju nije lud svoje ime podpisati, na to jim odgovorim, i oni ljudi protjerani, ono nisu ovce, za njih hoće biti zakletve (prisege), odgovore mi dvojica, za njih se lahko zakleti, oni su svi Srbi. Zatim podjem u baraku gdje je stanovao Miko Cukfirer i dva mladića od Hr. primorja, a Stipana nije u baraki, on je u zatvoru. O njem ću dokazati napred. Pitam ona tri što je s vama, da su vam napisali imena na tabulu za protjerat vas iz ovog Logora. Progovori Cukfirer, to su nam prvi glasi, idu gledati na tabulu, ali je već oglas odkinut bio, govore mi neka ljudi rade šta hoće, mi se u nikog ne diramo, uvjek smo u baraki, čitamo ili kartamo, sami se šetamo, sa društvim se nikakovim ne držimo, što bi ti ljudi rada od nas, ali smo jim valda težki gdje smo se zapisali hr. narodnosti, a nismo austrijske. Mi smo bili uvjek dosad Hrvati, pak kako da sad se stidimo svog imena pred Dal. to nikada. Podjem u svoju baraku 31.tu mi stali odma govoriti, sad se vidi jesu li Srbi ili ne, upitam jih, kako to, odgovore mi eno jim imena na tabuli, upitam jih da li vi znate proti njima, odgovore mi, ako mi ne znamo, znadu ljudi koji su jim imena pribili na tabulu, odgovorim zašto ti ljudi ne izidju pak dokažu pred narodom što znadu, a ne u mraku pribijat oglase na tabulu, pak se onda sakriti, a oni koji dodju čitati, samo viču, gonit djavle, tako su i oni prvi protjerani. Pitaju me pak zašto ti braniš njim, odgovaram
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Žao mi je svakog čovjeka da se napastuje i progoni bez uzroka, treba izić pak stati pred čovjeka, te kazati otvoreno pred narodom, to je i taj je, a ne samo veseliti se Srbi će se progonit, kao i oni prvi. Zato hoću uvjek kazati da se mora točno znati o čovjeku prije negoli se protjera, jerbo će doći do Suda poslie rata. Protjerani svaki on hoće Sud tražiti, ljudi nisu ovce. Ovde su me zamrzili, ali to ne marim, pravo reći ne stidim se nikada. Sada o Miki Cukfireru na Rotnesu školju god. 1915 na 18. kolovoza na rodjendan Nj.V.C. i K. Josipa prvoga bio je zapovjednikom parade austroungarskih rezervista. Ovde u Liverpoolu god. 1916. nastojao da bi kao i na Rotnesu proslavio sa rezervistim rodjendan Nj.V., ali Major nije dozvolio. Na 27. sječnja god. 1917 rodjendanu Nj.V.C. Wilimu Njemačkom, bila je divna parada. Njemci sa svojim rezervistim, a Cukfirer Miko Simeniću sa našim A.U. Miku su pohvalili Njemci, i naši A.U. rezerve officiri, a engleski sasvim. Sad hoću dokazati o Stipanu i zatvoru. Stipan bio bolestan, te hodio u špital svako jutro piti medecinu, u špital dolazili i oni protjerani Hr. iz No. 3 te od ovih protjerani, jedan metnuo malo papira Stipanu u žep, da uruči batu ovog protjeranog. Vojnik to opazio te odveo Stipana pred Majora, zatvori ga 24 sata zato da se moraju pisma slati preko pošte, a ne prenositi. Na tom papiru bilo pisano, dragi brate, pošalji mi jednu liru (funtu). Stipan u zatvoru, došao glas u ogradu no. 1 zatvorili Stipana, prenosio Srbim pisma, kazivao jim sve što je ovde, dok dodje odma ga protjerat u Srbiju, na 1/5 na pol dana dodje Stipan, gledaju ga kao vrane, a ne znadu kako bi skupili hajku, u jutro su kupili pak jim nije pošlo za rukom.
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Što je pismo donio, zato zatvor dobio, u zatvoru dan i noć čekaju ga kad će doć da ga gone iz ograde kao vojsku da izdade.
Još imam smješni primjera od ovih mladića što su sa Stjepanom stanovali, i drugih dosta upravo smješni ako li dodje do suda, imam toga dosta za pripovjedat, i nadam se da mora doći, za popisat točno sve malenkosti, to mi se sada ne mili a i ne mogu, jerbo živim da gore ne bi da sam upravo u sred pakla. Na 30/6 kad smo hodili na trgovište, te kad se buna dogodila sa pozvanim Austrijakim i protjeranim Hr. protjerani izlazili iz ograde, te sa njima izišo Stjepan i Miko i njih više, oni hoće dokazati sami zašto su pribigli k protjeranim, stanuju danas u ogradi gdje je bilo trgovište za srpske vojnike.
Evo opet novo, na 12/7 1917. Ovog dana u jutro okol deset sati potukli se dvojica u 27. baraku. Dodje glas u moju baraku 31., prvo veliko veselje, nastao razgovor, bit će popodne opet protjerivanje, slušam govor ima gadova Srba još dosta, treba da su onda protjerani kad i oni prvi, jednog čujem gdje progovor, sad jim put otvoren, ograda gotova gdje smo bili na trgovištu za Sbiju i oni su tamo protjerani. Progovori drugi, ma kako se ovi gadovi nisu javili, pak prošli za Srbiju, na ovo jedan progovori, nadaju se da hoće brzo rat svršit, pak ne znadu kako. Ovo sam saslušao ne govorim nikomu ništa, izidjem iz barake, do tabule gdje se oglasi pebijaju. Tu nadjem jednog gdje niešto čita, govori mi on kakvi ovo narod dok se dva potuču odma viču treba protjeravat. Odgovoirm sad sam to slušao u mojoj baraki. Na večer šetam po ogradi, sastanem jednog poznatog, razgovaramo se kako se jutros dva potukli
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Ja pisac pogovorim kako odmah viču da teba potjeravat, a na trgovini za srpske vojnike bili smo svi, pak smo se vratili, ostala jesu četiri u večer su prošli iz ograde, pak koga bi sada potjerali, odgovori mi, ja sam na njih počeo vikati, koga bi protjerali, odgovori mi, ja sam na njih počeo vikati, koga bi protjerali, kad smo bili na izpitu, da tko hoće za spskog vojnika, pak nisu prošli, koga bi sad mogli progoniti, da se narod ruga, ovog sam zapazio dobro.
Opet novo, čujem od onih protjeranih prošlo jih niekoliko za vojnike, slušam da jih Englez vježba u Liverpoolu, te da jih hoće slati u Francu.
Evo opet glasa kom se ja ne nada na 23/4 ove god. Šetao sam uvečer po ogradi, jebo drugog posla nije, dosadilo mi šetanje, idem u baraku, mislim bit hoće ubrzo i vrieme za spavati, dodjem u svoju pregradu gdje nas deset zajedno stanuje, bilo je upravo osam i pol sati, razgovor drže, to je običaj od zore pak dok se ide spavati svaki dan neprekidno čujem govor bilo jih je tri stotine, upitam jih [ta to tri stotine, odgovore Srba je bilo onda dok je bilo kazalište Prosvjeta, odgovori drugi bilo jih je četiri stotine. Upitam, pak na taj račun da su to svi Sbi, pak da su prošli, koliko bi jih onda ostalo, odgovori M. Ostali bi sami mi, a neće da izreče koji. Upitam M. pa gdje su te tri stotine, odgovori M., eno jih tamo iztjerani su, i sami su prošli niekoji. Na ovaj M. govor, kažem njemu, protjeranih ima pedeset i jedan, odgovori M., ima jih svih skupa osamdeset. Upitam M., gdje su još dvisto i dvadeset, na trgovištu su bili kao i mi, za Srbiju nisu htjeli proći. Odgovori M., ovde su u kampu, sad su se stisli, ne dadu se znat jerbo jih strah uzet pušku u ruke. Upitam M., bi li ti kazao koje su,
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odgovori M. ljutito, ti si kao i oni kad jih braniš. Upitam M., kaži jih koje su, pokaži jih barem pet ili tri da se zna, odgovori M. ljutito, ti si još gori negoli oni, branio si i one prve, to ti ja kažem da si gori od njih. Odgovorim M., onim protjeranim sjeći se hoće glave, upita me M., tko je to rekao, odgovorim M., znat će se kašnje. A što hoće biti sa mnom koji sam gori od njih, trebat će nam M. Hoće Sud, odgovori M., nisam nikad još bio na sudu i neću. Odgovorim M., u Zagreb ili Beč ne moremo, sad je daleko ali hoćemo u jutro vidit Majora da vidimo što nam hoće kazati. Ujutro javim brojaču (kumpani fireru) da me prevede pred Majora, jerbo bez njega ne mogu pred Majora. Brojač me odvraća ne bi rada o tim poslovim doći pred Majora, kaže mi da neće o tom ništa suditi, da se hoće samo nasmijati, na ovo mu odgovorim, znam i ja da ga nije mnogo stalo za to, ali on je Sudac, on me je zatvorio, on može i red napraviti med nami ako hoće, pitao bi Majora da li zapovjeda ovde pržuner jači slabijemu ili on svima, i dokazao bi kako se komedije spremaju kao i onda kad su oni prvi protjerani. Brojač me odvraća, tu ga poslušam sa velikom silom, te moram nositi ime grdje negoli oni što su odsudjeni da jim hoće država odsići glave. Sudili jih oni što jih protjerali.
Ne htje mi kazat Mate ni jednoga od onih 220, tako sada moram sam biti u ovom logoru pod ovim imenom dokle dodje nam sloboda, i do suda dodje zgoda, neka sudi onda sude, neka vide Srbe ljude.
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Prijatelji da ste zdravo, kazat hoću sada pravo,
Jer istinu i Bog ljubi, pravedni se ne izgubi
Raj i zemlja čine vieće, raj klevete k sebi neće
Zemlja kaže ja izdati, sve se tajne hoće znati
Zli al dobri bili ljudi, Sudac neka njima sudi
Ja se čudih uvjek Bože kako tajna znat se može
Kako tajni pulicmani u trag stanu svakoj mani
Al se sada osvjedoči, dolazi mi sve pred oči
Što potrebno Sudu bilo, to na svjetlo izhodilo.

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Počimlje iztraga po ovoj trojici.
O čemu se ja ne nada, poslušajte evo sada.
5/8 t.g. Šetam u večer po ogradi sam, dodje k meni jedan, koji još nikad sa mnom šetao nije, razgovor nastavi o Zakonu duhovnom, i o narodu kako psuje, a nitko Boga ne štuje. Dopao mi se u razgovoru, i ja njemu liepo odgovaram. Ali sve pomalo, počeo kazivati o protjeranim Hr, kako je zapisao pet ljudi iz svoje baake, na pržunerskoj kancelariji i dvojicu zvao sa sobom, kaza mi jih, oni su znali dobro govorit, te smo jih onda zapisali više kad smo išli izgonit, pošlo nas je četrnajst iz moje barake, izkat oni naših pet. Nadjemo jih ležeć u travi, zapovjedamo ustaj pa hajde, digli se odmah, mora jerbo bi dobili po ledjim, a Jakov Botica on htjeo da jih hoće tuć, pak mu ja nisam dao, bolje da jih nismo tukli, onda smo hodili po vašega Stipu u 38. baraku, on je rekao da što će mu Austrija, onda se digao, svud narod izgoniti, pa jesi li vidio djavla Jakova Boticu pa on sad pošo za vojnika. Slušam ga i liepo mu odgovaram, ovaj je iz 30. barake
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Upravo mi je trebao, po ovoj trojici počima iztraga.
Peti Augusta, Marija od sniega, ne pita ga sam kaza od svega.
Evo i ovo svak mi ne bi vjerovao da med Hr. i Dal. u ovom logoru ne smi se reći Hrvat, a nipošto spomenuti Hrvatska, svak se boji, to nije lahko čuti, a niti Ungarija, ne smi se spomenuti nego samo Austrijak i Austrija. A tko to zabranio, sami izmedju sebe Hr. i Dalmatinci, nitko drugi. A pjesme pjevaju, oglasi se pišu, na tabulu prebijaju sve hr. ali vidim koji čita, i koji se s kim razgovara, čujem di se progovori ovo po naški ili po našu, a hrvatski to nema čuti. Slušao sam gdje se izreče po našu, austrijski. Tako je i meni piscu došlo da moram paziti kad se u baraki razgovaram, da se ne bi prevario reći hrvatski, Hrvatska, a sa Hrvatom se razgovaram. Nije nego za misliti, a skoro i za plakati.
Evo primjer. Oglas na tabuli pribijen 3/8 t.g. Izložba hoće biti za tri dana, svakojaki stvari, tko je što načinio neka donese u nožno sklizalište, sada nje kazalište, početak na 4. kolovoza, ulaz za gledati 6 i 3 pene. Dal. mlad okol 19 godina podpisao zastupnik Austrijaka T.P. ovdje niešto njemački naučio.
Oglas na tabuli 7/8 napis, Samo za Austrijake. Austrijaci učite engleski najveći govor na svietu je engl. Helterhoff učitelj. Koji hoće učiti neka se prijavi i zapiše ime kod gosp. Turkovića 29.kump. 5. pregrada. Ovaj je iz Istrije.
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Oglas uz ovog prvog, Austrijaci, učite Njemački, drugi na svietu i najizvrstniji je govor. Njemački učitelj Helterhoff, prijajviti se kod Turkovića. Kako Austrijak da njemački uči, kad mu je to materinski govor. Ovo je pisano za Hrvate Dal. ali se ne smi pisat Hr. učite njemački.
U robstvu u Liverpoolu do osam stotina ljudi hvatske narodnosti. Ungarezi, Njemci i Austrijaki nazivlju ovaj narod hrvati kao što i jesu, ali med ovom narodnosti našlo se takovih koji su prekrstili ovu narodnost hvatsku, prozvali se Austrijaki, tako da je morao svaki ubrzo zaboravit hrvatsku i Hrvat zvati se to je prestalo, oni koji su se nazivali Hrvati, oni su protjerani iz ograde pod srpskim imenom, a ostali koj hrvatsko srdce ima svaki je morao mučati i paziti dobro da se ne bi prevario izreći hrvatski ili Hrvatska. Dalje vidio sam jih niekoliko iz Dalmacije, koji su napisali na klobuku Austrijak, te pred njima nije lahko reći Hrvat. Oglas na tabuli hrvatski pisan, ali koji čita neće nitko reći hrvatsko pismo nego naški austrijski. Stide se svog imena i svoje domovine kr. Hrvatske, žalostno.
Pripovjedka druga jest sam Hrvat iz Kočevlja
Jedan starac od 60 god. u ovoj zemlji živio blizo 30 god., dopalo ga ovde u robstvo, ovde po logoru prodavao robu, došao pred moju baraku 31. Starac razumi njemački i engleski govoriti, pitaju je li Njemac ili Austrijak, odgovori starac Hrvat sam iz Kočevlja, a ovi što su bili okol njega, svi su hr. narodnosti.
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Svi zamukli, nitko ništa ne govori, kao da jih je puška opalila, pošto jim nije milo čuti o Hrvatskoj, a naš vriedni starac ne stidi se reć, jest sam Hrvat iz Kočevlja. Živio vriedni naš starac. Živili naši Kočevari ljubitelji domovine svoje kr. Hr.
Moram da zabilježim i ovog Hrvata iz Dalmacije, tvrdog Austrijaka, koji ne bi bio kazao da je Hrvat za nikakvo blago na svietu, nego tvrdi Austrijak, iz mjesta je Rogoznice. Na 16. kolovoza nosio grane za kitit kazalište, noćom ga nestalo. Upravo mi je drago kad prekršćeni Hrvati pod imenom austrijskim bježe, ne znam kako i kuda. Ja koji ne mienjam imena hrvatskog a niti ga se ne stidim dok živio budem, ali ovde mučati moram i pišem šta ovi prozvani Austrijaki rade.
Hvala Bogu kad ugleda u ovom robstvu što još dosad vidio nisam. 27. kolovoza prebijena karta na tabuli, naslov Mladim Hrvatima na znanje, vriemena imamo dosta, da ne prolazi badave, sakupite se što u većem broju, te hoćemo učiti svaki dan dva sata o zemljopisu, to će biti mladosti potrebno kod vojništva učiti hoću vas bezplatno, A. Horn. Ovaj je rezerve poručnik iz Češke živio.
Vid Hrvata iz Dalmacije kako se stide, pribili na tabulu 31. kolovoza, Koncert pjevačkog austrijskog društva. Ovo sve bilo god. 1917.
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Nu pogledaj naši Hrvata iz Dalmacije, kako jim mila domovina i kako o njoj pišu. 9. rujna oglas na tabuli, obdržavat se hoće skupština Pjevačkog austrijskog društva, Ivan Cvitanović, tajnik.
Na slobodu podjoše noćom trojica 12. rujna, jedan je kažu mi od Beča a dva iz Dalmacije, sa ovom dvojicom razgovarao sam se prije malo vriemena nego što su pošli, govorili su da bi pošli da jih pusti na slobodu, ali u ime kojekakovo to nikako da bi volili radit samo za hranu negoli biti med ovim narodom.
Sjutra dan na 13. rujna, slušam jednog kod kazališta na ogradi gdje viče, noćas su tri prošla u Srbiju, sad bi najbolje bilo sve čistiti iz ove ograde, a koga to neće da izreče. Na trgovištu su bili tko hoće za Srbiju pak nisu prošli, a sad da jih očistit iz ograde. Po starom običaju, jače društvo i prijatelji izgonit pojedince slabijeg društva.
Sudci u robstvu Hr. Dal. katolici Liverpool 14/9 1917. god.
Ovog dana došlo ovamo niekoliko zarobljenika iz Zapadne Australije, medju njima jedan koji je izišo god. 1915. sa školja Rotnesa na slobodu pod tri neprijateljske zastave, Engl. Franc. I Ruskom, prezimenom ga zovu Tolj od Vrgorca. Kad su unišli u ogradu, Tolj dobio mjesto za stanovat u 26. baraki, ja pisac dodjem da ga vidim, ali Tolja narod obkolio, jedva se uvučem, kad ga ugledam stoji Tolj pred barakom, drži u ruki tanjir i lonac, jedan stao k njemu te se š njim razgovara. Tolj prebliedio kao da je već mrtav, to je bilo u dva sada poslie pol dana.
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Ja pisac od tale podjem u svoju baraku, zatim za par minuta kazuju mi da je pošao Tolj po obed na kuhinju, nakon toga niekoliko minuta izidjem iz barake i ugledam mješanje naroda, te ne mogu doći blizu da vidim šta rade. Podjem hitro na drugi kraj baraka, te izmedju baraka ugledam Tolja prvoga, a za njim se narod podigao kao crne vrane, tjeraju ga na glavna vrata od ograde, preko na militerski kraj. Gledajuć Tolja gdje ga tjeraju, rekao bi čovjek da je pijan, vidim da bi se rada srušio na zemlju ali ne može, kud se nagne tu ga šakom dočeka, uvjek tako preko dvista metar daljine, pulicaji otvorili vrata te niekako Tolj prodje kroz vrata na militerski kraj, pulicaji veseli odvedu ga u špital. Tako gledajuć Tolja pod pratnjom uvjek sam opazio gdje tare sa rukom lievo oko i krvavu ruku pogleda. Nakon toga narod se razleti širom po ogradi i po barakama. I ja pisac šetajuć opazim gdje se narod opet skupio, podjem malo brže da vidim, nu tu vidim gdje Njemci tjeraju svog jednog koji je danas došao sa Toljom u ovu ogradu potjerati ga iz barake, te kako je u brzini bježao, pao je na zemlju. Skupili se okol njega, a on se brzo ustane i pobježe zdrav na vrata. Njemci nisu njega strogo sudili, nisu ga hotjeli tući, pustili ga zdrava. A naši Dal. Austrijaki pa još katolici oni bez milosti sude. Poslie toga dodjem u svoju baraku, tu najdem skupštinu kao što je obično svaki dan, slušam razgovaraju se o Tolju, sa kuhinje kad je obed donio počeo da jede, a jedan da je donio pismo koje je
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Tolj pisao i poslao na Rotnes kad je izišo na slobodu, te da je čitao pismo kad je Tolj jeo, na to da je Tolj opsovao srpskog kralja i kraljicu, te da su ga odmah počeli bičovati, jedan sa palicom drugi ga rinuo o baraku, nieki šakami. Te pripovjedke i hvale ne mogu opisati kako su ga mučili. Nad lievim okom mu je visilo meso što su mu odbili, te kad su ga izmrcvarili, onda ga digli i gonili kako sam u početku opisao. Dalje slušam govor da ga nisu dobro kad je mogao na nogam hoditi. Na to progovori jedan stari Hrvat, treba da su ga bolje, kad je opsovao otca i mater moga i tvoga. Odgovore mu Dal., opsovao je srpskoga. Podnio je Tolj kao Isus kad su ga Židovi mučili, isti primjer ovo su katolici Hr. Dal. koji bez zakona sude prozvani Austrijaki. Ja pisac da ga sudim to na mene ne spada, ali cienim da nema zakona na svietu, koji bi sudio ovako niti jednu živinu, a kamoli čovjeka. Tolj izišo sa Rotnesa, to sam opisao, te sada došao opet u zatvor, te poslie rata Nj.V. sud bi ga sudio, dobio bi kaznu po zakonu kakvu je zaslužio. Lukeni je ubio caricu, za kaznu je dobio tamnicu a nije ovako mučen. A niti Turci u stara vriemena nisu postupali na ovaj način. Oružnici kad ulove zločinca ne ubijaju ga, ne muče ga, već ga dovedu Nj.V.C. i Kr. Sudu da ga po zakonu sudi. Eto šta rade seljaci u robstvu, kako znadu suditi. Slav. Sude, izvoli ovo prosuditi.
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Tučen ne smi plakati u robstvu (in captivity, moj prijevod). 16/9 1917. god. Slabo stanje gdje zakon ne sudi, to je ovde kod Engleza u Liverpoolu, natjerao je ovde u ogradu svakojaka naroda te ga čuva samo izvan ograde, a kako je unutra to ga briga nije, on bi volio da se unutra sve poguši, u prokletoj ogradi jakost sudi, jača stranka može radit šta hoće, a slabija mora da muči, ne smi se čuti bilo krivo ili pravo, tučen ne smi plakati evo samo ovaj primjer ovog dana čitao jedan čovjek u svojoj pregradi u baraki tridesetoj u tri sata poslie pol dana, dodje jedan iz druge pregrade, slabiji od ovog što je čitao knjigu, u ruki donio stolicu, ne govorio ništa nije, sa stolicom udari po glavi onog što čitao, razbio mu glavu. Ovaj čovjek krvav ide za njim, misli ga ulovit da mu vrati zajam, ali za onog junaka sa stolicom, skoče dvojica pred onog krvavog, ne dadu mu napred, govore mu da mora miran biti, te siromah čovjek što će učiniti, nije drugo nego oprat glavu i na miru bit, pritužit se nije komu, ovdje jača stranka sudi kao Spajije do 1848. god. u Hrvatskoj.
Koncert Pjevačkog austrijskog društva 16/11 1917. god.
Pjevači Dalmatinci? Hrvatske pjesme?
Oglas na tabuli 21/11 1917. Društveni Ured austrijskih Slavjana poslalo 30 lira (funte) milodar Hrvatima u Liverpoolu, koje su namjenjene za spomenike nastradalih u ovoj ogradi. Oglas je stao preko noći na tabuli, u jutro pogledam na tabulu, ali Slavjane odporili preko noći?
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Oglas na 17/12 1917. Nakanio sam početi novu englesku školu, te gospoda koji žele prisustvovati, nek se prijave Karl Rado, ovo pismo Madjara.
Pismo Dalmatinca, Verloren Geldtasche mit Inhalt von 7 schilling und Schluessel abzugeben gegen Belohnung 30 l. 6 mesa. S. Ercegović.11/1 1918. ovdje nadjem dvojicu gdje čitaju, jedan pogovori, pa što nije naški napisao, a ja pisac ove knjige htjede reći što nije hrvatski al se nekako uzdržim te ne progovorim ništa. Domovino tužna, što si njima ružna. Ti Hrvatska mučenice, vid otrovne tvoje dice?
Engleska komesija pregleda stanje zarobljenika 21/10 1917. god.
Ovog dana gosp. Pregledaju po ogradi, prošli svuda izmed baraka, na pol dana dodju pokraj kuhinje no. 3 upravo kad su zarobljenici dobivali jelo, prolazila kumpanija 38 noseći jelo, komesija prolazi tad izmed njih gledajući kako liepo zaobljenici živu, i to su metnuli u novinu, upravo je bilo što i gledati, svaki od te kumpanije nosi pun tanjir krumpira i mesa, tako da ih malo bilo koj mogao izjesti. Prošla komesija dalje od kuhinje, idu ostale kump. Po redu uzimat jelo, al svaki proklinje, pošto nije dobio upravo ništa kao i ostale dane, a videći 38. kump. Što je dobila, a tko je tomu uzrok, prijateljstvo Njemaca kuhara i komandanta ograde zarobljenikah, gosp. Majora u Liverpoolu Ney Sout Vales Australia. Ovde je tako, daj meni, a za drugog nije me stalo.
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Dobrovoljci zarobljenici u Liverpoolu Australia
Oglas na tabuli 25/10 1917. u engleskom i njem. jeziku, svi koji su dobrovoljno došli u ovu ogradu imaju se prijaviti, te će se pustit na radnju u kvinzland, radnja odmjerena 25 milja kvadrati za očistit da bude zemlja za oranje i sijanje žita, radnici će biti slobodni po ovoj zemlji, vojnici jim neće smetati, ali izvan rečenog zemljišta ne smiju prelaziti, pošto će izvan granice biti postavljene straže, to hoće tako trajati dok svrši rat. Nakon rata slobodan je svaki kud hoće koji, nadnica hoće biti 8 šilina, 3 šilina guveran hoće ustavljati radniku za hranu i robu, a 5 ostalih hoće izplaćivati. Popisivanje će biti u ogradi zarobljenikah u velikom šatoru kod kat. Crkve. Popis trajao za tri dana, upisalo ih kako sam slušao 15 stotina i to većinom Njemci. A.U. mali broj, popis bio ovako, gospoda sjede u šatoru zarobljenik po jedan ulazi k njima, gosp. Ga pitaju jesi li došao dobrovoljno ili si bio prisiljen, zarob. Odgovori bio sam prisiljen, gosp. Takvog odmah tjeraju izpred sebe, dodje drugi pitaju gosp. Jesi li dobrovoljno došao u robstvo ili si bio prisiljen, zarob. Govori došao sam dobrovoljno, gosp. Zadovoljno i veselo mu daju pero da podpiše ime, kad dobrovoljac podpisao, gosp. mu govore, ti ćeš u Kvinzland. Kako gosp. izpitavaju, to su ubrzo svi doznali koji imaju želju otići iz ove ograde, te svaki govori došao sam dobrovoljno i na to ime podpiše da je istinit dobrovoljac, Englez je lukav ali ja pisac ne smatram ga krivcem pošto svaki zna kako je dopao u robstvo, Englez nikog ne sili, lijepo nagovara kao lija reći laž i podpiši ime, pak smo prijatelji, takovi su bili svi ovi gore pisani broj Austro Ugarske monarhije što mogu znati 4 čovjeka
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preko 50 godina koji su došli dobrovoljno, ali se ovi nisu htjeli doći upisat dobrovoljci već kao da i ne čuju o toj pulitiki i radnji u kvinzlandu, a oni svi koji se zapisali dobrovoljci, svi su na silu dignuti sa radnje, te lažu sami sebi, a Englez se smije kako mu lukavština uspjeva. Za ovim popisom dobovoljci veseli, brzo će na radnju služiti novac, prolaze dani nastao i mjesec veljača 1918. god. a dobrovoljci šetaju po ogradi, Englez im pokupio imena te i ne misli više o njima. Ova piča kao i one što su knjigi tisuć i jednu noć, ili petrice kerempuha izgleda smješno.
Znanje neškolovanih u robstvu Liverpoolu 11/7 1917. god.
Zarobljenici ovde svakog dana imaju sjednice od zore do mraka, kao bake na prelu, sve na svietu pretresu, jedan pisac kad bi htjeo opisivati svakog dana govorenje samo petnajst do dvadeset ljudih, uvjek bi imao neprekidno posla, ja iznosim samo ovaj primjer. Ovog dana gore rečenog datuma, poslat milodar nekoliko pari čarapa i dolnjih gaćica, te zarob. Sabor zaključio podieliti starim ljudem preko pedeset god., tako je i učinjeno, dobio svaki starac par čarapa i jedne dolnje gaćice. Slušam govo, još i psovanje od ovih mladjih sve staim a šta mladim, mladi brani danas državu, po starim bi propala, komu korist od starih, njima je liepo da ih badave hrane, u mladosti nisu pazili što će u starosti, tog govora i više ali ne volim duljiti, koj ovo bude čitao, svak ima razum, tko više tko manje, te može prosuditi kako bi neuki upravljali i kakove bi zakone stvarali. Jao pravednim siromasim, da učenih nema kod ovakvih kao ovi u Livepoolu.
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Roblje i kupanje 10/2 1918. god. dan nedieljni
Do dvi milje od tabora zarobljeničkog bile su niekolike močvare (jame), koje kad bi bilo vrieme kišovito, napunile bi se vode. Ovog dana dobilo dozvolu do četrdeset zarob. Za kupanje u te močvare, sa njima hodili vojnici. Kad su bili u putu, vojnik im zapovjeda da idu po četii u edu, na to odvrate vojniku dva zarob., zašto da idemo u redu, nismo vojnici već civili, volimo natrag negoli po četiri u redu. Vojnik ih vrati natrag u tabor, kad su došli ped vata ogade, vojnici prijave Majoru zašto se vratili natrag, Major kad saslušao, zapovjedi da se ona dvojica kao buntovnici metnu u zatvor, što se prvi javili da vole natrag negoli po četiri u redu hoditi, a ostalim zapovjedi da idu kroz vrata u ogradu. Tu bilo niekoliko Njem. Vojnika iz Honkonga, koji odma na zapovjed Majora podju u ogradu, a ostali ne htjedoše, govore Majoru da neće u ogradu prije negoli pusti onu dvojicu što je dao zatvoriti, ako li ih neće pustiti, da vole da ih sve zatvori negoli bez njih poći u ogradu. Major opet zapovjeda, hajde u ogadu. Roblje odgovara nećemo, Major zapovjeda treći put, ali to roblje ne sluša, Major se naljuti, zapovjedi vojnicim da bodu, vojnici odmah nehtjeli, zapovjeda Major oštro drugi i treći put, vojnici polete u roblje na vrata tko će prvi, al svi na jedan mah nisu mogli na vrata, zadnja su četiri vojnici uboli, jedan je odmah morao u bolnicu, a trojica lahko ranjeni, dva su bila A.U. monarhije a dvojica Njemci.
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Hrvati iz Dal. u robstvu snuju urotu jedni proti drugim
Ovde hoću ukratko iznieti zle čine hrvatske narodnosti. Kazalište zvano Prosvjeta, o kojem sam ukratko opisao u početku ove knjige, kazal. Prosvjeta sa kojom je upravljao god. 1917. Josip Rendulić, srušio je vjetar, a Josip R. Bi protjeran iz ovog Tabora kao i ostali Hrvati ¼ 1917. Nakon ovog zasnuje Jozo Rešetar praviti kuću na istom mjestu gdje je Prosvjeta bila. J. Rešetar ne pitajuć savjeta nikog o gradnji kuće, na ovo se većina našeg naroda iz Dalmacije pobuni, te učeniji sazovu skupštinu, na kojoj su sastavili odbo sa 5 članova, koji hoće nadzirati o gradnji kuće, a J. Rešetara izključili od tog posla koga on zasnovao. Novi odbor nadgledao radnju kuće, koja je bila gotova do 10/8 1917., te se u njoj prestavljalo prvi put na rodjendan Nj.V.C. i K. Karla na 17/8. U ovom odboru od ovih 5 članova, smatrali su najučenijeg Marka Špugu, cieli odbor svi su iz Dalm. Ja pisac koliko pratim ovog Špugu osvjedočio sam se da je veliki ljubitelj domovine hrvatske. Madjari i Austrijaki, bio jih je mali broj, te nisu ništa smetali u radu ovog odbora, oni su bili zadovoljni svakom činu kog bi im Špuga prestavio. Marko Špuga znao se ponašati med ovom ostalom narodnosi, tako da su mu zadovoljni bili naše A.U. monarhije veći broj, a isto i Njemci, te je Špuga razpolagao sa njima kako da se učini što liepša parada C.H. na 17. kolovoza. Svečanost rodjendanu Nj. Veličanstva završeno po danu, što se liepše moglo. Njemci su bili u paradi kao što su i naši njima. Na večer bila je prestava veoma liepa, kojoj su bili zadovoljni Njemci i naši Austro-U. Monahije. Ali kad čovjek misli da je svakomu zadovoljio, onda se lahko prevari kaže poslovica.
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Nije se ni rodio tko bi svakom ugodio, a tko da ugodi ovom narodu hrv. narodnosti ovde u ropstvu, o kojim hoću napred govoriti. U početku prestave govor držao Austrijak u svom jeziku njemačkom, za njim Madjar u svom govoru, a od strane Hrvata, Marko Špuga kojemu sam zadovoljan i nije Hrvata koj mu ne bi čestitao, živio ljubitelj domovine, sin hrvatski, Marko Špuga. Osvanuo dan 18/8, čujem razgovor od nehrvata, nastave pa kakvi je ono govor držao Špuga, zašto nije pustio drugog koji se već mjesec dana uči kako bi govor držao, dalje jedan donio knjigu te progovori, bili bio ovaj govor liep i svemu narodu po volji, opisao sve od C. Marije Terezije te napred čita pola sata, te kad pročitao, progovori, Na ovaj upit moram da pohvalim, pošto znam kakvi je običaj u ovoj ogradi. Je li smiešno u hrvatskom govoru da bi viknuo po engl. Ili njemački hura, a hrvatski bi ga bilo stid viknuti živio kao što je Špuga, kojeg nastoje sa klevetami ocrniti pred narodom. Dani prolaze, a protivnici Špuge mira nemaju, svakog dana slažu klevete kako da iztjeraju Špugu iz odbora iz tog nesretnog kazališta. Ovaj odbor sazvao skupštinu na 24/8 god. 1917. sve Austro-U. podanike (Njemci nisu imali o tom posla) na razpolaganje kazališta, u kojeg bi trebalo postaviti kinomotograf, tu se skupilo niešto naroda. M. Špuga nastavi govor sa upitom, hoće li se društvo naći med nami, koji novac imaju, da namjeste kinomotograf, ili da se preda kuća u najam onim koji su se izjavili da bi namjestili kinomotograf, a dohodak kazališta pripada na sav Tabor. Taj put se nije ništa upravilo, nastala
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buka, urotnici Špuge stali vikati, grditi Špugu, iztraživajuć nieke potroške od parade C.H. rodjendana, te kad im Špuga odgovorio, iznio oglas na tabulu gdje mogu račun pregledati, te nisu znali dalje otvoreno govoriti. Taj se put uzvikivali da mora izstupiti iz odbora, kao što im se i zahvalio na bezplatnoj službi Kazališta, od kog nema koristi, već gdje kojim bielim vranama, koj plati taj gleda, istog puta se tuča dogodila med tvrdim Austrijskim Dal. to je bila smiešna skupština sa koje se biežalo na vrata tko prije.
Na 27/8 Njemac sazvao skupštinu, skupilo se niešto naroda, te Njemac pripovjeda kako bi on ada namjestio kinomotograf, govori njemački, a Madjar naški (neću reći hrvatski, pošto ovde nije običaj hrvatski reći, to se ovaj narod stidi, ovde se smatra onaj tko reče hrvatski Srbinom, već naški dalmatinski ili austijski). Taj put završena skupština po navadi sa svadjom, te je odbor kazališta dao kuću u najam Njemcu, ne mogu upisati kog je roda, te on cielo vrieme upravlja sa kazalištem, komu korist to sam već prije spomenuo koj gleda taj plati, isto i dohodak kao i onaj što u dućanu gdje komu Njemcu i gosp. Engleskoj, što su ovde gospodari.
Nakon ovoga smiešnoga rastanka, nisu se više skupštine sazivale, pošto ovaj narod nije za razgovarat se o koje kakovim potrebnim stvarima, na skupštinu dolaze samo opačine radi, te jedan drugomu predbacuje zlo mišljenje i mržnju koju nosi jedan napram drugom, učenijeg svoga čovieka med sobom ne vole viditi u nikakovoj službi, tudjina ljube dok im dosadi, te se onda pokaju za svojim kada je već kasno. Urotu nevaljalu snuju oni kojim dosad bio Englez otac i majka, sa niekojim ovde
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i žene sa diecom, te gledaju kadće ih Englez pustit na slobodu u Austriju. Siguran sam da ne misle ako li ne bi morali, te sad se ovde ponose da su ljubitelji domovine, tvrdi Austrijaci, al ovakvim ne vjerujem. Med ovim je Jure iz Podgore kao predsjednik, koji u svakom poslu mora da bude prvi, neprekidno snuje kojekakve opačine, više posla ima o Austriji i proti Hrvatskoj nego li hrvatski Presvietli Ban.
Nakon ovog pretresanja o kazalištu, M. Špuga je dobio službu za prevoditi u bolnicu neznanja radi engleskog govora, te i od ove službe buntovnici nastojali da ga iztjeraju, ali im nije uspjelo. Na 31/3 1918. god. ugledam Juru iz Podgore i Marka, pred 31. barakom napisali imena od kojekakovih ljudi, te Njemcu dali tiskati te sada pokazuju po barakam, prodjem pokraj njih gore rečenog datuma, vicim Juru drži listinu u rukama i čita, a okol njega množina ljudih sluša, čujem jednog gdje Juri pregovara, a zašto nisi upisao i one od Vrgorca, nekoje si upiso a niekoje ostavio, to tako ne valja. Jure progovori, eh, nu, šta mi niste kazali nu pa evo hoćemo morat izpraviti, ima i niekoja sela krivo su metnuta. Jurin drug Marko stoji pred barakom i drži jednu listinu u rukama. Ja pisac nadziram te opažim njekoja imena pravednih ljudi, o kojim Jure nije vriedan dokazati ništa protivno, tu upitam M., šta su ta imena, odgovori M., ovo jesu Srbi. Podjem od tale te slušam da hoće Jure prodavat ove listine dok imena izpravi, nu oprezan hoću biti i o toj trgovini.
Za ovim niekoliko dana dobio jedan na službu u kuhinji mjesto prvog kuhara, i on je iz Dalm. ali Jure sa družinom iztjerao ga iz banovine Hrvat. Ovde nije nijedan u nikakvoj službi, bio je
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Madjar, jedan nieko vrieme brojačem 27. kumpanije Dalm. ali ga ne htjeli podnositi, te ga protjeraju, a dapače na antretu ga i natuku, tko da opiše šta ovde radi ovaj narod, ne volim da odviše pišem o paklenoj laživoj ogradi i ovakvom narodu. A i ovo je li da zaboravim kako sam živio med ovom hrvatskom narodnosti, ne varam se da ih bilo proti meni piscu ove knjige 90%, svak me ružno gleda kao kakvog zločinca, tako mi je bilo da nisam smio šetati večerom po ogradi, mislim tužan što sam komu učinio, o tom se dosjetim čega radi ovoliki zli pogledi na mene, toga radi što nikada nisam nikomu u razgovoru potvrdio kriva govorenja, a kako da potvrdim kad slušam veći dio kad koji što pripovjeda sve naopako, kad izgovori koju rieč, ovjek slušam naški, to ne mogu podnieti nadodam hrvatski, to njima ovim ovde iz Dalmacije drago čuti. Opet čujem mi što nas ima iz Austrije, i tu nadodam iz Austro-Ugarske, čujem dalje naša Austrija, i tu pomognem onom koj govor drži, naša Austro-Ugarska, i prigoda mi se desila više puta na tabuli gdje se oglasi prebijaju, iznesu koji oglas u engl. Ili njem. jeziku, koji čita čujem razgovor, pa što nije naški napisa, uz ovakove i ja promrmljam što nije zapisao hrvatski, ali valda ne zna da je hrvatski nam jezik službeni, ovakoj me čuo hoće sa pogledom da me prostrieli. Ne mogu ovde opisati kakvo je bilo meni robovanje med ovim narodom, podnašao sam kao i apostoli pripovjedajuć vjeru Kristovu, sve do 17/8 1917. dok su ugledali tri krune na prestavi Nj. Veličanstva, tu su poslie uvjek imali razgovor nagadjajući o krunama. Jednog dana ugledaju jednu kućicu od pisma, na kojoj su bile tri krune, pitaju me da li se razumim
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ja čija je ova treća kruna. Tu odgovorim da ne mogu znati, a jedan progovori, ne bi li bila naša dalmatinska, na ovo se nasmijem i progovorim, pa onda bi bila i naša hrvatsko-slavenska. Tko da opiše glupost preko mjere, od sela poznajem da dolaze gdje koji malo mekši, ali se isto čuvam ne idem mnogo u razgovor sa nikim.
Sve ovako prolaze dani, ne bilježim ništa do 23. prosinca 1917., ovog dana moram zabilježiti pred barakom mojom skupilo ih se niekoliko, te nastave razgovor o koječemu po navadi, taj njihov razgovor mene ne zanima i imam drugi svoj posao, al dodje mi u uši, čujem jednog progovori talijanski, Dalmacija nostra libera. Slušam dalje, ja sam Dalmatinac Austrijak, nisam kao oni majku im srpsku, što su govorili da su Hrvati, a oni su Dalm. Kao i ja, čujem opet jedan oštro progovori ime njegovo Mate prezime mi ne treba sada, čujete duše mi, ja bi se volio ubiti negoli zvati Hrvat, na ovo ih liepo milo upitam koje vam je ministar, dobijem odgovor kojeg ne volim ovde bilježiti al im odgovorim, ministra i bana imate vi u Dalm. Kojeg i mi. Vi ste Hrvati kao i mi, valda niste vidili ili čuli da se piše i nazivlje hr.-slav. I dalmacija, trojedna kraljevina. Pa vam ako kod rago vi se zovite, njihova govorenja ovde ne pišem, previše bi bilo, upitam ih imate li kakvih posebnih knjigah od dal. tu mi odgovore ne, a ja njima odgovorim, mi što nama Zagreb izdaje znamo o Dal. kao u cieloj Hrvatskoj, a isto o cielog austro-ugarskoj monarhiji. Dalje im pripovjedim da se mi zovemo ugarski državljani, i pokažem putnicu a upitam ih koji ste državljani vi Dal. odgovore austrijski, pitam pokažite putnicu, pokažu al nema državljanstva, te im progovorim
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državljanstvo nije lahko steći, doći će vrieme da ćete i vi biti državljani, to je sve toga radi što se ne volite nazivat Hrvati ono što i jeste, te sad izgledate tako kao bačva na vrhu brda kojoj se nezna kud se hoće svaliti, a Istrijanac na to upita, a kako mi, odvratim isto kao Dalm., malo razlike. Isto tada desi se vojna hrv. dopisnica koja nije mila svakomu ovde, i jedna na kojoj su svi A.U. jezici, šta li pitati koje jezik dal. ja pisac odgovorim Dalmat. Nemaju posebnog jezika, njihov je koje i naš hrvatski, to ime misliti, zalud muka učenjacim kod ovakvih glava. Tko je jači toga ovdje prava. A i ovo milo gledam velik Andrija dalm. U razgovoru čujem ga, mi Austrijaki, a drugi progovori, ja sam Švabo Švabčić, ovaj nepismeni stanuje u mojoj pregradi. Na 19/3 1918. njegovi prijatelji, a moji protivno valda ga naputili, te mi progovori, daj knjige van što si ih zatvorio, da narod gleda, da se uči na ovo mi se srdce okameni, hrvatske knjige nema koja bi bila njima po volji, a ja i nemam nikakve već što sam napišem, te i to da moram pokazat nenarodu, koje knjige imaju Njemci i ostali, te im nitko ne smeta. Ta čiji rob jesam, da reče Dal. to ne mogu uvjek pošto me je stid uvjek pisati, e dal volim reći rob hrv. narodnosti, koje mi robrstvo teže negoli englesko.
Nastala prodaja hrvatskih imena u taboru1/5 1918. Kumpanija Jure Dejana iz Podgore ovog dana prodaje listine po taboru. Ugledam Luku Božina, zovu ga Kaštelanac, uprtio pune ruke listina, sa imenim hrvatskog naroda koji su svuda po Australiji, kao obć. Pandur kroz Tabor nosi i prodaje po 6 pena svaku listinu, i to samo onim koji mu naručili koji su tvrdi Austrijaki. Tako je ova Kump. učinila novce sa hr. imenima.
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Evo Austrijaka iz Dalm. i njegovo ponašanje
G. .... a potukao se sa dvojicom od onih protjeranih, i to prije nego se i znalo o protjeravanju. Za ovim nastupi u službu u zvano austrijsko kazalište ovaj gore spomenuti G. ...a stao na vratima i puštao unutra, te kad je vrata zatvorio, bio je mali prozor na kazalištu. Njemac provuče glavu kroz taj prozor, rada bi gledao, a novac nema za kupiti biljet, a ovaj gore spomenuti G....a udari ga šakom po glavi. Ljutit Njemac unutra ne more, čeka dok bude polovina prikazana, pošto onda se vrata otvore, i narod izidje za 15 časa. Njemac namislio da ovomu vrati, ali ostali Njemci umire ga, savjetuju e da bi moglo doći do nemira izmedju ostalog naroda, te je tako ostao u miru gore spomenuti junak. 28/4 večer, ovo mi je pripovjedalo mnogo ih.
Evo i ovog pred kojim se ne smi razgovarat ni danas o Hrvatskoj, protjerane uvjek spominje, slušam ga 2/6 viče po baraki, e nu šta su Srbi bili namislili ubit pulicmana, te da hoće onda iz strojne puške sve pobiti. Ovaj kad ovako ovde slobodno viče, te ako koji protjerani dodje do suda ovaj bi se morao prizvati G....e.
Riešili se robstva protjerani Hrvati
21/6 u ovom taboru nastao govor o njima, da se Srbi upisali za branit ovu zemlju Australiju, te da ih pustilo, sjutra dan čujem govor o njima, da se nisu upisali za ništa, već da je dobio svaki za trošak 5 l. i vožnju, koji kuda hotio, te tako da su izišli na slobodu. Muke koje su podnili od kad su protjerani, to samo oni znadu. (ova stranica god. 1918).
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M... ć ovaj ima družinu u ovoj zemlji, a previše brani Austriju, kako mi se čini, samo izvani, protivnik veliki protjeranih Hrv. Nastavi, sinoć se kartali u mojoj baraki 38.oj, te udari jedan, kazuje po imenu, preko stola, šakom u glavu drugog, te se uznemire, ali su morali pristati pošto je bila kasna doba noći. Govori dalje, da nije kasno bilo rabili bi i noževi. Priupita ga drugi, zar imaju noževa, odgovori, eh ne pitaj, ima tog dosta još potiče onaj duh (duh mu sliedi da ih ima dosta kao i oni što su ih protjerali nazivljuć ih Srbima). Ovaj što pripovjeda i oni što su protjeravali, nadam se ubrzo opisat njihovu vjernost Austriji.

Translation 

150 Exercise book
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Detention of the Croats in 1917 in Liverpool, New South Wales, Australia
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Newspaper Jadran (The Adriatic) from California, US Page 18
Newspaper Nova Dalmacija (The New Dalmatia) in California 20
A pleasant celebration of the Orthodox Christmas 22
Donation from abroad
The Society from Boulder frees its members 24
Oh Croats, you are still alive 25
Rottnest 23/11/1915. 26
The Russian standard bearer arrives in Liverpool 28
The hatred among the Croatian nationals 30
The hatred among Croats intensifies 36
Five people expelled from the fence 27/3/1917 37
46 people expelled on 1/4 38 and 39
People leaving the fence of their own accord 3/4 41
Refused to go to assembly on 1/4, sentenced to prison, imprisoned on 17/4 43
Notice on billboard with a list of 9 names to ban from the fence on 1/5 44
About Josip Rendulić 46
Notice that those who submitted applications should leave the fence on 3/4 or else they will leave with a broken back 42
Singing society 55
Notice of unexpected trouble on 30/5 56
An interesting story, S. and M. 70
New expulsions on 12/7 74
I, the writer, told that I am worse than those banished on 23/7 75
Investigation begins 77
Downright funny page 78
They write 'Austrian' on the hat of a Croat from Dalmatia 79
Notice to young Croats on the billboard for the first time since banished 80
Tolj from Vrgorac receives his punishment 81
Beaten but not allowed to cry 84
The concert of the Austrian Society on 16/11 1917
The social office of the Austrian Slavs
I decide to start the English school 85
Dalmatian writing
The English Commission reviews the condition of the detainees on 21/10 1917
Voluntary detainees 86
The knowledge of uneducated people 87
Detainees and bathing 88
Croats from Dalmatia conspire against each other in detention 89
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How far can the wickedness of the people go
Dear readers, in these hard times of war, it occurred to me to describe the life abroad of our Croatian and Dalmatian people, without touching any other nationality. First of all, I have to describe my own wickedness and depravity, and then I will move forward. I am a Croat from Gorski Kotar. My father was a poor man, just like the majority of poor people in our Kotar today. He was illiterate, because there was no school, he worked as a farmer, he was a healthy man, he always worked for other people and tried to earn enough to feed me and my stepmother. I don't remember my mother, since she died while I was little. When I was seven years old, I had to go to our primary school, because the government gave a strict order that children had to go to school. I can say now that this strict order by the government was very useful for peasants. I studied quite a lot at school. In our books, we had poems, just like there are today. Even now in my old age I remember how our teacher used to sing in front of us boys, God save the Emperor and our Homeland. I can say with certainty that, as a schoolboy, I knew about our King and the House of Habsburg in Vienna (there is a lot of confusion about this here in detention, as you will see here first-hand). Then I finished school, I was twelve years old. My poor father waited for this eagerly, so he could take me along to work with him. The first time he took me to Srijem in winter to log the forest for the priests. Weak as I was, I had to log day and night in snow, and this lasted until spring, when we started walking home across Slavonija, looking for work on the way.
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So it was my lot to walk from Srijem all the way home. And what did we get for that, nothing at all, we just sent some money home to feed my stepmother. From home, we immediately went to the forest to do logging in our Kotar, where mountains are high, and where they burn coal. In winter we went everywhere around Austria, until I was 20 years of age. My father was happy, he always had money, but poor me, I was weak and started suffering badly, my heart was healthy but my life was hard, I always went working with my father, I didn't know anything about money, on very rare occasions he would throw a crown to me. I was happy all the same, and listen to my father. Around that time, my stepmother dies, she had no children of her own, so father and me continued to live in our house with no female around. We had a small house and some land. But then it was my turn to get enlisted, but they did not take me because my life was so poor. That made me sad, because in those times everybody in our area was happy to become a soldier, and he was loved by the girls. But it is no longer like that. So my father and I lived without a female in the house. I told my father to allow me to marry, but he responded, there is time for that, and I was happy to obey. When autumn came, several of my villagers were preparing to look for work in Serbia. I went with them, we travelled by train to Belgrade, and then to Ćuprija, where they were building the railway track to the village of Senj, and then to Manastir near the tower of Miloš Obilić, between two high mountains, Klisura and Kačanik, and then forward to the coal mine. One shaft is always burning there. We worked there for several months, and my father came to me, and I gave him everything I earned. So we worked there for a while, and then we went through Serbia to Lapovo, and stopped at an inn for one day and one night. We did not like the people there. The innkeeper did not allow us to walk
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far away from home in the evening at sunset, he did not allow us to get out. So we boarded the train to Belgrade. Looking for work, we stopped in Valpovo, Slavonia. We worked there until spring, and then we left for home. My father had eveything we earned, but our house is still without a female there. Next to our house there was an inn, so my father was always there. He buys some food, so I cook and eat, but my father does not care much about my cooking. But I wanted to ask my father whether he would allow me to marry. When my father understood what I was talking about, he responded, you still have time. So there is nothing for me to think about, a father is a father, for him it is good to have money, and he can throw a crown to me when it pleases him. I don't even have a proper suit like other young men. My father keeps me just like a Gypsy keeps his bear. I soon heard that my father wanted to marry, he already asked a widow to marry him. What can I do, I have to ask him about his marriage, but my father got very angry when I asked me, he could have killed me had I not run away. What can I start now, there is no food left in the house. My father eats in inns. Luckily, a neighbour came to help me, she was a good woman and saw what was happening with me. She offered to pay for my travel costs. I had to leave, and my idea was to go to Oršava [Romania], because I heard that there were some of my villagers there. I paid 8 crowns to Oršava, the job was on the Serbian side in Greben, so I was working there throughout summer. My father heard about me, so he came to me, he did not get married, he started working but he does not like the job. He worked for a month and didn't want to continue any further, so he left and went to the forest. He called me to go with him. But this time I did not want to leave, and I did not give him money either. Soon afterwards, he wrote to me from Pančevo to join him there, and I made the mistake and went there. I found him there and found him in the forest, he looked sick from logging day and night. So when I saw him like that I threw to him all the money I had, and as soon as he got the money he immediately looked better. We were working there for a while,
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Then we moved to Topolovac near Temešvar, and then after a while we moved to Deta, Banat [today Romania], and my father had the idea to go home, he took all the money we earned. I stayed there working for a while, and then I left again for Greben, where I worked before. I worked there for a while, then I went home, because for a third time it was my turn to get conscripted. I came home, I gave my father some of the money I had, but I did not get conscripted. I asked my father again to allow me to marry. He dissuaded me like he did before. We started to repair the house, there was plenty of work there for me, washing and cooking and everything else, there is no woman in the house, it is all up to me. When autumn came, I went to work in Oršava, I paid 8 crowns for the train. Then I went from Oršava across the Danube to Sip on the Serbian side. There was a job there for three years, so my father joined me, and we worked throughout winter until spring, earning a nice sum. My father then left for home, he took all our earnings with him, and I stayed there working for a couple of months. I received news from home that my father got married. This saddened me, that I was so good to my father, yet he did not allow me to marry, and he himself got married the third time. What should I do, I was thinking, but there was no use, I just went on working, no longer caring about my father. When I earned some money, I got into the habit of playing cards with other men from the barrack. But with my luck, I was always losing. It occurred to me that it was better for me to forget about games and inns, so I did. I worked for several months, I saved 200 crowns, but in autumn my father came from home again. I no longer want to give him money. My father started working for a month, then he left that job and went somewhere in the forest, he invited me to come with him, or to give him money. I answered, good luck, father, I will join you soon, That is how I said goodbye to my father. Several days later, some of my friends were leaving for Istanbul and I went with them. In Kladovo (Serbia) we boarded a ship to the Black Sea in Romania, then from there by train to Kostanca, Romania. From Kostanca,
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we boarded a ship to Istanbul. From Istanbul, by ship to Albania to Porto Lago. Our Austrian Consul lived there, so we reported to him and left on foot through the mountains to the village of Karas. The first day we overnighted there, and the second day we reached the place called Anikoj. Our luggage was carried by camels. They were building the railway tracks there, but when we had a look we did not like the job. So we went separate ways there, some of us left fo Salonica in Bulgaria, and two of my comrades and I returned to Porto Lago. We asked the Consul when we could board a steamship for Istanbul, he answered today or tomorrow, but this is the last time this winter. That was before Christmas, we paid only half of the full ticket. The steamship arrived and was returning to Istanbul. When we arrived in Istanbul, it was winter time, no jobs, where should we go, we spent our money, we still had a little bit, the best would be to return to Serbia, but we had no money to pay for the steamship. We went to see our Consul, he gave us travel tickets, we paid only one quarter. So we left by steamship to Konstanca in Romania, from Konstanca by train to the Black Sea, from there by ship on the Danube to Oršava. There, we crossed the Danube to Sip where we were before. So I wandered around everywhere, monhs and years passed without me saving anything, I got into the habit of playing cards and drinking. When I turned 27, I became bored with that, and it came to my mind to go home to see how my father is coping now that he is married. I had very little money. I came home and saw poverty as before, and I no longer even thought about marriage. After a short time at home, I returned to Oršava. There were no jobs there then, so I returned to Hermeštat [Romania], where they were building the railway track to the border of Romania. I worked there all winter, and in spring I left for Kralovan in Czech, where they hadn't started working on the track, from there I went to Bukovina close to the Russian border, they were building the tracks, I spent some time there, then I started travelling on foot with a comrade of mine to Cernovitca and then to Stanislav, then
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through the mountains to Kerešmeza and forward to Siget Marmaruš, then to Satmar, then to Noćkarol. There I took a train to Oršava, I had 8 crowns that I could not touch, I was keeping them for a great need like the one here in Noćkarol. While travelling on the train, the trouble came that I wasn't even expecting, my ticket was only to Temišvar, so I could not travel forward. I had no choice but to walk as usual, 4 days to Oršava, begging for bread. I started working there for a while, then winter came, I found a comrade and we went to a forest to cut wood near Karašebeš. In spring I left for Kralovan in Czech, I worked there for a while, it was badly paid and I could not save anything. My bad luck was that several men gathered to go to Vienna, so I decided to go with them. We paid for the train to Vienna, I had some coins left over. We arrived there, there is work, they were building canal in the middle of the city. Some of my comrades went straight to Germany, only two of us remained working on the 13th ring (kotar) with some Italians. I worked for a day, then the Italians sent me away, they no longer wanted me working there. I arranged for accommodation in a house for 4 crowns per week. I slept on the fifth floor. I overnighted there two nights, and the second night early in the morning I got up and get dressed in more clothes, I have no one to say goodbye to, because if the landlord hears me I will have to pay 4 crowns, and all I had was 10 pennies and some clothes of scarce value. I bought some bread for the entire amount of money I had and started walking through the city. I reached the end of the city by midday. I was hungry, so I went to houses to ask for bread. In the evening, I find a house next to the Danube, where they are crossing the Danube. I told the man about the condition I was in. He was a good man, so he took me across. There is a lot of work there but the wages are low. I stayed overnight and slowly continued travelling in the morning. At some time in the afternoon, I arrived in the town of Prežburg (Požun). There, I saw a policeman and went to him, he asked,

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What do you want. I asked him to take me to the city chief. He was immediately happy to do it and took me to him. The chief asked me what I wanted. I answered, I would like him to send me to Croatia. He said, I can't do that until Saturday, and the day then was Monday. He put me in a prison cell, I found fifteen people already there, we got food once a day, but it was not bad and there was enough. On Saturday I boarded a train and a policeman was going with me to Pešta. I stopped there, and two hours later they sent me over to Budim to the city Chief. There I found eight comrades from Lika, they were travelling the same way as I did. They put us on a train to Zakan, and one policeman was accompanying us. There we reached the Chief at night, who put us on a train in the morning and send one man with us all the way to Koprivnica in Croatia. We arrived there around noon, they allowed us to look for work if we wanted to.
The people from Lika went to one side [site?] which they knew from before. I didn't want to go home, so I went through Croatia toward Osijek, and then to Sriem to Petrovaradin. There I crossed the Danube to Novi Sad, barefoot and with shoes across Banat to Temešvar. I didn't even count the days I wasted, always with no money, going to houses when I got hungry. From Temešvar I went straight to Oršava, it was an entirely good trip, the Danube fell low. I got a job there for one crown per meter. I worked fo five weeks, and the Danube rose so it was no longer possible to work. In those five weeks I was left with 260 crowns. That was in Sip on the Serbian side. Where should we go now, we have to cross to Oršava. I went with a group of men to an inn, but I soon left them. I knew another inn where they were playing cards. When I arrived, the gang is always ready to play cards. We started playing, but I soon lost 190 crowns, I could not lose more, so I had to leave. Winter was coming soon, no work, we had to leave. We crossed to Oršava and from there to Pešta, from there we dispersed to different places. I returned to Oršava with a comrade. We remained there a couple of days, then we again went to Pešta, then to Sriem near

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Karlovci close to the Danube. I was digging stone that is used for Banat. I started working for 2 crowns a day, I had to because I didn't have a sou left. My comrade did not want to work there, so he went on. I worked there several days, I earned 10 crowns and immediately went to play cards, and lost everything I had. Then I calmed down, penniless again but luckily, several of my companions were planning to go to Brzava (Simbirg) and I decided to go with them. They bought a ticket for me, too. We came there to dig stone for the lime pit. We worked for three months, whatever money we had we spent on alcohol and cards as soon as we received our pay. The job finished, so we dispersed to different places. With a comrade, I was planning to go to Romania. We both had 6 crowns, we started travelling a little bit by train but mostly on foot, towards Hermestat, then the village of Bojica, then to Lazaret on the border between us and Romania. On the other side of the border, they were building the railway track through Romania. But it wasn't easy to cross the border. In the Lazaret inn, there were 150 Italians who sent their travel documents to Pešta for the Romanian consul to sign, because otherwise they were not allowed into Romania. But we did not feel like signing. Six of us gathered, who wanted to cross into Romania. We agreed to go over the mountains, so we did. We climbed the mountains one whole day, and in the evening we descended to some barracks. There we found some people we knew. The whole day we were climbing the mountains, we would have crossed the same distance in five minutes if only we had been allowed to go the right way. The following day my comrade and I went on, we found a building job, but to start the job we needed to pay tax, because that is the custom in Romania. Anyone coming from a foreign country has to pay. We lived in a barrack with some Montenegrins and our Tyroleans, there were thirty of us. We were eating in the canteen, everyone buying for themselves. Our boss we were working for was Italian. He allowed to have one of us cooking for the rest, and that became my job. We received our pay every two months. When I finished cooking for two months, every man who was serving food was asking me as a cook to pay him, and I had to ask people to pay what each of them was due. I started collecting the money, some of them paid all they were owing,

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some only half, but many did not pay at all, saying that they would pay with our next pay. What could I do, a Romanian wanted money for milk, I paid immediately, I did the same for bread, but tomorrow they will attack me to pay for their work. There were also armed guards on horses, they would also come. I hardly collected half of the money, and I have up to 200 Lei (crowns) of my own money, so if I started paying fairly, all my money would not be enough to settle the account, and I would be beaten by the guards. I definitely don't want that to happen. There are two hours to the border where I entered, it was getting dark and I started walking, at God's will. Wherever I heard the clip-clop of the horses, I knew it was the guards, so I hid in the mountain until they went past, and then continued walking. When I was close to the border, I hid in some bushes and waited for the dawn. Early at dawn I slowly stated climbing the mountain, slipping through like a cat when chasing a mouse. When I climbed to the peak, it was foggy, I heard the guards talking at the bottom, I had to walk down the mountain. I slowly descended to the vale, but in front of me there was waist-high water, dividing Ungaria [Austria crossed out] and Romania. Across the water there was a path I could walk on. There was a Romanian guard walking there, and our big mountain. I had no choice, I had to go forward, I did not dare to go back. I was watching intently from behind the bush to see where the soldier would go. When he made a turn in walking, I started running as far as I could across the water and up my mountain. I quickly climbed 40 meters, then I heard a voice, moj (stop). I laughed and shouted, nu me plaše napoj (I don't want to go back). I was climbing up the mountain, and just as I turned back to see whether he was climbing after me, but he was a smart young man so he didn't. Had he followed me into the mountain, I would have turned him back, I would not have let him go onto my land, because a person is much more confident on one's own terrain than on somebody else's. So I arrived in Hermeštat, I changed some money and continued to Pešta. There I found
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a group going to Vienna, so I went with them. From Vienna we left for Rahinberg. They were building tracks there, but the pay was poor. None of us wanted to stay there. My companions left for Germany, and I went home. It was the third year that I was wandering around, I've had enough of that, I am thirty years old. I came home and found my father and stepmother there, they were living in poverty as before I left. I gave them all the money I brought with me. It was summer time, so I was doing day work, and no longer thought about getting married. I was at home for a short while, autumn came, one man came from a nearby village who was a servant to a factory supervisor. Later I heard that the factory was in Kocevlje in Croatia. This supervisor spoke German, he did not know any other language. He had several thousand crowns, so he agreed with his servant that they would go together to Western Australia and would take several workers with them. That was how it happened. That servant came to my village and gathered seven of us unmarried men. He told us that his count would pay all travel costs from Rijeka onward. It was time to travel. We arrived in Rijeka and the count's servant met us there, he took us to an inn, he paid for our food and drinks, and we saw more people there who were going to travel together with us.
The servant of the count has a wife and two children with him, a gardener from Pozega has a daughter and a son, also from Pozega. One worker is with them, the count's wife is also there, but he is not. There are sixteen of us altogether without the treacherous count, we are taking a train to Genova. We arrived in Venice, the count met us there, so we travel on together. The count seemed suspect to us because he did not meet us in Rijeka, but we were not bothered, as long as he paid for the steamship. We arrived in Genova, waited there one day and then boarded a German steamship. We stopped at ports in Naples and Port Said, Aden, Colombo and Fremantle. We disembarked there, having spent 25 days at sea. From there, we went by train to St Mary station, 20 miles away from Albany. We worked there for fourteen days, but you should see the count and his servant, you can't tell whether one is worse than the other, they would like us to work for them 14 hours
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And here they don't work more than eight hours. In the fourteen days that we worked, they gave us a check of several shillings (one shilling 60 pence). We cannot survive with these gentlemen, we didn't have any contracts, so we went to Albany to search for better luck. We arrived in the city and went to the bank to cash the checks we were given, but at the bank they crossed out our checks, they were no longer valid. Our count had sent a wire to the bank to do this. What should we do now, we do not speak English. But wherever there is misfortune there is fortune, too. We met an Italian who was going home, and I understood some Italian, so I told him about our situation. He took us to the solicitor for the poor, and told him what was happening. The solicitor received us and fed us for four days before the hearing. At the hearing, we won the case and the judge allowed us to go wherever we wanted, and if we did not intend to stay in this country, they had to transport us back. The solicitor was also telling us it was better for us to go back where we worked to earn some money, and perhaps learn some English, and then we could go wherever and whenever we wanted to go. We did exactly that, we went back and worked for six weeks, and did not want to work any longer, so we got our pay and left. We bought a ticket for Kalgoorlie. On the train, at the station of Southern Cross, we met a man from our lands, from Senj. He could speak English, so we were happy to meet him, he would make things easier for us. We came to Kalgoorlie and our new comrade immediately took us to Boulder, which is full of gold mines. Many people from Dalmatia live there, but we didn't find anyone familiar. From there, our comrade took us walking 20 miles to Paddington. There we found two Italians who came to Australia with us on the same steamship. We started working there, we worked for two months, and our man from Senj was a true fraudster, one day he was sick and did not come to work but his sickness seemed to be something else. He intended to collect the check for the entire job and then disappear
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But when he stayed home and did not come to work, that was suspicious to me, because I had similar experiences with comrades more than once. I went to work with an Italian man in the morning, and asked him to return to the boss and let him know that, if one of us turns up to collect the money, he was not to give it to him unless we were all there. The Italian listened to me and returned to tell the boss everything as I instructed him. In the evening, when we came to the place where our tents for sleeping were, we saw the man from Senj, he looks angry, he did not succeed. He told us to go with him to the boss, because he wanted to leave. We went to the boss all together, and he paid everyone what they earned. From there, we dispersed, some went with the man from Senj, and I stayed with three men to continue working there, because we liked the work. We earned 8 to 9 pounds per month and food. We worked there for several months, then we left. We went to the town of Kalgoorlie, and from there we went separate ways in search of luck. We had money, we learned several words in English, so we were more confident than we were when we arrived from home. I went to Kurrawang, there was a company there with most people logging the forest. I arrived in the forest, there was enough work, they needed more people. I started working there. I found several Tyroleans from Austria. I had not spoken Croatian for six months. After that, Croats and Dalmatians started arriving. Work in the forest was very hard, but it was possible to earn good money. But saving was out of the question, very few could do that, the English are gamblers and drinkers, whatever they earn they easily spend. But then our people and the Italians join them, gambling nonstop on Sundays, beer gets driven through the forest, wherever people are working, the beer merchants find them. So people are drunk and wasting time. More than three years in that company, I can say that I earned a nice amount of money, but all in vain because it was all spent. I sent two thousand crowns to my father, and I did not have much left, all was spent on gambling and excessive drinking, that is unfortunately the way we are. There were many people who could not save anything. Now I was leaving for home.
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I had up to 70 pounds, so I paid for the steamship, and spent up to 30 pounds on the trip. I came home and found things as bad as they were when I left. My father spent all the money I sent him, and even got into debt. What could I do, this was not what I wanted, I stayed there for three months and then returned to Australia again. During that time I also got married, I don't want to go into detail about that, because the book would be too big, I will just mention it briefly so I can finish sooner. I crossed the ocean to Australia and from Australia to home seven times. For the first time I came here in 1900, and on 20/5/1915 I was detained, and I am still in detention writing this book in 1917. I can also say that in all that time I haven't made a great progress, travel costs are high, I always had to send money home. The English people in this country live very luxuriously, there is gambling wherever you go, in Boulder in the gold mines. Many of our people live there, but very few save any many, and young people nothing at all. They adopted the English customs, working in gold mines for eight hours, so our young people, as soon as they return from work, they immediately change their clothes, everyone puts a new suit on, they are all dressed nicely, very few are without a gold chain or rings on their hands. So a group of them like that goes to the city, to the brewery where English girls serve beer. They are as crafty as foxes when they hunt chicken. One of them called for drinks for everyone, including the girls in the brewery, he takes the money out and pays before the drinks arrive on the counter. That is an English custom, and our young people take it up gladly. When the girls pour the drinks and put them on the counter, everyone takes their glass and clinks it with another and with the girls. From there they go to the next brewery, someone else pays for everyone there, just like the first one did, and that lasts until all of them had their turn. Months and years pass like that, pockets are always empty. There are many young people like that, perhaps one could find ten percent of those who save money and help their parents. Boulder is a small city, and the most widespread
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work is digging gold ore. Near Boulder is Kalgoorlie, where many of our people work. Some of them came to Boulder as young people, and there they grew old always on the same job, they never sent anything home, not even for their parents' travel costs, they left their father in debt and still today they have nothing. They learned English, that is all their gain in life. Many of them married English girls, but a majority brought girls from home, married them, made houses of wood and sheet metal, some of them bigger some smaller whatever they could afford, there they live with their families one way or another, but mostly not well. Rare are those who can save something, every married man sells alcohol in secret, our workers have meetings, they gamble for drinks and money, young people get into debt as soon as they receive their wages, they pay their debts and are left with nothing at all, he has to forget his parents because he cannot support himself either. If someone asked me whether these people ever go to church, I could easily answer, because I am sure that they know nothing of the church, and I can say truthfully knowing that I wasn't making a mistake, that among them there are those who have never attended a Mass. The words God and Our Lady are used often when they are swearing. Those more educated, who have learned some English, think they are very important, they never intend to go back to the homeland but invent all sorts of associations, meetings of all kinds of societies, in Boulder they first invented the Yugoslav Society, Jure Stela declared himself President, and they urge each other to enrol in the society, where you can read newspapers, Jadran (Adriatic) from California, Zora (Dawn) from Zealand, Sviet Hrvatski (The Croatian World) from America.

Further down I will say a few words about those engaged in forest logging. There is the Kurrawang company, where most of our people work. Six years ago there were always too many people there. When the war started, everyone arriving from the homeland first went to Kalgooglie and Boulder, but if there was no work there, they went to the Kurrawang Forest (Kalgoorlie is pronounced Kalgurli, Boulder Bolder and Kurrawang Kuravan).

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It is not easy to find work, the English are in supervisory positions everywhere. The workers from our lands, who have stayed in the same place for some time, they know the supervisor, so they have to plea and negotiate with the supervisor for all newcomers from home, so that some people get a job and some don't for six months or more. So they are wondering through the city and forest looking for work, they get into debt and waste time for nothing. Those who work in the forest of Kurrawang, their behaviour also looks poor, people got the supervisors accustomed to drink, so most always have some drink in the tent because, there being many people, everyone is afraid that they would be sent away from work. People work six days, and most work is on the seventh day, washing clothes, mending, repair tools until midday, and then gambling for money in the afternoon and all night. There are carts full of beer in several places. People with families, who do not gamble, they save money and travel home and return again, but the youngsters are always with empty pockets. I don't know whether I could find in this entire country ten percent of those who are saving money, they are not even able to pay back their father for the travel costs, so as years pass they forget their homeland. Those who come to the city from the forest immediately find people there who tell them about the Yugoslav Society, they read all sorts of newspapers. Now in the time of war when people are being detained, they tell each other, the Society will set you free, come and enrol. Those people are keen to do that, because they wasted years for nothing, they don't want to go home, as they left their homes when they were young, they have not learned anything, they have always followed evil company, they have lost the little they had and were left with an empty head wandering as headless flies wherever someone tells ghem to go. They are incapable of telling good from evil. This country is corrupt and wanton, there are three kinds of people. It was here that gambling ruined me, and I was holding to drinking too much, but still I tried to have something left over, because if I got detained what would I do with nothing, I am now 47 years old and on the food
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they give me here, I am convinced that I would not be writing this book today. I can also say that, during all this time that I spent in this country, and that I had been travelling throughout Europe, I can say that I never knew or listened to conversations about state, but was trying to do my work and all my efforts went to nothing. I cannot blame anyone for that today, just my crazy head. The war came, everyone was suffering, and I can only pray that enemies don't invade our country. Further I can say that I came to the city of Kalgoorlie from the forest. That was before I went into detention. I stayed there several days. I listened to what people were talking about. I saw one reading an English newspaper, muttering, the Russian Uncle will do it. I listened to some other conversations, I knew some of those people and some I didn't. They were all from Austria, I was thinking whether to say something, but I was afraid because I was alone and they all belonged to the same group. But I got bored with listening, I could stand it no longer, so I said, listen, Austria can suffer, but it will not lose the war. They responded sternly, you'd better be quiet, what can Germany and Austria do, the Russians are enough for them, they can't do anything against the Russians, let alone all other countries that will strike them. Again I have to answer back, if the Russians, Montenegrins and Serbians get so lucky to win the war, they will have to convert to Catholicism. I offended them with that, so they responded angrily, leave religion along, don't touch it. I thought, what the devil, people who defend other people's religion and constantly criticise their own. I remembered that these people were from Jure Stela's Yugoslav Society in Boulder. I answer, how can I leave religion aside, it has been two thousand years that Jesus was born, and left the new law that we all have to follow, and he will not be born again for the Russians and others. Then they mentioned France, and I responded, how much difference between France and Austria. There was more of that, I don't want to go into detail, and one of them told me that he was going to call the police, I said call them if you wish, I am not ashamed. That is how we parted ways that day.
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And also this, in the forest where I was working, I met three men at work, they were loading wood onto some waggons. I came suddenly, they were from Austria and Germany. Those were two men, one a Catholic, who was a great friend of Hris. He marched out of Rottnest Island to freedom under three enemy flags. So I caught the Catholic saying, Istanbul should fall to the Russians. The Hris. responded, well, whichever way they divide. (they noticed me, and the Hris. said to me, so how are you, Kraut). I would know how to answer, but I did not dare, so I responded nicely, thinking that I would gain more from being as slow and polite as possible. And this as well, one day on a Sunday in the shade under a tree, that Catholic was talking cheerfully with a group of comrades, well done to our men in Zealand, they are heroes if they burnt the flag on the house of the Austrian Consul. That story was published gleefully by the newspaper Zora (Dawn) from Zealand throughout Australia. It was now time to go to detention, people from this forest are not all in one place, this Kurrawang company has four sites, between one and two miles distant from one another. In the morning, the supervisor of the site where I was working, whom I have known for several years, said to me, you are leaving now, but you will soon be back, I am sure that you will be back in five to six weeks. I responded, perhaps we will come back at some point, but perhaps never. He said nothing else. Then he mentioned some names, and said these people were Serbs (I reponded, we belong to the same flag, there are no Serbs in this forest). He said, they said they were Serbs, and I responded, they can be whatever they want. I went to detention with the rest of the men, and I later heard that those who stayed spent a lot of money sending applications to the Russian Consul. I could write other things here, but I don't like to write about devils and waste paper on them.
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When we came to Rottnest Island, I looked around and saw that there were people I knew from before and those I didn't, I didn't talk much with anyone. After a while, I saw that a group was preparing to go free, with three flags in front of them, and singing with soldiers in English. Those who were staying were booing after them. They were being scattered with gunshots by the soldiers. From then on I started questioning those I knew and listening, because until then I had never heard what people were up to. By the time they moved us to Liverpool, my head was full and I started observing what people were doing and how they were behaving, so I began to write down some of the main things. This is how I was passing my time. All of that can be found below.
[newspaper clipping]
Jadran (The Adriatic)
The Leading Croatian Newspaper on the Pacific Coast
San Francisco-Oakland, Cal., Thusday 13 January 1916

This is what Jadran from San Francisco wrote on the 13th of January 1916:
Boulder West Australia 23 November 1915. The Croatian Slavic Society, with president Juro Stela, vicepresident Stjepan Borić, secretary Šimun Borić, treasurer Mihovil Silić, librarian Čedomir Bušelić, People's Committee Mihovil Roščić and Nikola Marić. This society now has 126 members.
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The Yugoslav Committee was formed and collected 400 pounds, up to two thousand dollars. They sent the money to our Kosovo maiden, the brotherly Serbia and Montenegro, the Yugoslav Committee in London and the Red Cross in Australia. Our honorable Croats, Anton Kličinović and the leader of the tamburitsa band, Mr Šantić, organised a beautiful concert in favour of our brotherly Serbia and Montenegro, with select singers and English dancers, in the Kalgoorlie Town Hall, which was given to us for free on the 26th of August 1915. The concert was successful, and net profits were sent to the Serbian and Montenegrin Red Cross. The Yugoslav Society in Boulder send their greetings and thank Jadran newspaper for working tirelessly for the sacred Yugoslav cause, that is, the harmony among Croats, Serbs and Slovenes, the Society in Boulder. May the glorious Jadran live long and prosper, the Management Committee of the Slavic Society in Boulder. They wrote, we are not only Croats, but enthusiastic Yugoslavs.
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Those from Dalmatia were at the forefront of betraying their country. Their members were detained in Rottnest for a short while, and then they marched out singing in English, French and Russian. There were 75 of them, all from Dalmatia, and 3 among them were Croats. After this, it was written that others were to go out to Russian freedom, so several people went, but not everyone succeeded. You will find more about them in further text. The Editor in Chief of Jadran, Frano Akačić.

Where are you now, Jadran from America,
That newspaper does not see our wounds
You boast with Croats a lot,
You glorify the Serbs and Russians,
You utterly respect the Montenegrins,
But you don't want to hear about the detained slaves
Girls living around Sydney
Were sending us whatever they could collect
They bought socks for us
And sent them to the sad detainees
They themselves did not have them
What do you praise, Jadran,
It is not a joke to call oneself a Croat today
Croats are being detained today
But Jadran doesn't care for us.

Fifty Croats are in detention,
You could have sent them some gold,
Oh Jadran, Croats are in battle,
Who will give food to their families
Croats suffer in detention
But Jadran knows nothing about that
If they were Serbs, Jadran would find out
And would collect money for them.
Oh Jadran, where are the Dalmatians
Six hundred are detained here
Dalmatia is in battle today
Every province of Austria
They are fighting the Russians the best they can
That newspaper only cries for the Serbs
Jadran lives well in America
Gathering around itself all that is blind.

The New Dalmatia in California
How sad it is to see a small child
Less than seven years old
Who saw the crown in Dalmatia
It is crying and calling its mother
Mother comes and talks to the child
Why are you crying my child
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Mother, Dalmatia no longer exists
It is now there in America
They moved it there
I can see that they even moved the houses.
Don't cry, my child
Don't spill any tears,
Who can move Dalmatia
When it is defended by its heroic sons
Just like their grandfathers were defending it before
The child is still crying
It is not happy
Look mother our crown is there
Our Croatian crown is now there
In the middle of that new Dalmatia
Dear Mother, tell me the truth,
May you always be healthy
How could they move the sea
I can even see little boats
Quiet child, are you mad
What you are saying
Would be a real miracle.
Wait, Mother, it is happening now
There is a ship in Istria,
It has already moved the Dalmatian sea
And now it will move the Croatian sea, too
The little bit from Rijeka to Senj
Only stones will remain
I'll tell you, child, about the ship,
That ship belongs to Montenegro,
The Montenegrin king has it
It was given to him by his Italian son in law
He is looking for his master,
The ruler of Serbia
Oh Mother, how did they get lost
My child, they started the war with Austria
And Austria scattered them around
So they still don't know where they are
The ship is looking for them
But can't find them
They may have been swallowed by the sea
What would they do, Mother, if they were found
They would go to the New Dalmatia
One of them would be their king
And wear the Croatian crown
That was set up by Jadran
They would put it on his head
There are traitors everywhere
The New Dalmatia accepts them gladly
All traitors will go there now
To be ruled by the king of Serbia.
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The pleasant celebration of the Orhodox Christmas in 1916
The editor of Jadran goes to visit Mihajlo Radkovic. Mihajlo gave a speech and collected 5 dollars by Mihajlo Radkovic, 1 dollar by his wife Jelena, his only son Milos 1 dollar. Then at 5 dollars each Nikola Miric and Vaso Sorak, 2.5 dollars Nikola Knezevic, his wife Evica 1 dollar, 2 dollars each Nikola Popovic, Frano Akacic, Djuro Marinkovic, Miho Klaiic, and Nikola Car, 1 dollar each Rade Jerkovic and Mika Rakic, total 32 dollars and 50 cents. A small group gathered to celebrate Christmas. The editor visited Bozo Djonovic, there they celebrated Christmas, we gathered a nice amount for our orphans from Serbia and Montenegro. Jadran wrote this on the 13th of January 1916. In January 1916, Fresno California, for the Serbian National Defense, our small colony sent to Serbia and Montenegro 3229 dollars and 65 cents. From the 3rd of August 1914 to the 3rd of August 1915. On the 4th of October 1915 it again sent an amount of 175 dollars and 85 cents, and on the 17th of December 1915, 901 dollar. The Slavic Unity no. 16 K.S. to P. Gibson N.M. The number of members 77.

Sending help to the poor from abroad
Thank you, oh God in heaven,
Who ordained this to happen on Earth.
And people also know how to do well
When they have gatherings like those
They gather to the poor everywhere
They know well about the poor
Serbs and Montenegrins
They always raise charity
And send them money
The Montenegrin and the Serb
Should not suffer
And everyone who can give something
Needs to help the poor
We are all equal in front of God
Everyone has to help the poor
Without looking which King they serve
If you can, give them so they don't suffer
God will be pleased with this
But give first to your own
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It is your great sin with God
And your shame among people
Your father and mother stand before your eyes
But you extend your hands over them to the Serbs
Your brother is crying, he lost an arm and a leg
And your sister is crying, she can't cry more
How do you feel in your heart
When you reach over them to send to the Montenegrin
Your own detainees are everywhere
It would not be a miracle if you were sending help to them
But you don't want to hear about your own.
You dream about your homeland in America
You are taken by a desire for Russia
And a hatred for Austria
The old country where you were born
Where you left your father and mother to someone
You have never even seen a Russian
How come you like him so much
Listen if you are reasonable
I will tell you what you don't know yet
You call yourself educated
But what good is that when you don't realise
One doesn't look at someone's religion
One loves the country where they were born
Before betraying my homeland
My father, mother and inheritance
Before being called a traitor
I would rather jump into the sea
The wretched traitors never stop
Singing songs to their heroes
And I can say that Austria is indeed saintly
Many religions but noone is bothered
We pray to God the way each of us can
We only have one Emperor on earth,
That is Franz Josef, God's servant
He is together with the Catholic church
You cannot talk about others
There is no greater Emperor today than he is
God helps him
It is not easy for the Russians to reach Vienna
Austria allows all Christians who love Serbia
To sell their land and go to Serbia
Rather than always hating Austria
If you like to be in foreign lands
May you go there and live well
You can live wherever you believe is better
Without ever hating the place where you were born
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The Yugoslav Society in Boulder set free their members from detention
Rottnest Island, June 1915, West Australia
They left under the English, French and Russian flags, singing cheerfully a song in English, together with English soldiers. There is another one for them.

The news came from Boulder
And quickly spread through Rottnest
The Slavic society sent a cable
Greetings all Slavs in Rottnest
All Slavs who are now there
You are free, come to us here
I started thinking
I would like to know who those Slavs were
I could see groups forming everywhere
They are happy and have no peace
One morning many of them gathered
At the guards
The Major called them there
Who would know exactly what they were doing
But I saw them gloomy when they returned
They are sad that they got entangled there
I heard them ask one old man
Why he was called to come to the Major
He did not want to answer, but just said, oh my
And quickly ran away to get his clothes
It is better to be detained forever
Than to beg the enemy for freedom
Whoever wants to be friends with the enemy
Must embrace their flag
And live under it for the rest of his life
Die in shame as a traitor
That is the destiny of all traitors
Whoever knows them curses them
They all brought their clothes to the guards
They formed a line four by four
Those in the front row held three flags
Oh comrade if you had been there to see this
Three flags are flying in front of them
Three men embracing the flags
The English flag is in the middle
And those of France and Russia are on the sides
The man carrying the English flag
Was the largest of the group
They dressed as nicely as they could
Let it be known that when they became traitors
They hated Austria
They prayed for Russia with their bodies and souls
They decorated themselves so beautifully
They would not do any better if they
Were getting married
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Soldiers were the last everywhere
And all together they started singing
They were shouting hooray with the soldiers
While others cried at them
The soldiers got angry
And started chasing them away with rifles
Shots were fired
And some ended in jail
As they were marching forward
Soldiers were saluting them
They were company to the soldiers
They left their own King
And won't be faithful to their King either
They won't be good to anyone
You can never know where
A traitor's homeland is
There were seventy-five of them in all
Only three among them were Croats
Born somewhere in Primorje
Traitors, may they be cursed
I am ashamed to write about them
Traitors, woe to their mothers
They all have to be known
As traitors to the Croatian ancestors
The rest of them were Dalmatians
All of them were Catholics
I could not find out their names
Their comrades will say about them
Jadran has its leaders here
I wrote their names down
Whoever loves Dalmatia today
Should tell all their names
Many of these Devil's brothers were still left here
Who registered to go free
Then those were freed soon afterwards
But I was told that many of them were still left.
Hey Croats, you are still alive
Those who wronged you should be judged
Taken to court
So they don't bring confusion to other people
Oh Croats, my dear brothers
I have to say that, I am compelled
It is sad to watch this
What is being done abroad
To our glorious Croatian name
Those who sign themselves as Croats
But breathe a treacherous spirit
They don't want to reveal their name
Looking for luck with the Croatian name
Which they would sell cheaply
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They have no regard for it
They don't mind disgracing it
If only they get money for it
Oh Zagreb, you are glorious
But you were never expecting this to happen
My letter will tell you about your former family
Greetings to you, my Croatian brothers,
Now you will find out about everything.


Rottnest, 23 November 1915. On this day, eleven hundred of us Germans and Austrians were transferred to Liverpool, New South Wales. There we found 2500 people, mainly Germans, who already had their administration in the camp. I can say that they greeted us quite nicely, they placed us into barracks, everyone had the same rights. We were gathered there from four states. The Germans did not separate anyone, they held that we are all as one, just as we indeed are now in war time. Several days later, some poor arrivals from Rottnest, and those that we found here, probably agreed to separate themselves from the Germans. I knew nothing about that. Around midday, I was walking around the camp, and I saw a group of up to 30 people who came from Rottnest, so I approached them to hear what they were talking about. One of those we found here was talking, he was a company leader (counter) of my barack no. 31. His name was Jozo Rendulic. He was telling them, we will get our own kitchen and office (notary), we will be completely separate from the Germans. The people were listening to him, and not responding. His speech was unusual to me, so I said, listen, Jozo, how can we separate ourselves from the Germans, that would not be nice, we lived together with them nicely in Rottnest, do you know what you are going to do, there are Austro Hungarian gentlemen among us (Rottnest in writing, pronounced as Rotnes, Liverpool pronounced as Liverpol).
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Ask them about this and you will see what they will say. Jozo responded, look at this smart one, I would hit him in the head if he was younger. So we bickered a little and finally dispersed, but that time they did not succeed with the separation.
So all was left in peace until the 27th of June 1916. On that day, an announcement was nailed on the notice board, Croats are to move to barracks 37 and 38 at the end, close to the guards. They have everything they are entitled to, a separate kitchen. When the Croats noticed that, they were asking one another, what is it with us, what are we doing to these people, there are no more than 50 of us in this camp, we were residing in four barracks, and our company leaders (counters) were Dalmatians. Some went immediately to the prison office (Committee) to ask the camp manager, why do Croats have to be separated, and who asked for that. The manager responded, an application was submitted two months ago, here it is, this is what it says: 200 Croats, signed here, are asking for a separate kitchen, and for a wire fence between them and other prisoners. They told him, we would not dream about asking for any separation. When he understood what they were saying, he asked for the Major, to tell him what he understood and then he returned and immediately sent someone to remove the announcement. When those poor people saw that the announcement was torn off, they got ag-itated and started yelling, are we not Croats, don’t we speak Croatian? The Croats responded, we know that you are Croats just like we are, we are not separating you, but we don’t want anything special asked for in this camp in the name of Croatia. Otherwise, you do as you please, we won’t bother you, we are all the same in this fence and there is no separation among us. So they calmed down.
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The Russian standard-bearer comes to Holdsworthy fence
On the 21st of February 1917, Jozo Radalj from Vrgorac, who had left Rottnest island to freedom under the three flags, Russian, English and French. Jozo carried the Russian flag and trampled his own. There he was today, coming from Western Australia, and with Jozo there were 17 prisoners, 5 of whom were Dalmatians and the rest were German. People gathered around them like black crows to look at them. They entered through the gate to the prisoners' fence, they were being led to the prison office. When they were a bit further from the gate, the Germans following the policemen and the Dalmatians behind them, but all of a sudden there was some commotion and one of those marching at the back was hit twice badly and had to go to hospital immediately. His name was Ante Jurjevic, and the man who hit him was called Slimar. The police interfered and calmed the situation. They came to the office to sign their names. People were still gathering around them. The Germans and two of the Dalmatians signed and went to the barracks chatting and undisturbed by anyone. But two were left in the office, Marko Skender and the Russian standard-bearer Jozo Radalj, and when they gave their names, the police wanted to lead them to the barracks where they were going to sleep, but someone told the police that it would be better if they took them outside the fence, if they wanted to see them alive the following day. When the policemen heard this, they immediately led them to the Major. When the Major saw them, he talked with them a little, and then ordered that they be taken to the built prison. And when Ante Jurjevic recovered, he joined them in prison. They stayed in the built prison for several days, and then they moved them to a small fence, where Black Hand assassins reside, so all three are now with them.
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Oh friends, greetings to you
Please tell me the truth
What did this standard-bearer gain
When he embraced the Russian flag
He stood under the flag as a General
And even sang in English with others
Jozo Radalj born in Vrgorac
Went to look for the Montenegrin King
Looking for him he got lost
When he left Rottnest island
Bad fortune now brought him here
He was lucky to be alive
After leaving our sad abode in Holdsworthy
Where is your flag now, Radalj,
Tell us, Jozo, what have you gained
The English rewarded you with prison
Flags were flying in front of you
While the rest of us stayed on the island
On Rottnest, surrounded by the sea
You wanted to drink beer,
May you drink to your heart's content
We will see who will do better in the end.
Some more about them. Slimar, the one who hit Ante Jurjevic, was called in front of the Major the following day, and after talking to him for some time, the Major ordered that he be imprisoned in the built prison. Slimar stayed there for two nights, and then began to fear that they would move him to the small fence
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among Black Hand assassins. The hero was thinking what to do, and found something sharp and began to tear at his stomach. Others saw this and alerted the guard, who called the medics. They quickly came with a cart and dragged him to hospital. He tore at his stomach really hard, but still stayed alive. They were collecting signatures for him to go without punishment, but the law does not recognise prisoners' signatures. He was taken to civilian court, so Slimar got three months of jail, somewhere close to Sydney. And Ante Jurjevic returned to his place, in the small fence to live among Black Hand assassins.
Hatred among the Croats, one against the other
1917 in the detention centre called Holdsworthy
In January 1917, there was a census in the fence. Since the beginning of the war until that time people were signing as the enemy demanded. But unfortunately, this time the census brought hatred and agitation among people. That was probably what the enemy wanted. They gave papers to company leaders (counters) to list their respective companies, without telling them how to fill the papers. They themselves probably never asked for advice. I came to register with my leader of the 31st company, I held the paper in my hands and saw a title at the beginning, nationality (that was probably nationhood). I asked him what to write there and he said, I don't care, everyone should write what they want, the Major didn't give any instructions. I soon realised what to do and said to him, write Austria in the title, and Croatia as the place of birth. The Dalmatians in my company wrote the same, Austria, and place of birth Dalmatia.
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This is how everyone in my company signed. I heard that in the 30th company they did not want to do it that way. I asked a man from my village in the 29th company how he signed, and he responded, he wrote Austria for the place of birth, too. I asked him why he didn't write Croatia for the place of birth, and he answered, I asked him to but he didn't want to do it, so what could I do. In the 26th, 27th and 28th they signed in different ways, some wrote the title, nationality Croatia, and place of birth Dalmatia. There were some Croats who wrote Croatia for the place of birth, and nationality Croat. I asked one Croat, did you sign the nationality as Austria, and he said, I didn't, the company leader told me to leave the nationality blank, that is nationhood, so I wrote the Croatian nationhood and Croatia as place of birth, so if the Englishman does not like it, he can correct it himself. I saw that he was right. This resulted in a great hatred one against the other, those who wrote the title as Austria, and those who wrote it as Croatia. They were shouting, all those who didn't write the title as Austria, they are Serbs. After a while, the Major called the company leaders and said that those who did not write the title as Austria should write them again, and gave them new papers and told them how they should be written. After that, the papers were signed peacefully. But these people can never have peace, so who was with whom and for hatred last year, or even before, and here in detention, so they want to take revenge on the other, and out of hatred they call each other Serbs. I saw them several times arguing like devils in hell, and then talking badly against each other. But I can also say that, since I was detained, if two men fought each other, up until now no one has ever inflicted hard injuries on the other.
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I also can't say anything so far about murder among this Croatian nationality, and I am not writing about any other nationality, because it is quite enough for me to write about the hatred of Croats against each other, which is always present among them. I will talk more about this hatred. When the weather was fine, I was walking along a fence, which has not been spaced out for a while, so it was all overgrown with grass, so it was nice to lie down there in the shade. So I used to sit there with some people I knew. There were groups of people everywhere along the fence, lying in the grass two by two or three by three, talking to those they knew better. So when I sat with a group, I was listening to what they were talking about, but I always heard them talking about Serbs, and they would even point to me, look at that group, those are Serbs, so many times I was hearing about those Serbs, but the people who called them by that name, I knew those people very well. One day I walked until I saw for myself, I sat next to them to hear what they were talking about, but I never heard them talking against their homeland. They were talking mainly about the war, all of them, because they had nothing else to do, so they are discussing everything from here to Europe. I also traced all those who were pointing at the Serbs, and I realised that all of them had adversaries among those they called Serbs. Those groups would bring with themselves a newspaper, and I could see them reading here and there. Wherever I stopped, I asked whether they had any news. Also, some of them obtained books from America, and were reading them in the grass and in the barracks to spend time, but that came to my ears, too, and some told me, look at the traitors, they are reading Serbian books. I was then lurking behind the books to see what kind of books they were. I had an opportunity, in my barrack 31, Jozo Rendulic had a book and left it if anyone wanted to read it. This Jozo Rendulic was the leader of my company.
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He soon left it because he had something to do in the cafe. I will talk about him further. So I took the book to see what it was like and what it was about, I was looking at it, but my dear brothers, these cursed slanderers who were telling me about Serbian books, of which here there was none. This book was about the past of our ancestors, the old Croats, written in English. Then I said, every book is good to shorten time with, because the more one reads, the more he can understand, the better he can distinguish between good and evil. Because if a man has clear mind, he can't be misled by reading. I myself, the writer of this book, have read all Serbian books about the Balkan war, that came to Kurrawang in Western Australia, that the Orthodox from Boka were receiving. I knew them, so they would lend them to me to read. I had known one of them for several years, and he had two copies of the same book, so he gifted one copy to me. When I studied it, I understood well what I was reading, and what was there against the Austro-Hungarian monarchy. I kept that book, intending to send it after the war to the government in Zagreb, so they could see the Serbian arrogance. But all of a sudden they gathered 200 of us Croats and Dalmatians to detain us, so I left clothes, tools, a tent and the books, because I did not care for anything. Somehow it occurred to me to take with me the Homeland Law and Babic's prayer book, and still today I am sorry about the books I left behind, because one German has more books than the entire Croatian nationality. The Germans have two bookshops, all sorts of books, and what do our Croatian people do, unfortunately I can see more and more in the barracks, they are playing the briscola and tresete card games, and others just lie in the grass and argue with each other, who knows about what.
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Just like old women sitting together at the spinning wheel. In this bickering, they quarrel, hate each other and call each other Serbs. On top of all that, my head is full of slandering, when I am walking with people in the evening, and someone starts pointing, look, those in front of us are Serbs, and those behind us, too, and this happens every evening. I started thinking, and I was certain what it was like, everyone pointing look at the Serbs, everyone of them has an adversary in the group they are pointing at, and that is why they slander that group as viciously as possible, and most of all by calling them Serbs. I know many of those who came to detention without a penny, they don't get any dinner, they are hungry and would like to have a smoke, they walk with anyone, just to get a cigarette to smoke, those people don't think much about the Serbs or the war, but only about their own belly which is hungry every day. I have never heard that someone who came here without a penny called someone a Serb, but only those who have a couple of pounds, whose belly is not empty. I saw great injustice, I saw that those who are stronger have more freedom here, are surrounded by more people, some of them have many relatives and friends, or there are many united villagers, they are free and can say whatever they want and no one will call them Serbs, because they are good to start a fight. But those individuals with fewer followers, they always have to be quiet, if they want to talk about the stronger party, they are immediately called by the other name, and even if they want to say something nice, the other party does not acknowledge that. Most of those poor people are called by the bad name. I will also mention that I keep hearing people saying everywhere, it would be best to expel the Serbs from this camp, we are scared to walk because of them, they will start a rebellion (scandal) and they also have knives. Even more, I hear, they said they would rebel, or that they want to kill a policeman, and the Englishman
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will then shoot with a machine gun and kill all and sundry. When I heard this, I asked whether there were many of them, and got the response more than two hundred. I was thinking about this cursed hatred, and tried to meet those called Serbs, I know many people on both sides. I met those that are called leaders, who were meant to be the worst. I talked with one, whom I have known for several years, and I asked him, why did you argue yesterday. He responded, you know me well for ten years and more, that I have never touched anyone who leaves me in peace, but I ran into someone worse than myself, who always harasses me, so it is easy for me to argue with him and fight him. That is how things are now in detention, you know that I came here without a penny, and you can see how they harass me ever since that census for nationality (nationhood). They don't leave me in peace, they call me Serb. They have money, they are not hungry as I am, that is why they always talk badly against poor people and call them bad names. I will have enough of that, and I already have had enough, so I am forced to argue. I have heard several people who said the same thing, and I have nothing else to say but ask, when will you ever stop, hatred among Croatian nationality, so they do not fight among themselves. It has been centuries that this hatred is among the people, and it is still here today. May God make man understand what they may gain when they throw their brother into a pit. About your hatred, which you always carry one against the other, I can only say that you have no gain from it, but only sin on your soul, and only devil rejoices at your hatred. May God alllow that the hatred among you stop, that you stop hating each other and start loving each other as brothers, because with unity you will go forward, and discord takes you nowhere. Fear the Church, which is with you, because you curse our lady with every word of yours. May God give you reason and forgive your sins. In Holdworthy detention, Australia.
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Unfortunately, the hatred among Croats grows
From the month of January 1917 to the 20th of March of the same year. On this day, men were selected to collect people's names. One of them is collecting the names in my barrack no. 31. He came to me, and I asked him why he was collecting names, and he said, to expel the enemies of Austria from this camp. I thought a little about the enemies of the Austro Hungarian monarchy, so I signed my name in order to see who they are. They collected 300 names and gave them to the Commander of the camp, a Major, but he did not approve it immediately. Rather, he was interrogating them for a whole week every day. These people of Croatian nationality resided in seven barracks, and from every barrack two or three went to take the Major's test. Among them, there were those who have not yet been in detention for four months, some of them have been here for a year, they called themselves Austrian, and they hated those who had been signing as Croatian nationality since the beginning of the war, some for two years or more, and wanted to forcefully expel them from the camp. As the writer of this book, I say, if there is a trial, there will be evidence against this cohort called Austrians, as I heard many times. When the Major interrogated them, I saw them at the main gate of the fence, they were waiting until the policeman came to collect one or two, and to take them to the Major for interrogation, regarding those people they thought of exiling from the camp, because they were signing as of Croatian nationality.

Croats and Dalmatians have two nationalities in detention
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I walked there several times, and I saw one, who wanted very much to exile people under the Serbian name. I am convinced that his heart is set on exiling everyone from this fence if he only could, and leave only his friends there. He doesn't speak English, but he is teaching those who are going to be interrogated by the Major, what to say against those people they called Serbs. He is a great friend of mine, just like a hen is to the fox. I asked him, are there many Serbs who were given to the Major. He responded, so far only sixteen of the worst ones. The Major asked us to calm down for a while, because the fence is not finished yet. Then I told him the words I knew he would like, there are many of those devils, my friend, they have to be exiled as soon as possible. He answered cheerfully, no need to worry about that, there are eight hard people who are engaged in achieving this. So, when the Major finished interrogating these people called Austrians, he approved to let them know once the fence is finished. But all that was for nothing, they had no peace, from the 20th of March to today, the 27th of March, they have been pestering the Major. The Major told them there was no space for more than five of them, and sent the police to get them. Those people were abiding by the law, they followed the policeman peacefully, without a word. Their relatives and friends brought their clothes to the main gate, to the guards, where they inspected their clothes and photographed them. They gave them a small cart, so they could put their clothes on the cart and push the cart for two hundred meters to the small fence, where Black Hand assassins resided. The police was walking with them.
(fence, the camp where we reside)
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While they were driving their clothes, among those others there were several voices wailing after them. The following day, evening of the 28th, they showed their names on the board of the theatre, which was in the middle of the camp, and those who were looking went cheerfully against them, hoo hoo. From that day onwards, the barracks were peaceful. Only those who were engaged to exile people from the fence had no peace. Every day they pestered the Major, and he was telling them to let the men in peace, because the fence was not finished yet. They did not like that, and had no peace. On the 1st of April 1917, there was a meeting to start a theatre, which I will talk more about below. At that meeting, they started shouting, let us drive out the traitors of our homeland from this fence, and the Major can put them wherever he wants. While shouting, they were scattering the people around them, like wolves when they descend on the sheep. The first troop from the 30th barrack got up, around thirty of them, unafraid of guns and knives, or of the English law. I was watching, where they were going and what they were going to do. They marched into the fence that was recently separated, where people were lying in the grass. Those who came demanded, go away from here. Five people obeyed the order, and went peacefully without a word. One asked, where should I go, but I heard someone say cheerfully, all he got was a blow to his ribs. I saw another group go to search the same fence. I quickly went to the main gate where the guards were, and saw that the first five men were chased all the way to the gate. I knew them. The policeman opened the gate and let them in, then others were chased to the gate, two by two and three by three, so I counted twelve in total.The policeman opened the gate and let them in to the military area, then I saw that two men were leading them three by three.
(In this fence, people were stronger and had greater freedom, but weaker individuals were double slaves)
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Some went to the gate of their own accord, scared because they heard that those who had signed as of Croatian nationality, and not Austrian, and those who applied to be released to freedom, that all of those had to leave. I also saw that several Czechs came to the gate on their own. But the policemen, who let the first twelve in, were no longer letting anyone in. And those who are chasing them keep saying, go, no one is listening, no one is saying a word because everyone is afraid they would be beaten. I was observing what those who were doing the chasing in the 26th barrack were doing. Several of them attacked one man and were telling him to go, but another one said, we will forgive him. So they forgave him, he had a relative in that group. So they attacked another one, and forgave him too. Then I saw that they attacked another one, but the man did not want to go straight away, so one from the group said, if anyone knew anything against this man should say it, because it is not worth exiling someone who is innocent. No one said a word, but one from the group that was chasing others said, yes, I heard him say it, chase him away. The man responded, did you ever hear me argue with you, but he was chased nevertheless. This was similar to the Jews yelling, crucify him, crucify him.
There were 46 in total who were chased or came of their own accord out of fear, 12 went to the military area, and 34 were left behind, who the police did not let in to join those 12. I could see over the fence those twelve, they were sitting next to the police building, some in shirts and some in thin t-shirts, and those at the gate were similarly dressed, occasionally one had a jacket, but most of them didn't. There were many people around them. The Major came to see that joy, and said, let the people in peace tonight, I don't have a place to take them. The Germans answered,
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We will not let them come back, and our people when they heard this, we won't let them back, we don't want to go to the roll call, we will stay here and guard them.

When there was a roll call at 5:30, everyone had to go. But those who were chasing people out didn't care about the roll call, they started shouting, we don't want to go to roll call. There were also those who were mistaken, and did not think at all, but looking at what other people were doing they thought that no one wanted to go to roll call, so they stayed, too. All Germans went to the roll call, none of them stayed behind. An announcement was nailed on the board that 200 of our Croatian nationals stayed behind, who do not fear the law. There were not that many of them, as I will say more about this below.
In the evening, the Major opened the door and let them in to join those twelve men, I don't know whether they got any dinner and where. In the morning, I saw four tents in the new fence, that they had set up overnight. 46 of them stayed there overnight, they took their clothes and brought them to the main gate to the guards, and they know best how they slept. They are not far from this main camp, from what one can see they slept very badly. Then I heard that the men who were packing and carrying their clothes found knives and all sorts of sharp objects, 25 pieces in total (impossible to believe), and that they gave it all to the Major. That same evening, I saw a thick sharpened wire, set in a piece of wood, the length of the wire and wood was one foot. I also saw a knife on the 18th of September 1916. I will talk further about the knives, there are plenty of them, and other sharp objects in this camp. I also had an opportunity to hear a young man, about 17 years old, who was selling bread through the barracks. He came to my barrack and a conversation started, I was writing and listening
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what they were talking about. The youngster was boasting, I was chasing them, curse their Serbian mothers, I would grab them by the arm and said go, so they had to go. I sent several of them there. On the same day, the 2nd of April 1917, they moved eight of them from the fence where Black Hand assassins were residing, to join those 46, so on that day they were erecting more tents. They had to go to get food from fence no. 1., where their kitchen was earlier. They were coming six by six, with a cauldron on their shoulders. They had to walk past those who had chased them out, gathered for roll call, and these started booing them and wailing, so that it was becoming unbearable. They were coming for food there several days, then a kitchen was built for them and they stopped coming. On the 3rd of April, three men went on their own to join those who were expelled, and the Major let them go. One of those three men had been among those who were doing the chasing before, and now he went to join them, that was ridiculous indeed. On that same day, those who were calling themselves Austrian, who were doing the chasing, collected several names and gave them to the Major, for an old man to be returned, but when the man heard this he did not want to go. I also heard that they wanted to return two other men, but in vain, they did not want to go back. They were the right people, but power does not see that, it does what it wants. People can say no for as long as they want. The right people hope that the court will judge. Further, those who were exiled because they wrote Croatian nationality called their fence Kroatien Camp no. 3, and those who expelled them were angry and said that this had to be reported to the Major, because why would they call themselves that. I asked one of them, tell me, what should they call themselves, and he said Serbs or Russians. That answer surprised me, they were exiled because of the name they wrote, and now they are not allowed to use it. And those who call themselves Austrian sing Croatian songs
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but they are against Croatian nationality. I am very much surprised by what I see and hear, oh God enlighten this people. In the afternoon of the 3rd of April, an announcement was nailed to the board, all those who sent applications to the society in Boulder, have to go out of this fence in two days at the most, or otherwise they will find themselves with broken backs. There may be some people who sent applications to the Slavic society in Boulder, I am not sure about that. But I know that they were sending applications to the Government, and that some wrote Croatian nationality, not Austrian. Everybody was scared to be beaten on the back and leave here in bad health. On the fourth of April, five men collected their clothes and took them to the guards at the main gate, and headed for the fence they called Camp Kroatien no. 3, but the police would not let them in. The Major came to ask them what was happening, and they told him what was written on the board. When the Major understood, he sent them back. Immediately after that, an announcement came with the Major's order that, whoever gets caught nailing anything untoward to the board, without the Major's permission, would be sentenced to six months imprisonment. If the Major had allowed people to cross over to the fence called Camp Kroatien no 3, three parts of these people of Croatian nationality would move there. Then it would be clear, who are the devils with horns, and who are those without. In the evening of that same day, the 4th of April, on the theatre notice board in the middle of the fence, they showed all those who had been exiled on the 1st of April. The Germans depicted them as ugly as they could, and the enemies put a title above them. In the sketch, the first one was Jozo Rendulic, depicted uglier than the worst murdered, with a gun at the waist, and a knife strapped to the thigh. Others were next to him one next to the other, and the title above them
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was written in Croatian, Yugoslavs travelling to Siberia. In a second drawing, several men are warming themselves around a fire, and the title above them was, Start the fire. One was painting the fence white, holding a pot of lime in one hand, and the writing above him was, I am whitewashing every day for 1 shilling. Those looking at that are laughing and wailing hoo hoo at the drawing. They were drawn like that twice, but not more. They told me that several men came from Western Australia, and that three of them went immediately to Kroatien Camp no. 3, and the Germans to the main camp no. 1. Now I will talk about those who did not come to the roll call on the 1st of April. The Germans wrote 200 on the board, but my calculation is that there was no more than 120. On the 15th of April, every company leader listed his own men, who did not report to the roll call, and they went to the Major, who ordered that they would not have cooked food for three days, and the forced fast was to start on the 17th of April. People started cursing and talking, it was impossible to describe. The Englishman is my enemy, but I have to tell the truth regardless, this order by the Major was not too harsh, because they were not imprisoned, the fence was full of cafes, meat, sausages and all sorts of fruits, as long as one had money. Our people praise the Germans as good people. I also praise them, because they are united, and don't hate each other like our Croatian nationality has done since the beginning
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of the world, one brother hates the other brother, while listening to the stranger and praising him. We are all detainees here, we should look after each other in hard times. Oh my brother, the foreigner looks after you and you are grateful how good he is. Think about what you are doing. In the evening of the last day before they finished with the punishment, they collected some money and paid some musicians, and went to two cafes, Franz Josef cafe and Rudan from Lovran, to sit and have coffee. Music is playing, all is cheerful. They are singing Croatian songs, because they don't know any other, they call themselves Austrian. The police are walking past, asking what they are celebrating, and they told him. The following day I heard in several places people saying, we did well to exile them, we will all get medals for it from our government. I respond, it all looks to the contrary, it is stupid, you don't know what you are doing. I am yet to hear about any medals being given, unless I die beforehand. After this celebration there was no news until the 1st of May, when they nailed a note on the board with a list of nine names, which said, brothers, chase them out of here, but there was no signature of the writer. I read this and said, why did he not sign his own name, so we can see what he knows about these people. Several people said, he is right, he is not mad to sign his own name. I answered, is that your opinion, do you know that it is not sheep that are being banned, but people, and an oath will be needed for each one of them. Two of them who were involved in this banning said, it is easy to give an oath about them, all of them are Serbs. Then I went to see those whose names were written on the board, I came to three of them, two youngsters and one unmarried, I asked them, what kind of rebellion are you organising among these people.
(Hatred, strength and numbers rule here, weaker individuals suffer)
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They were surprised and asked, what kind of rebellion. There are your names on the board to ban you from here. Surprised, they said, we are playing cards here to pass the time, we are not meeting anyone, we mostly walk on our own. I asked them, can you tell who might have put that on the board. They showed me an elderly man, around 50. He is suspicious to me, too, because he is pushing this banning a lot. Then I met another man whose name was on the board, and asked, what kind of show are you making here in the camp. He looked at me, surprised at what I was saying. I told him, your name is on the board to be banned. He went to see the board, but they had already torn off the piece of paper. He then went to the Major to tell him what is being done in the Camp. When the Major heard him, he told him that he was going to watch who will report first. The same man then wrote a note and nailed it onto the board, which says, If there is anyone in this Camp, who has ever heard me say anything against the Austro Hungarian Monarchy, let him stand before me and tell me in front of everyone so I can hear, then I will go out of my own accord. And he signed his own name. That note was there for several days, but no one said anything, they were all quiet. This is how they were all banned out of hatred (the devils with horns banned those without). I also want to say this, in the last couple of months, April and May 2017, the Commander and all the military personnel have completely relaxed the strictness they were using before, so the people went completely wild, they cannot all gather for the roll call, they don't fear the police or obey any orders. The first lieutenant saw this, and on the 5th of May he stopped 30 of them who were late and gave them nine days of prison, but held them there only four days. Then again people began to report to roll call as soldiers, the earlier the better.
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Now I will talk a little bit about those who were banned from this camp, and about the 25 sharp objects they found among their clothes. First, they did not carry their own clothes, others collected and carried them, and could have put there whatever they wanted. Second, if they had what is said they had, it would not be surprising, because there are many such objects in the camp. Third, in 1916, Black Hand murderers were in this camp, feared by everyone, they were stealing clothes and doing all kinds of evil deeds, as I described their behaviour in the first book about prisoners. Everyone was afraid of them and sleeping in fear, until they threw them over the fence like cattle, but many of them stayed behind, but had to be quiet because they saw what had happened to their comrades, so people were sleeping in fear for a long time. Everyone had next to him a stick, a picket, or whatever else they could find. Now I will talk about Josip Rendulic, who I have already mentioned twice in this book. We found this Rendulic here when we arrived from Rottnest Island in Western Australia in November 1915.
Jozo immediately became a counter (company leader) of my 31st company. He stayed in that position for a short while, then he left the job, and two men took him to work in the cafe, he stayed in the cafe for a short while and soon left it, he could not stand his comrades. He resided in the same 31st barrack. This Jozo Rendulic, about 27 years old, had been everywhere in America, spoke English well, and German and Italian, too. In the census, he wrote he was of Croatian nationality, subject of Austria, born in Foca, Bosnia. He was well educated, had a good head and could talk about everything. He did not do any hard work, but could get into conversation with excellent people, he easily became friends with anyone, even educated people, if he needed something.
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He was in theatre somewhere in America, he was short-tempered and could not stand anyone to disagree with him, who knew less than he did. He quickly became angry, and argued mostly in front of his 31st barrack. He liked to talk, but people never agreed with him. I saw that several times, he immediately got angry and started an argument, but I have never seen him starting a fight, and I saw that, if anyone contradicted him who knew more than he did, he gladly listened, and did not disagree. So he was walking around without anything to do for a while, but then he had an idea that he wanted to start a theatre. So he gathered a group of people, one from Zagreb, whose name was Zlatko Fiser, who was educated just like he was, and others who were all workers from Dalmatia. They went to the Major to ask for a big tent. When the Major heard them, he promised he would give it to them, but first they had to bring people's names, to see whether people were happy with that. They did as the Major demanded, went to collect signatures and brought them to him as he wanted. He promised he would do it as soon as he could. Then they went to collect some money from people, so they could buy some goods to begin with performances, because in German theatre performances are in German language, and the Croatian workers did not understand that. They collected from people 25 pounds for the theatre, erected the tent and wrote the name, Prosvjeta (Enlightenment, Education). They obtained the goods, and performed for the first time on the 13th of August 1916 free of charge. Up to three hundred people gathered, full tent. For the first time, people could pay as they wanted, and the second evening payment was 1 penny, 3, 6 and 1 shilling. There were always plenty of people, as well as up to 17 actors. Josip Rendulic was managing the theatre, and Zlatko Fisher was secretary, and was also learning how to act.
(1 penny 5 coins, 1 shilling 60 coins)
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On the 18th of August 1916, birthday of His Majesty Franz Josef I, the detainees asked from the commander of the camp to allow them to organise a parade on that day in the fence, to celebrate the birthday of their ruler, but he did not want to allow that. In the evening, they organised as best they could to celebrate the birthday of His Majesty. There was a speech by a first lieutenant who was imprisoned in Russian Siberia, and then flew like an eagle over China. He spoke in German, but finished with shouting out Zivio (Long live) in Croatian. After him, there was the Croatian Dalmatian Grgo Sajin from Vodice, who had given a speech on the birthday of His Majesty in Rottnest Island in Western Australia on the 18th of August 1915. Several days after the celebration of His Majesty's birthday, the secretary of the theatre's empty coffers, Zlatko Fiser, and some of his friends, left the theatre because the performers had arguments amongst themselves. The money they collected for tickets, I don't know how they spent it, when they themselves did not know it, all angry at the empty coffers. They needed to borrow money to buy the necessary goods, and Prosvjeta accrued a debt. Josip Rendulic did not care about Zlatko F. And others, who had left the theatre. Jozo R. managed the theatre on his own, installed new comrades there. Josip R. taught them some funny skits from novels during the day so they could perform in the evening. Jozo R. worked hard day and night, so that the theatre Prosvjeta does not get a new master, but all that suffering was in vain, the one who was as good as he was, or perhaps even better, Z.F., he left the theatre. But what can Josip R. do on his own, he would be a good helper to the actors, but his friends don't understand such business. It is not easy for a shepherd to become a professor, nor to a worker who works with an axe to become an actor. I could see that those peasants have already become more knowledgeable than students. Some of them started learning how to write. If they were literate, they would be wise people. They are the kind of people this state needs, they would know how to check the accounts.
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So Jozo R. Worked hard with his group until the 9th of September 1916. On that day, a meeting was held for the Croatian nationals. People came to the meeting in Prosvjeta theatre, and Josip R. gave a speech. Gentlemen, I have been forced to call this meeting because we are in a difficult situation, we are overcome by poverty that we cannot withstand, but I hope that you will help us and aleviate our misery, this is our fault, but we cannot help it. Our Theatre is falling into debt, tell me what we want from it. There were up to 200 people at the meeting, they started shouting, how could you fall into debt, some were yelling, all of you went to cafes to eat while there was enough money, some were saying, why did you write Prosvjeta on the Theatre. Josip Rendulic asked, what would you like us to write, I want to write what you want, and some of you should join us with some money, and we will be more careful from now on. Again there was racket and shouting. You cannot enlighten anyone with your Prosvjeta (Education), you can only guide them to ignorance. On the 18th of August, you did not allow Mr First Lieutenant to speak Croatian. And Josip R. is responding to everyone. It is impossible to describe this shouting and racket faithfully. Jozo Resetar joined the company with some money, so they performed, but all was in vain. They wrote on the theatre, Austro Hungarian Theatre, then they quickly changed this to People's Theatre, and then back to Estrajh. We listened to what people were saying, all those in the Theatre are Serbs. After a while, Josip Rendulic called Zlatko Fiser to join the theatre again, but Zlatko Fiser did not want to return. After this, Josip R. and Zlatko Fiser argued and friends of J. Rendulic gathered in front of where he lived to beat him up. It is a disgrace for an educated man to endure such mockery from all kinds of people. His detention is twice as sad.
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When Zlatko Fiser left the Theatre, he taught several people German and English speaking and writing, and also taught several Germans to sing Croatian songs. That is how he earned some money for tobacco. He was a real lover of his homeland, born in the royal city of Zagreb. But Josip R. hated him, both complained to the Major, who knew both of them, but Josip R.'s complaint was successful, so the Major expelled Zlatko Fišer on the 28th of November 1916 from this camp to Dry by (?), where wealthier people reside. He went there sad and without a penny, and that would be shameful to a peasant, let alone an educated man. Josip R. continued to toil for the Theatre until the 6th of December 1916, and on this day he called a meeting, and said, gentlemen, I called you here to tell you that we can no longer endure these difficulties, we have to pay the debt. Again racket and shouting, where does the debt come from, some were shouting, why did you expel Fiser, others are happy that he left, and Josip R. in the middle of that noise said one can't understand what you are saying, just like when figs are sold at the markets. After a while, Josip R. took some Germans to work with electricity, who were paying rent (fit) to him and Jozo Resetar, while the rest of their friends lost their jobs and from then on hated the Theatre. All was quiet until the 4th of February 1917, when God gave us a great wind, which demolished the hated Theatre. So the wind paid the debt to Jozo Resetar, the actors scattered, and the earth relaxed, because the sin of Prosvjeta no longer existed. It is possible that God exists, you can see how he can bring peace among devils. Then Jozo Resetar thought of starting a new Theatre, so he can retrieve some pounds he lost in the old Prosvjeta, he spoke English well, so he went to the Major to ask him in the name of the people, and then Jozo Resetar sent some workers to the forest to log trees for the construction of the Theatre.
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The Major gave him horses and a cart to transport the trees free of charge. So several people worked for Jozo Resetar for a month, and two Germans worked as supervisors. They asked Jozo Resetar to pay them, and he responded that the Major would pay them with a percentage from the prison shop. The Germans got angry at that and cut down four of the most beautiful trees. Then Jozo Resetar called a meeting to say how and in whose name the building was being erected. They people started shouting, who told you to do that in the name of the people, without asking the people. They elected five members to manage the building of the Theatre. So they continued working until the walls were erected, but no one was covering, so the building stood their like Arena, the ancient fairy building in Pola. The committee expelled Jozo Resetar from the Theatre, and his debt from the old Prosvjeta was not acknowledged. But enough talking about this hatred.
Now I am asking those Croats Dalmatians, who called themselves Austrians in this Camp, and hated those who called themselves Croats, as those indeed were, and banned them. Tell me, what is the offence to our Austro Hungarian Monarchy, when a Croat Dalmatian calls and writes himself as of Croatian nationality, a Hungarian as of Hungarian nationality, a Croat of Croatian nationality, a Slavonian also of Croatian nationality, etc. I think there is no sin in that. Austria is an empire, the emperor in Vienna is a king of all. In war, a Croat fights for Croatia, Dalmatian for Dalmatia, Hungarian for Hungary, Austrian for Austria, but they fight the enemy all together as brothers, for their king and homeland. The emperor's flag is flying above all of them, so that the enemy may be defeated through unity.
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I don't want to curse you further, because we are full of hatred anyway, but I will tell you, if you unfortunately don't know who you are. From 1849 onward the Austrian citizenship was all one, until in 1867, when by virtue of Article XII of the law of 1867, the state independence of Hungary was recognised, and of all kingdoms existing within it. So after 1868, all could call themselves by their own nationality. I myself, the writer of this book, can tell you that a Croat, and nothing else, but here we are not free to talk about the Kingdom of Croatia among you Croats and Dalmatians who call yourselves Austrian. Here is the law that says that I am nothing else but a Croat, but a man has to defer to power, because those with power ban people to a different fence under the Serbian name, and even beat them up. There are no judges in this world as powerful as you are, oh Croats and Dalmatians who call yourselves Austrians. But I am not powerful, I want to endure even worse than this, so I call myself whatever you wish, and I write down what you are doing. God willing, freedom will come one day. Here is the Homeland Law of the 30th of April 1880 for you to read.
I Franz Josef I, by God's will the emperor of Austria, king of Czech and apostolic king of the kingdoms of Hungary, Croatia, Slavonia and Dalmatia, confirm the Law about the administration of homeland relations in the Kingdoms of Croatia and Slavonija, as proposed by the Croatian-Slavonian-Dalmatian Parliament.

So tell me please, whether I can call myself Croat or not, I am Croatian and nothing else, but I am not allowed to say that among you.
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I am observing this injustice and describing it, hoping that an investigating court of H.M. Emperor and King will be held, where I intend to submit this description of your hatred against your Croatian and Dalmatian brothers, such that not even some really wild people could [do the same]. Answer me, are your heart and soul in pain if you ever think of them. I know they don't, because you were the ones who judged them and always talk against them. I heard enough of that, saying that whoever was banned from this main Camp, the state will behead them. Oh merciful judges, I don't know what those in Vienna and Zagreb will do, now that you took over their job. They will have to stand down when you return home. But according to the law, you would need to come to Zagreb, and introduce yourselves to judges and prefects so that they see who you are. Zagreb will greet you cheerfully, because that is not a joke, when peasants in detention get such honour to judge without the law, something that even his majesty the King would not be able to do. God willing, we will go there, but if they release us from here, Dalmatians will scatter everywhere, so I don't know what to say. But if all of us from here go home, there will be some of you Dalmatian and Croatian judges, and some will even be for Serbia, because you are more numerous than the Croats. Oh hatred among this nation, will you ever cease, there have been many centuries that your hearts are growling at their brothers full of hatred and laying their heads in front of swords, is there any Christian spirit in you, you would not be sorry if there were. You damned bandits, small children will curse you.
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I heard a lot of this hatred and evil thinking among those who wouldn't allow even mentioning of the Kingdoms of Croatia or Hungary, they call themselves hard Austrians, their families are with them, some of them were even spies for the police, they were trying to catch our people in some [illegal?] trade, that was their job. And now the English detained them, so there was nothing else to do but to call themselves hard Austrians. It would be too much if I wrote more about this, I have to skip it as if I had never heard about it. I have a lot to talk about to anyone I come across, priests and even Pope the Holy Father, who this people have no respect for. They also do not respect the master of heaven and earth, it is impossible to describe this evil of men. I don't believe that this kind of people can respect their ruler. I would have a lot to say to professors and students about Croats who call themselves Austrian, how much love they have for their homeland Kingdom of Croatia. I don't know why they hate it so much, that they don't want to have it mentioned here in detention. My heart is breaking but it is impossible to break, I have to endure it even if it becomes worse than this. Then I will talk about the Singing society. They sing Croatian songs, they turn them anew. You will now see this misery. Oh brothers, we are the sons of the Croatian tribe, therefore we should not be ashamed of our name, there is no tribe in the world that is olde and more glorious than our tribe. Think about it, you who hate your name, and you are Croats and Dalmatians, who call yourselves Austrian. You banned from the camp those who were not ashamed of their name. There are judges, who will judge you, someone has to be guilty, because the law will not permit one slave to judge another. (Oh priests you don't fair well, socialism rules everywhere)
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I also want to ask the Singing society, Croatia is not dear to you where Croats are in detention. I would not sing Croatian songs if I wasn't calling myself Croatian. They skipped this verse, why were they ashamed of it. All those who were later called Slavs, all of them carried the Croatian name before. Where Slovenes are from Steiermark, where Carinthia and Czech, Kranj and Ljubljana etc. Why are you ashamed of them, when you skipped their song. Think now, why are you singing this new song. Brother and brother, Austrian and Croat, always brothers, Austrian and Croat. I saw a singer, and asked him, why didn't they sing, brothers Austrian and Croat, and their half-brother the Hungarian. He answered, we don't like singing about him.
More news below. Brothers do not understand each other.
In June 1917, the Major ordained to select a leader of the camp and twelve committee members to represent the detainees. So they did. They selected the leader, and he continued his speech in the middle of the camp. He speaks German, talking about how he wants to do administration, and others are clapping their hands. I asked those who were next to me, what he was saying, because I didn't understand him, and they answered, no one understands him. I was surprised, he was clapping his hands without knowing why they were doing it, he did not understand what his own brother was saying, but he banned the one he had understood, and he was so heroic that he banned those who said they were Croats. Think about this song. Dalmatia is small, but its people are proud of it, and of the Croatian three-colour flag on the Sokol cap. (It is my duty to write this down, may those who know better judge me).
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Unexpected news came on the 30th of May 1917, On that day, the enemy officer announced to the Croats living in eight barracks, the 26th, 27th, 28th, 29th, 30th, 31st, 8th and 38th, that they should carry their things to the main gate of the fence, where these things will be put on a cart. When people heard that, they all started packing their things as quickly as possible and carrying them to the designated place. Those Croats who had been banned, they left at daybreak and we did not know for where, and we ourselves also didn't know where we were going. Some were saying, to Western Australia where we used to be, some were saying, we are going home, they want to let us go, but no one could tell for sure. So five companies were sent off walking one after the other by midday. Soldiers were with them, and the cart with their things behind them. Three companies were left for the afternoon, the 29th, 38th and my 31st barrack. At 2:00 pm the first one to go was the 29th, and then the 38th and my 31st company went together. We were walking, with the cart with our things following. After four miles of travel, they stopped us in the middle of a forest. We saw some tents and a small wire fence, woven as usual to prevent detainees from escaping. We could see those who left before us inside the fence, they were all gathered at the gate of the fence. Outside the fence we saw the banned Croats lined up, and the things were being loaded onto the cart. We didn't know what the news was. They ordered us to march forward, so we marched away from the fence up to 100 metres, and they stopped us there. We saw the banned Croats who started walking where we came from, and the cart with the things following them behind. Then they let us go into the fence. It became dark and the horn was sounding for roll call. The companies were lined up one after the other, and they counted us as usual. Then I walked around the fence to see
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what it looked like. It was a small fence, up to 130 m in width and similar in length, erected in short time. The tents were arranged in rows, and I could see that they were still erecting more tents. A place was prepared for cooking cauldrons, but I did not know when. Outside the fence were several tents for the soldiers, and inside the fence some thick tree stumps that were left over from the trees that were dug out. They started the fire there, shouting as if they were at the markets and swearing so much that it was terrible to hear. I was sad, thinking that not even Hell could be worse than that, but what could I do, I had to endure, I cannot bury myself alive. So I carried my things to the barrack where I was going to sleep. The earth was wet, but there was no one to complain to, I had to stay there as long as my back was healthy. There were five of us in the tent, and we were given as much bread as each of us was entitled to. The horn sounded and I was told that they were giving us tea. I went there carrying a mug for the tea, but in the end I did not get it since the first to get there had collected everything and there was nothing left for those who came later. I was hungry, but that could not be helped. I was listening how those that had been banned came there first, and then went back. Those banned Croats called Serbs were the first to come to the fence and the other companies were joining them one after the other as they were arriving. Everything was peaceful, one was talking to the other, a friend with a friend. Those banned were saying that we would go to freedom, that we had been freed by some people in London. But there is no friendship among adversaries, they are looking at one another as a dog and a cat. At midday, horn was calling to receive food. The companies lined up as they should, with the banned Croats in the same row. All are standing calmly, but where there is anger, an altercation will be started. One of the banned Croats had no peace, so he shouted, you expelled me, and then the whole comedy started. The Austrians he shouted at jumped up
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at this banned man. The soldiers around the fence were ready to start shooting. The Major rushed in, and yelled, hands up, but that did not calm them down. Then the Major said, who wants to get out of here, please get out. The Austrians he was talking to answered, someone must go out, it is up to you. There is only a small number of banned Croats, so the Major sent them back. I was listening to what the others were talking about, they were boasting, I hit that one, someone else hit another, I heard one saying, oh had he not turned his head, I would have driven a stick into his neck. So it was lucky as it happened, they did not spend the night all together. I was listening to those from the 38th company, who were travelling together with the 31st company. They were saying, what would have happened to them if our company had been inside, which is the worst. Desire for vengeance will remain in them for as long as they live, because those who were banned will also think about those who judged them and banned them. When the banned Croats were exiting from the fence, several of those called Austrians left with them, they were scared because they were called Serbs and their names were put on the board, so they preferred to go out together with those who were banned, rather than staying with those who were called Austrians. Some even left their things behind. They were right to do that, it is better to have a healthy back than a broken one, and here there is noone to complain to, strength is the only judge here regardless of the law. The English are happy when we fight each other, to whose health no one knows. While the Croats and Dalmatians are fighting amongst themselves in detention, they are defending the Austro Hungarian Monarchy from its enemies. There are many here who are faithful hard Austrians, and they always push that some evil happens. I will tell how I spent the first night. I spent more time around the fire than in the tent.
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They counted us in the morning, and on the 31st of May we got some black coffee and bread each, it looked bad, and there are no things to buy here like we used to have in the old fence. It is all forest here, there is no house in sight, so we are under these tents like in a desert. We see soldiers walk past, but no civilians. At 9:00 several officers came, and among them the Major, and we received orders to carry the things to the guards at the gate, and one company carried them immediately. They started carrying the things, and as each of them left them outside, they were returning to the fence. And when these did so, it started anew. The cart was already there, and soldiers were loading the things onto the cart. Then the company, whose things were being loaded onto the cart, were lined up four by four near the gate, waiting for the order to get out. Outside the fence, at around 4 metres distance, a tent was erected, where change of the guards was taking place. Four officers were sitting in that tent, and they ordered that men from the company whose things were being loaded onto the cart, should enter that tent one by one. So they began to go to the officers one by one. The rest of us were looking from the fence, but we could not hear anything. As each of them entered the tent, they stayed with the officers some 3 minutes, some 5 minutes, and so on. When they entered the tent, they were asking them questions, but we can see that none was bending down to sign anything. The road was up to 30 metres away from the fence, there were soldiers waiting there for those who were finished with the questioning in the tent, and when they gathered 20 of them or more, the soldiers led them the same way we arrived. They took them so far that we could no longer see them. They were waiting there until the whole company was gathered. Then they were taking them to the old camp where we resided before.
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But the rest of us in the fence did not know where they were taking them or what they were asking. We started agreeing with those who were on their way out to let us know where they were taking them and what they were asking. Some would take his hat off, some would make a sign with his hand, some with his leg, depending on what they agreed. So we found out that they were asking them whether they wanted to be freed under the Serbian name, and that they were being taken to the camp where we were before. Now I will talk about how on the same, before 10 am, I was so hungry that I could not go anywhere. There were more men who were very hungry, who saw half a sack of oats that was issued for lunch the following day. There was a fire there that was burning there overnight and several cauldrons, so they did not even wait for the water to boil properly, but add the flour and mix it a couple of times but not too many, because they could not wait. So they take that to the tent, noone cares what it was like, they all shout, give me. I also brought my plate not looking at what it was like, because i was completely overcome by hunger. Two companies were interrogated and sent away before midday. Lunch was ready, horn was calling. There was no order, everyone was pushing to get to the kettle as quickly as they could, so not everyone could have some. Two more companies were sent away in the afternoon, giving us signs where they were going. Josip Rendulic from Prosvjeta Theatre, who had been among those who were banned, walked around the tent where interrogation was taking place. I cannot say why, but I could see that, since he had been banned, he became great friends with the military, and he was a friend of theirs even before. I can see from the fence that he is not guarded any more by the soldiers, he arrived in the morning without any soldiers, and he left in the evening without them. I heard those who were with me saying that Josip R. was urging the banned men
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residing in Kroatien Camp no. 3 to join the Yugoslav society in London, and that he intended to urge us to do the same, so we could also be freed. Four companies were left for the following day. Dinner is being prepared, there is some meat left, so there are more cooks than kettles, everyone would like to help so they can eat. They counted us in the evening, and with the dinner finished, again there is no order, just like there was no real order when we were coming to this fence. Food was distributed, but still some were left without. There were several fires in the fence, people were warming themselves around them, and talking about what was happening with the detainees. At 10 pm, the horn was calling for sleeping time, so some people went to sleep, while others stayed at the fire all night. So I got up around 4:00 am and went to the fire to warm myself up, and I could see that in several places they were cooking coffee. So I got some coffee, too. They got the coffee from the coffee that was distributed at lunch. Black coffee is taken for hunger and for thirst. At daybreak on Friday the 1st of June, the cooks prepared coffee for lunch. The horn sounded roll call, and they counted us so we can go and get the coffee. One after the other, the companies were queueing when the black water was distributed, and yesterday when they were distributing food, everyone was rushing to the kettle. After lunch, two companies received orders to carry things just like those the day before. At 9:00 am officers came, the same ones that were interrogating yesterday, but they did not go to the same tent where they were before, but to another one, 20 metres away from the fence, so we who stayed behind could not see them as we did yesterday. Those two companies were ordered to enter the tent one by one. Jozo Rendulic also came and was walking near the tent and waiting for something, and I can't say for what purpose he was walking until midday, while these two companies were being interrogated and sent away. Two companies were left for the afternoon, the 29th and mine, the 31st. They called the counters (company leaders) of these two companies to come outside the fence early in the morning, and
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they didn't allow them to go back. In my 31st company, we selected another man, but soon he was called outside the fence and was not allowed to go back in. I received a cooked meal, the food was as usual, and then we received the news that the officers left and would not be interrogating in the afternoon. They brought some hay, so those of us who stayed got it so we would not lie on the ground. The commander for us and the soldiers is the oldest first lieutenant, who does not look British-born, but must be from our parts, crafty as a fox. We overnighted there, and in the morning of Saturday the 2nd of June, we received the news that the officers would not come to buy us, they had some kind of holiday, so we will be left for another day. But we did not care either, they would not buy many of us when they wanted to, we are fine because there are only few of us, and we have established proper order. Immediately after lunch, this first lieutenant came to us inside the fence, and, laughing, he told us all to go to one side. Some were shouting, I don't want to, some why when we made our place here. Mr first lieutenant was just laughing, but he set his sights on one, who was saying, you Englishmen don't know what you are doing, you are already confused, why did you send us here, you are like water that flows here and there, that is how you are treating us, that a man would not treat black men like that. The officer was just smiling, and everyone was moved from one end to the other, shouting and cursing. The officer, still laughing, said that the empty tents had to be taken down and moved to one tent, so we would have more space for walking. Some were shouting, I don't want to, some I don't, but they were still doing as he said. When they arranged the tents, the first lieutenant said again, it is Sunday tomorrow, higher officers may come, we need to clean the fence so they don't find it messy. Take the rake and collect the fire. So that was done, too. And the officer said, you can see now, it is nicer to walk.
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So the whole day on Saturday, the officer again came out of the fence to talk to us. He was interrogating about everything, asking, are you all Austrian, they said we are. I would like to learn how to speak Austrian, he said. They started teaching him, they speak Croatian in front of him, because they don't know otherwise, and he is pronouncing clearly after them and laughing. I can hear him saying, I read your books. I keep quiet and listen to what they are talking about. The officer said, Italians are good, and our people answered him badly. The officer then started to praise his army and the army of their allies, but our people do not allow him to utter a word, they were saying, nothing of yours is good. The officer said, we have big cannons here, and one of our men who was nearby said, I could carry your cannon on my shoulder, and another one said, I would carry two of them on my shoulder. The officer was listening, that wasn't to his liking, and he found out everything he wanted to (it is easy to find out things with these people). The officer left the fence, and our people were saying, what kind of officer is he, who gave him that honour, he is a real joker. Then I told those people, he is a wise man, he is asking you this and that to see what you would be like if you were let free, and there are those among you, perhaps, who would prefer to stay here, and judging by what you were saying, he could not let you go free in this country. Beware him. The first lieutenant heard everything that he had never heard before to his heart's content. So Saturday went by. Sunday dawned on the 3rd of June, and we saw soldiers walking past our fence, and sisters came to look at the soldiers. Detainees liked seeing that, because they had not seen a female for as long as they were in detention. We asked the first lieutenant where those first companies went. He said, I don't know. Our people responded, they went to the old camp where we resided before. The officer said, you found out about this
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from those who were waving their hands and hats, that is why you were always looking at them. Sunday went by, we slept another night and on Monday the 4th of June we had our lunch when we were ordered for the 29th company to take their things to the gate, and my 31st company would be left for the afternoon, and lunch was being prepared for them. The 29th company brought their things and a panel of four officers came, one of whom was wearing a black coat. They gave the order that this company should take their things outside the fence, and then return to the fence again. They took the things out and returned into the fence, the cart for the things was already there. Josip Rendulic didn't come. We were talking with those whose turn it was to go to interrogation, to agree on which signals they should give. They were calling us to the man in the black coat one by one. They gave us signs that the man in the black coat was asking in Croatian, who wanted to go to Serbia. So by noon the 29th company was sent away. We have to think, because we cannot find out whether anyone stayed with the Serbian name. We can see that they were always taking them away all together along the same way we came. It is my company's turn as the last one. We finished our lunch, and then we were carrying our things, just like the first lot. We received the order that we have to enter the tent one by one for the interrogation. It was my turn, so I entered, and the one in the black coat asked me for my name. I told him. He asked me what I was, I responded, a Croat. Then he asked, would you like to be freed, I answered, everyone is happy to be free. He asked me, why are you detained, and I answered, for the King and my homeland. He asked, what is your homeland, I answered, Kingdom of Croatia. Then he answered, where is your Kingdom of Croatia, the Hungarians have grabbed it, and I responded to the gentleman in the black coat, by law, no one has yet grabbed Croatia. Hungary and Croatia are both kingdoms that live together in agreement
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under the Hungarian crown. He asked, and where is the king of those kingdoms. Then I had to say, the one in Vienna, Emperor of Austria. He did not want to ask any further questions, so he called the next man in. I joined those who had been interrogated before me. They asked me, what did the man in the black coat ask you, and I answered, he asked me my name, what I was, and nothing else. Several young Croats were telling us what he had asked them, and one said, he asked me what I was, and I said to the man in the black coat that I was a Croat, he asked me again, are you a hard Croat, I responded, a hard Croat. Then he asked me whether my father was a hard Croat, I said, he was a hard Croat and so am I. He asked me, would you fight as a Serbian soldier, I said, there was no way. I was listening to another one, he said, he asked me what I was, and I said a Croat in community with Austria, he asked, would you fight as a Serbian soldier, I answered there was no way, he asked, would you go to war for Austria, I said, gladly. Then he said, then it will be your turn next Sunday, a ship will come to pick you up. I responded, I am always ready. I heard more stories like this one from young Croats who had never been soldiers, they were not ashamed to call themselves Croatian in front of these gentlemen. And those older Croats, who had been soldiers before, they were hard Austrians, Croatia cannot be mentioned to them here in detention. I was listening to one Croat who had been a soldier, he said, who has ever heard about Croatia, then in further conversation I mentioned Zagreb and the University, and he answered, every city has a University. I said, perhaps you didn't know that Zagreb is a royal city, have a look in a book that tells the truth, he said, books will drive you mad. When I heard this, I saw that unfortunately there was no point talking to him, and responded, damn the men who are ashamed of their own name.
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When he finished interrogating the entire company, we went back where we came from, talking along the way. I am listening to the Dalmatians, they were saying, he asked me what I was and I said Austrian, then he asked me where I was born and I said in Dalmatia. Then he asked me whether I would like to be a Serbian soldier, and I said I wouldn't, so he called the next man in. Most ot them were saying the same thing. We arrived at the camp that we left from, and heard some shouting, hooray. We came to the barrack where we used t reside, but we found it empty, they had taken away everything that was left, we threw away a lot thinking that we were going to the sea. What else can I write, everyone knows what it's like in an empty barrack, those who had money were buying as if they had come to detention only yesterday, and those who didn't, were sleeping on the floor. The Major did not give us anything, he started to erect iron beds in those barracks that were on the marketplace, beds for 20 men were erected every day. I would also like to talk about those companies that came here before my 31st company. There was one camp manager there, his name was Cimerman, he was installed by the Major. When these companies came, together with the Germans, they sacked him, suspecting that he had known where everyone was going, but did not want to say. Then the Major allowed them to install a new managerr and 12 committee members, of which all those selected were Germans, and from the Austro Hungarian Monarchy only through a lot of effort an Istrian was selected to act as a representative free of charge. Then again the Major allowed that two Dalmatians act as interpreters for the Croatian language in the hospital, one in the morning and one in the afternoon, who were paid one shilling each. I would like to talk about the officers and the man in the black coat who were gathering people for Serbia. On Monday the 4th of June, when we arrived at the old camp where we had been before, after dinner, they opened the gates on the fence on three sides.
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They were so smart, they probably wanted some people to go out, but no one wanted. After a while, two policemen came to pick up a man, they took him through the gate to the guards, and then the policemen also brought his things. He said he was from Vienna. That was happening at the gate near my 31st barrack. The policemen went with him to Kroatien Camp no. 3. People were gathering there like crows, I was listening to what they were saying, what a disgrace, he is an Austrian and he went to become a Serbian soldier. The police then dispersed them and closed the gate. Then I walked to the main gate of the fence, where I saw some policeman carrying the things of a Czech man, and he was walking with them. Then I saw a Dalmatian, who was a hard Austrian, who went with a policeman to the military area, and the policemen later brought him his things. Further, one Dalmatian who was also a hard Austrian, who had been banning and even beating Croats on the 1st of April, now they bought him for Serbia and took him from the fence before my 31st company came from the marketplace. Downright funny. The same evening, I was listening to some young Croats, who had told me before what they were answering in the interview, they were telling those who came to this camp before my 31st company, and one was saying, he asked me what I was, I answered, a hard Croat, then he asked again, are you a hard Croat, I said yes, they again he asked me if my father had been a hard Croat, I said he was, then he asked, would you go as a Serbian soldier, I said no way. Other people were saying the same thing, and these hard Austrians were looking and listening how those were boasting that they said they were hard Croats, while thinking quietly and it is showing on their faces, he said he was a Croat, yet he wasn't taken to be a Serbian soldier. These men calling themselves Austrian thought that the Croats had lost their own name, that they had to be re-baptised, just as those men there were re-baptised and Croats were dispersed under the Serbian name
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Just like wolves who disperse the sheep, and they can never come together again. So the first night passed in this camp which I had left to go to the marketplace. The 5th of June dawned, and I was walking around the fence and had a look at the camp of those who had been banned, I could see that they were preparing their things and putting them on one pile. Soon the horn sounded and I went to roll call and to take some lunch. When I was finished with my lunch, I looked at their fence to see those who had been banned, and I could see that they were lined up four by four, their things were being loaded onto the cart, and they were heading where I came from the day before. I looked at their tents to see as they were leaving, some stayed behind, but I did not know who or how many. As I was walking, I came across two men, one of whom was insisting on banning others from the beginning. I started talking to them, and said, I think there are some Serbs who were left behind, and one of them answered, only two stayed behind, and he told me their name, and that they resisted, saying they could kill them, but they did not want to leave the fence. He also said that there was some racket among them all night, and some were fighting. And he added, let them, it will be even worse. (He should say whatever he knows about them, so I can hear it and write it down, and answer about it) The following day, they dismantled the tents where those who had been banned were residing, so I won't know what's happening with them until I hear something. I spoke again with an old Croat, and asked him what the man in the black coat had asked him, he responded, he asked me what I was and I said I was Austrian, they he asked me whether I was Italian or Dalmatian bur Croat, I said I was a Croat. Then he asked me whether I knew how to write, and I said I did.
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Then he showed me a book and asked me to read, and I said I could not, and asked him, is the book written in Croatian, he said yes, why didn't you see for yourself what is written there and what kind of book it was. I did not want to, so I said I didn't know how to. Then he asked me if I wanted to go as a Serbian soldier, I said I didn't. Then I came across an educated man from Istria, and we had a nice conversation. He was saying, these Istrians who say they are some kind of Croats, we are all Austrians, I am not Croatian, I speak some Croatian, some Italian, some German and some English. I know a little bit of each language, but I am not a Croat. Then I was sitting one day on a fence near the theatre, two Istrians came to me, I knew them well. One sat down without a word, and the other one continued talking about states. He started saying about those who had been banned, oh what, those damned Serbs, they would like to help Serbia. I responded, they are not Serbs, they are Croats. He said, there are no Croats here, we are all Austrians. I answered, I am not Austrian, I am a Croat, then he said, then you are the same as they are, you Croats always search for something but cannot find it, you are never satisfied. I asked him, how do you know that Croats are never satisfied, he said, I've seen it with my own eyes, you are always complaining, always causing commotion. I responded, you are also of Croatian nationality, you should not be ashamed to call yourself a Croat, you also finished Croatian schools, tell me, where are you buying books for your education, and he said, in Trieste and Ljubljana. I asked him what kind of books he was reading, and he said, I had bought a Political Primer but I could not understand anything that was written there, so I threw it away. I laughed at this, he didn't even finish primary school, but he wants to read a political primer straight away. I was walking with the same man on the 30th of June 1917 during roll call, and he started talking
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about those who had been banned. I told him, they will have to have a court process for those people, he said, why court, their heads should roll, they are all Serbs. I answered, there will be oath-taking and witnesses for them and against them. He said, what witnesses, I can be a witness for everyone.
And another interesting story, on the 1st of April, when the Austrians were banning the Croats, they wanted to ban one Croat from Zumberak, but happened not to be in the barrack. The following day I the writer was going to work, and at midday I was going to my barrack. On the way, I saw that up to 20 people gathered in front of barrack 28, where this Croat was residing. Among them, I could see the bully who was always instigating banning, and his strong man was with him, who was recently detained, who was collecting names to take to the Camp commander, saying, those who do not want to sign are all Serbs. He rolled his sleeves up when he was talking to this Croat, either you will leave of your own volition, or we will chase you out like we did those yesterday. So the Croat, Stjepan, said if that's so, I will go on my own after lunch. There was a meeting to organise a theatre, only people from Austro Hungarian monarchy were there. Stjepan was sitting on the bench not far from me. The one who had rolled his sleeves to ban him earlier asked, has that Croat left the fence, or is he perhaps still here. So Stjepan the Croat stood up and shouted, here I am. Haven't you left, and Stjepan said I will go, but could you please tell me who has ever heard me say anything against the state, please stand up and let me know. Noone said anything. Then the one with rolled sleeves who was banning him like a prosecutor asked him, will you be faithful to the state from now on.
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Stjepan answered, I was a soldier faithful to the King and the state, and now I ended up here, where I cannot help the state or even help myself. The prosecutor again, say that you will never be against it. Stjepan answered, if I were against the state I would be against myself, God forbid. Then they left him in peace that day. That really looked ridiculous. After this investigation, I came to the barrack and heard people saying, no one wanted to stand up and talk against him. In the evening, I was walking with Stipe and his friend Miko, both from Zumberak, who were telling me that they travelled around the world but never saw people like this, who boast with their strength, do whatever they want, and do not observe the law. Stjepan was telling me, did you hear how he was interrogating me, as if he were a judge, and not a detainee like myself and everybody else. If we could, we would prefer to live in hell rather than here with them. On the 3rd of April, an announcement was nailed to the board, and the one who nailed it didn't sign it. It said, whoever submitted an application to the society in Boulder, should leave the fence, or else he still go out with a broken back. Stipan and Miko saw this and got scared because they were called Serbs because they signed as of Croatian nationality, so in the morning they collected their things and, together with two young men from Croatian Littoral [Hrvatsko Primorje] and one Dalmatian, who were residing together, they took their things to the main gate of the fence. The Major came and they told him what was happening. He sent them back, he didn't want to let them join those who had been banned. After that, I heard several times people saying, they should have been banned, why did they leave them here, they are always on their own, they are really Serbs. It stayed that way until the 1st of May of the same year. In the early morning of that day, an announcement was nailed on the board, with nine names, this Stipan, those two young men, Miko Cukfirer, whose surname they didn't know and five other names (all this happened in 1917). It said,
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Brothers, ban these people from the fence, and again the note wasn't signed. People gathered there and I, the writer, asked why did not this person sign heir name, to say what he knows against these people, they said, he is not crazy to sign his name. I responded, those are people, not sheep, that you want to ban, oath-taking will be needed for them, one answered, it is easy to take an oath, they are all Serbs. Then I went to the barrack where Miko Cukfirer and those two young men from Hrvatsko Primorje were living, and Stipan wasn't in the barrack, he was in jail. I will talk more about him below. I asked those three, what is it with you, why did they write your names on the board to ban you from this camp. Cukfirer said, this is news to us. They went to look at the board, but the announcement was already taken away. They told me, let people do whatever they want, we are not touching anyone, we are always in the barrack, either reading or playing cards, we walk on our own, we don't keep company with anyone, what do these people want from us, they probably dislike us because we wrote that we were of Croatian nationality, not Austrian. We have always been Croats, so how can we now be ashamed of it, that is impossible. I went to my 31st barrack, they immediately started telling me, now you can see whether they are Serbs or not. I asked, what do you mean, they told me, their names are on the board. I asked them, do you know anything against them, they answered, if we don't, there are those who know, who have nailed their names on the board. I responded, why do those people not come out to say what they know in front of everyone, rather than nailing announcements in the dark, and then hiding. And those who come to read, keep yelling, ban the devils. That was how the first group was banned. They asked me, why do you defend them, and I said
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I feel sorry for every man who is bullied and persecuted without a cause, one has to come out and stand in front of the man, and tell openly in front of people, this is what he is, rather than cheering that the Serbs will be banned, like the first lot was.
That is why I will always say that one needs to know exactly about someone before banning him, because there will be a court after the war, and each one of those who were banned will ask for the court, people are not sheep. They hated me when I said that, but I don't mind, I am never ashamed to say what is just. Now about Miko Cukfirer. On Rottnest Island, on the 18th of August 1915 for His Majesty K. Josef I's birthday, he was directing the parade of Austro Hungarian reservists. In 1916, here in Liverpool, he wanted to celebrate His Majesty's birthday with reservists, like he did in Rottnest, but the Major did not allow it. On the 27th of January 1917, birthday of His Majesty, German Emperor Willim [?], there was a lovely parade, Germans with their reservists, and Miko Cukfirer Simenic with our Austro Hungarian reservists. Miko was commended by the German and Austro Hungarian reserve officers, and all the Englishmen. Now I will talk about Stipan, who was in jail. Stipan was sick and went to the hospital to be given medication every morning. Some of those Croats who had been banned from no. 3 were also coming to hospital, and one gave Stipan some papers into his pocket, so he would give it to his brother. A soldier noticed this and took Stipan in front of the Major, and put him to prison for 24 hours because letters had to be sent by mail, and not carried. On that paper, its was written, dear brother, send me one pound. Stipan was in jail, and the news about came to fence no. 1, they were saying, the Serb was carrying letters, he should be banned immediately and sent to Serbia. On the 1st of May at midday Stipan came back, they were looking at them like crows but did not know how to organise a chase, they tried in the morning but did not succeed.
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He carried the letter, got a prison sentence for that and spent a day and a night in prison, and they were waiting to come out so they could ban him from the fence as if he had been a traitor to the military.
I have more funny examples of these young men who resided with Stjepan and some others that are really funny, so if a court trial is held, I will have a lot to talk about, and I hope it must be held, to list all the small details, which now I don't feel like doing, and I can't do it, because I live worse than I would in the middle of hell. On the 30th of June, when we were walking to the marketplace, and when that rebellion happened with those who called themselves Austrians, and those Croats who had been banned, those who were banned were leaving the fence, and Stjepan, Miko and more of them were among them. They will say themselves why they joined those who had been banned, and now they reside in the fence where there used to be a marketplace for Serbian soldiers.
There is news again, in the morning of the 12th of July 1917, around 10 am, two men started a fight in the 27th barrack. We got the news in my 31st barrack. First, everyone was cheering, and people started saying, there will be some banning in the afternoon. I heard them saying, there are still many of those filthy Serbs, they have to be banned like those before. I heard one of them saying, now they have free way to go. The fence where we were on the marketplace for Serbia was finished, and they were banned there. Another one was saying, how come those bastards did not say anything, but they went for Serbia, one said to that, they are hoping that the war will finish soon, but they don't know the outcome. I was just listening to this without saying anything, and then I went out of the barrack to the board where announcements were nailed. I found a man there, who was reading something. He told me, what kind of people is this, as soon as two start a fight, they immediately start shouting that someone has to be banned. I responded, I heard that just now in my own barrack. In the evening, I was walking around the fence, I came across a man I knew and we were saying how two men started a fight this morning
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I, the writer, said how come they start shouting straight away that people have to be banned, and we were all at the marketplace for Serbian soldiers, and we returned. Four people stayed, they left the fence in the evening, so who would they like to ban now. He answered, I started yelling at them, who do you want to ban, they didn't go when we were being interrogated about becoming a Serbian soldier, so who could they be banning now. I noticed that people were mocking this. Again I had the news from those who had been banned, several of them went as soldiers, and I heard that the Englishman was drilling them in Liverpool, and wanted to send them to France.
There was again news that I had not been expecting on the 23rd of April this year. I was walking in the everning around the fence, because I had nothing else to do, then I had enough of walking and I went to my barrack, thinking bedtime is coming soon. I entered my compartment, where ten of us were living together. It was 8:30, and they were talking, as is a custom among our people, to continue until dawn. I heard them saying, there were three hundred of them, I asked, three hundred of what, and they answered of Serbs, when Prosvjeta theatre was in operation, another one said, there were four hundred of them. I asked, so if all of them were Serbs, and they have gone, how many would be left behind. M. [Mate?] answered, we would be the only ones left, and he didn't want to say who 'we' were. Then I asked M., so where are those three hundred, and he answered, they are there, they have been banned, and some of them went of their own accord. When he said that, I told him, there are fifty-one of those who were banned, and M. said, altogether there are 80 of them. I asked, where are two hundred and twenty more, they were at the marketplace with us, they did not want to go for Serbia. M. answered, they are here in the camp, now they are keeping quiet because they are afraid to take a gun into their hands. I asked M, would you tell me who they are.
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M. answered angrily, you are the same as they are if you are defending them. I asked M., tell me who they are, show me at least five or three of them so I know, and M. answered angrily, you are worse than they are, you were defending the first lot, so I am telling you that you are worse than they are.I responded to M., they want their heads to roll, and M. asked, who said that, I responded, it will be made known later, and what will happen to me if I am worse than they are, we will need a court trial, M. said. I have never been at the court, and I don't want to, I answered we can't go to Zagreb or Vienna, they are far away now, but we can see the Major in the morning to see what he wants to tell us. In the morning, I asked the company leader to take me to the Major, because I cannot see the Major without him. The company leader tried to dissuade me, he did not want to face the Major with those issues. He said, he will not judge on those matters, he will just laugh. I said, I know as well that he does not care much about that, but he is the judge, he detained me, he can impose order on us if he wants to. I would ask the Major whether stronger prisoners rule over the weaker ones here, or he rules over all of us, and I would tell him how unrest was in the making just like when the first lot was banned. The leader was dissuading me, and I made a great effort to obey, so I have to carry the name uglier than those whose verdict is that the state wants to sever their heads, tried by those who banned them.
Mate didn't want to reveal a single one of those 220, so I have to be the only one in this camp under this name until freedom comes, and a court is organised. Let the court then adjudicate, to see the people who are Serbs.
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Oh friends, may you be healthy, I will tell you the truth
Because God likes the truth, the just person is not led astray
Heaven and earth come together, heaven does not accept malicious gossip
The earth says, all secrets have to be known
Whether people are evil or good, only the judge can say
I am always surprised, oh God, how can a secret be known
How do secret policemen sniff out every wrongdoing
But now I witnessed it, it is all before my eyes
Whatever the court might need
Finally came to light.

VERTICAL WRITING:
Investigation begins about those three.
Listen to this, I did not expect it to happen.
In the evening of the 5th of August of that year, I was walking around the fence on my own, and one man approached me, who had never walked with me before. He started conversation about the spiritual law, and about how people were swearing, and no one respected God. I liked the way he was talking, so I was responding to him nicely. But bit by bit, he started talking about the banned Croats, how he registered five people from his barrack in the prisoners' office, and he invited two men to come with him, he said who they were, they knew how to speak well, so we wrote down more people when we went to ban them, some fourteen men from my barrack went to look for those five. We found them lying in the grass and ordered them to get up and go, get up immediately, they had to because they would otherwise be beaten. Jakov Botica wanted to beat them, but I didn't let him, it was better not to do it. Then we went to get your Stipe from the 38th barrack, he said he did not need Austria, then he stood up, banning people everywhere, did you see how the devilish Jakov Botica became a soldier now. I listened to him and answered nicely. He was from the 30th barrack
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I just needed him. Then an investigation started about these three men.
The fifth of August, Our Lady of the Snows, I did not ask him, he said everything of his own free will.

Then there is this. Not everyone would believe me that among the Croats and Dalmatians in this camp one is not allowed to call oneself a Croat, let alone mentioning Croatia, everyone is afraid, and one is not allowed to mention Hungary, the only thing one can mention is Austrian and Austria. And who proscribed it, the very Croats and Dalmatians amongst themselves, no one else. And they are singing songs, writing announcements and nailing them to the board all in Croatian, but I can see who is reading them, who is talking to whom, I can hear them speaking in our language, but I can't hear the word Croatian. I heard them saying, in our language, Austrian. So I the writer now have to be careful that, when I talk to someone in the barrack, I don't make the mistake of saying Croatian or Croatia, even when I am talking to a Croat. One has to think about it, it almost makes me cry.
Here is an example. An announcement was nailed onto the board on the 3rd of August, in three days there will be an exhibition of all sorts of things, whoever made something should bring it to the skating rink [?] ???, and no longer to the theatre, starting from the 4th of August, entry 6 and 3 pence. Signed by a young Dalmatian, around 19 years old, representative of Austrians, who had learned some German here. Another anouncement on the board on the 7th of August, only for the Austrians. Austrians, learn English, the greatest language in the world is English. Teacher is Helterhoff. Whoever wants to learn should register and sign their name to Mr Turkovic of the 29th company, 5th fence. He was from Istria.

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Next to this another announcement, Austrians, learn German, the second language in the world and a most excellent language. The German teacher is Helterhoff, register to Turkovic. How can an Austrian learn German, if German is his mother tongue. This was written for Croats and Dalmatians, but it is not allowed to say Croats, learn German.
In Liverpool detention, there are up to eight hundred people of Croatian nationality. Hungarians, Germans and Austrians call these people Croats, since that is what they are, but among this nationality there are those who renamed this Croatian nationality and called themselves Austrians, so everyone had to forget quickly about Croatia and calling themselves Croats, that stopped altogether, those who called themselves Croats were banned from the camp as Serbs, and others who were Croats in their heart had to be quiet and be very careful not to pronounce the word Croatian or Croatia. Then I saw that several men from Dalmatia wrote on their hats the word Austrian, and it is not easy to say Croatian in front of them. The announcement on the board is written in Croatian, but those who read it don't want to say it is written in Croatian, but in our Austrian language. They are ashamed of their name ad their homeland, kingdom of Croatia, that is sad.
The second story is about a Croat from Kocevlje. An old man, 60 years old, who had lived in this country close to 30 years and was taken to detention, was selling goods in the camp. He came in front of my 31st barrack, he understood and spoke German and English. He was asked whether he was German or Austrian, and the old man answered I am a Croat from Kocevlje, and those who were around him were all Croatian nationals.
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They all remained silent, no one said a word as if hit by a gun, since they don't like hearing about Croatia, and our worthy old man is not ashamed to say he is a Croat from Kocevlje. Long live our worthy old man. Long live our people from Kocevlje, who love their homeland, kingdom of Croatia.
I also have to make a note about this Croat from Dalmatia, hard Austrian, who would not say he was Croatian for any treasure in the world, but only a hard Austrian. He was from the town of Rogoznica. He was carrying branches on the 16th of August to decorate the theatre, and then disappeared during the night. I am glad to see those Croats who rename themselves as Austrian run away, I don't know how or where. I do not want to change my Croatian name and neither will I be ashamed of it for as long as I live, but here I have to keep quiet and write about what these people who call themselves Austrian are doing.
Thank God, I have seen in this detention what I had never seen before. On the 27th of August an announcement was nailed to the board, for the attention of young Croats, we have plenty of time, let it not pass in vain, gather in as high numbers as possible, we will learn about geography two hours every day, young people will need that in the army, I will teach you free of charge. A. Horn. He was a reserve lieutenant who came from Czech. Look at the Croats from Dalmatia how they are ashamed, they nailed to the board on the 31st of August, Concert of the Austrian singing society. All of this happened in 1917.
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Now look at our Croats from Dalmatia, how they like their homeland and how they write about it. On the 9th of September there was an announcement on the board, there will be a meeting of the Austrian singing society, Ivan Cvitanovic, secretary.
Three men went free during the night of the 12th of September, they say one was from Vienna and two from Dalmatia. I spoke to these two a short while before they left, they were saying that they would go if they were allowed to go free, but not in the name of something, that they would prefer to work for food only rather than being among these people.
The following day on the 13rh of September, I heard one man at the fence near the theatre shouting, three men left for Serbia last night, it would be best to ban them all from this fence now, but he did not say who he meant.Those who wanted to go to Serbia but did not go were at the market, but now they should be banned from the fence. As is the old custom, the stronger group and their friends want to ban the individuals of the weaker group.
Judges in detention Croatian Dalmatian Catholics Liverpool the 14th of September 1917

On this day, several detainees came here from Western Australia, and one among them had left Rottnest Island in 1915 to freedom under three enemy flags, English, French and Russian. His surname is Tolj and he is from Vrgorac. When they entered the fence, Tolj was given residence in the 26th barrack. I the writer went there to see him, but he was surrounded by people so I had difficulty squeezing in. I saw Tolj standing in front of the barrack, holding in his hand a plate and a pot, and one man stood next to him and talked to him. Tolj became pale as if he were already dead. That was at 2 pm.
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I the writer went from there to my barrack, then several minutes later they told me that Tolj went to get a meal from the kitchen. After several minutes, I exited the barrack and saw some commotion of the people, but I could not get closer to see what they were doing. I quickly went to the other end of the barracks, and between some barracks I first saw Tolj, and then people rising like black craws, they were chasing him to the main gate of the fence, across to the military area. Looking at Tolj being chased, one would say that he was drunk, I could see that he would like to collapse on the ground but could not, whenever he leaned to do it someone's fist prevented him, and so he always continued for more than two hundred metres of distance. The policemen opened the gate so Tolj somehow passed through to the military area, and the policemen took him cheerfully to hospital. Looking at Tolj being escorted like that, I noticed that he was rubbing his left eye and looking at his bloodied hand. After that, people dispersed around the fence and the barracks, and I the writer noticed while walking that people were gathering again. I walked faster to see, and saw that the Germans were chasing one of their own, who had arrived in this fence today with Tolj, wanting to ban him from the barrack, and as he was rushing to escape, he fell on the ground. People gathered around him, and he quickly stood up and ran to the gate healthy. The Germans did not judge him harshly, they did not want to beat him, and let them go healthy. And our Dalmatian Austrians, Catholics on top of that, they were merciless judges. After that I came to my barrack, and found a gathering there as was customary every day. I listened to them talking about Tolj. When he brought his meal from the kitchen and started eating, someone brought the letter that Tolj had
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written and sent to Rottnest when he came out to freedom, and was reading the letter while Tolj was eating. At this, Tolj cursed the Serbian king and queen, and they immediately started whipping him, one with a club and another one pushed him against the barrack, and some people with their fists. I can't even describe how they tortured him. There was a piece of flesh hanging above his left eye that they had torn off, and when they maimed him like that, they propped him up and continued chasing him as I described at the beginning. Then I heard them say that they didn't deal with him properly since he was able to walk on his feet. An older Croat said, they should have done it better, as he cursed my father and mother and yours. Dalmatians told him, but he cursed the Serbian king. Tolj suffered like Jesus when he was tortured by the Jews, this is the same example, and these were Catholics, Croats and Dalmatians who call themselves Austrians, who judge without the law. I the writer cannot judge him, it is not up to me to do that, but I think that there is no law in the world, which would prosecute a beast like that, let alone a man. Tolj got out of Rottnest, as I described, and now he came to another prison. After the war, he would have been judged by His Majesty's court, and he would have been given the punishment he deserved according to the law. Lucheni killed the Empress, and was sent to prison, rather than being tortured like that. Not even the Turks in ancient times ever acted like this.When gunmen catch a criminal, they don't kill him or torture him, but take him to His Majesty's Court to be judged according to the law. But this is what peasants do in detention, how can they know how to judge, may the honorable court decide.
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Beaten but not allowed to cry in detention
The 16th of September, 1917. Situation is bad where there is no law to judge, and this is what is happening among the English in Liverpool. They brought all sorts of people to the fence and all they do is not allow them outside the fence, without caring what it is like inside. They would like everyone inside the fence to suffocate, inside the damned fence it is the strength that rules, the stronger party can do whatever they want and the weaker one has to be quiet, they mustn't be heard whether they were right or wrong. The one who is beaten mustn't cry. Here is only one example, on this day, a man was reading in his 30th barrack at three p.m., and another one came from another barrack, weaker than the one who was reading a book. He brought a chair with him, and without saying a word, hit the man who was reading with the chair smashing his head. The bloodied man followed him, thinking that he would catch him and repay the debt. But the hero with the chair had two friends, who jumped in front of the bloodied man not allowing him to pass forward. They told him that he had to be peaceful, so the poor man could do nothing but wash his head and calm down, he had no one to complain to, the stronger party judges here like sipahis in Croatia before 1848.
The concert of the Austrian Singing Society on the 16th of November, 1917
Dalmatian singers? Croatian songs?
An announcement on the board on the 21st of November, 1917. The Social Office of Austrian Slavs sent 30 pounds as charity to the Croats in Liverpool, intended for monuments to those who perished in this fence. The announcement stayed on the board overnight, and when I looked at the board in the morning, the Slavs were torn off during the night.
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The announcement of the 17th of December, 1917. It is my intention to start a new English school, so the gentlemen who would like to attend, should report to Karl Rado. This was written by a Hungarian. A Dalmatian wrote, Verloren Geldtasche mit Inhalt von 7 schilling und Schluessel abzugeben gegen Belohnung 30 l. 6 mesa. S. Ercegović. [Lost purse with contents of 7 schillings and keys to be handed in for a reward of 30 l. 6 m]. On the 11th of January, 1918, I found two men reading this, and one of them said, why didn't he write it in our language, and I, the writer of this book wanted to say, why didn't he write in Croatian, but I resisted and did not say anything. Oh my sad homeland, why are you so hideous to them? Oh you Croatian martyr, how venomous are your children?
The English Commission reviews the condition of the detainees on 21/10 1917
On this day, some gentlemen were inspecting around the fence, they passed everywhere among the barracks, at midday they came near kitchen no. 3 just when the detainees were receiving food. The 38th company was walking past carrying their food, and the Commission passed among them looking at what a good life the detainees had here, so they put that in the newspaper. And it was a sight to observe, every man in that company was carrying a plate full of potatoes and meat, so that very few could eat the lot. The Commission left the kitchen, and other companies came to receive their food one after the other, but everyone was cursing, because they hardly got any food, just like on any other day. Having seen what the 38th company received, and what was the cause of this, friendship between the German cooks and the commander of the detainees' fence, Mr Major in Liverpool New South Wales, Australia. This is what it is like here, give everything to me, I don't care about others.
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Voluntary detainees in Liverpool, Australia
An announcement appeared on the board on the 25th of October 1917 in English and German language, whoever came to this camp voluntarily have to register, and they will be allowed to go free to work in Queensland. The job was to clear 25 square miles of land to prepare it for ploughing and sowing of wheat. The labourers will be free on this land, soldiers will not bother them, but they are not allowed to go outside that land, because outside the border there will be guards, and this will remain in place until the end of the war. After the war, everyone will be free to go wherever they want, the wage will be 8 shillings, out of which 3 shillings will be kept by the government for the labourer's food and clothes, and they will be paid the remaining 5. Registration will be carried out in the detainees' fence in a big tent near the catholic church. It lasted three days, and as I heard, 15 hundred were registered, mainly Germans, and a small number of Austrians. This is how it was done, the gentlemen were sitting in the tent and the detainees were entering one by one. They asked him whether he came of his free will or because he was forced, if the detainee says, I was forced, they immediately sent him away. Another one comes in, they ask him, did you come voluntarily to detention or were you forced, the detainee answers, I came voluntarily, and the gentlemen are happy and satisfied, and gave him a pen to sign his name, and when he signed, they told him that he was going to Queensland. As the interrogation continued, all those who had a wish to leave this fence heard about this, so they all said they had come voluntarily and signed as true volunteers. The Englishman is smart, but I the writer don't think it is his fault, since everyone knows how they came to detention. The Englishmen did not force anyone, they were urging them nicely to lie and sign their names, and we will be friends. All those registered from the Austro Hungarian Monarchy were like this. 4 men

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over 50 who had come voluntarily did not want to register as volunteers but pretended not to hear about this politics and work in Queensland. And all those who registered as volunteers, all of them had been forced to leave their jobs, so they were lying to themselves, and the Englishman was laughing that his trickery was successful. After this signature, the volunteers were cheerful, thinking that they would soon go to work and earn money. Days were passing, February 1918 came and the volunteers are still walking inside the fence. The Englishman collected their names and stopped thinking about them. This story is funny just like those collected in the book about Thousand and One Nights, or about Petrica Kerempuh.
The knowledge of uneducated people in Liverpool detention, the 11th of July, 1917
Detainees here meet to talk from dawn to dusk, like old women when spinning, they discuss everything in this world. If a writer wanted to describe the daily conversations of just fifteen to twenty men, he would be busy all the time. I will give just one example. On the above date, a gift was sent of several pairs of socks and briefs, and the detainees' panel decided to distribute them among elderly men over 50, and that is how it was done. Each old man received a pair of socks and briefs. I hear younger people talking and cursing, everything to the old, and what about the young, it is the young who are defending the state today, it would perish if it were up to the old, what use are the old, they enjoy being fed free of charge, when they were young they were not thinking how they would cope when they are old. There was more of this but I don't like to be too long, whoever reads this book will have their own reasoning, some more and some less, so they can judge for themselves how uneducated people would govern and what kind of laws they would create. Woe to the just poor with these men in Liverpool, if there were no educated people.
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Detainees and bathing, the 10th of February 1918, Sunday
Up to two miles from the detainees' camp there were some swamps (pits), which would fill with water when it was raining. On this day, up to forty detainees received permission to bathe in these swamps, followed by soldiers. When they were on their way, a soldier ordered them to walk in line four by four, and two detainees protested to the soldier, why should we walk in line, we are not soldiers but civilians, we prefer to go back rather than walk in line four by four. The soldier returned them to the camp, and when they arrived in front of the gate, they reported to the Major why they came back. After the Major had heard them, he ordered those two who first said that they preferred to come back rather than walking in line four by four to go to jail, and ordered all others to go through the gate into the camp. Among them were several German soldiers from Hong Kong, who immediately obeyed the Major's orders and went to the camp, but others did not want to, they told the Major that they would not go to the camp before he lets those two he put to jail go free, since they preferred to be jailed rather than going to the camp without those two. The Major ordered again, go to the camp, and detainees responded thay did not want to. The Major gave the same order the third time, but the detainees would not obey. The Major got angry and ordered the soldiers to stab them, at first the soldiers did not want to, but the Major gave the same order the second and the third time, the soldiers then hurled themselves among the detainees who rushed to the gate as fast as they could, but not everyone could go through the gate at once, so the last four got stabbed by the soldiers, one had to go to hospital immediately, and three were lightly wounded. Two were from the Austro Hungarian Monarchy and two were Germans.
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Croats from Dalmatia conspire against each other in detention
Here I will briefly describe the wicked deeds by the Croatian nationals. The theatre called Prosvjeta, about which I wrote briefly earlier in this book, the same Prosvjeta theatre managed in 1917 by Josip Rendulic, was blown down by the wind, and Josip R. was banned from this camp together with other Croats on the 1st of April 1917. After this, Jozo Resetar decided to build a building on the same spot where Prosvjeta used to be. J. Resetar did not ask anyone for advice on building it, so a majority of our people from Dalmatia protested, and the more educated ones called for a meeting. In this meeting, they formed a committee of 5 members, who would oversee the building. They excluded J. Resetar from this duty that he himself had started. The new committee was overseeing the construction of the building, which was finished by the 10th of August 1917, and the first performance was on the birthday of His Majesty Emperor and King Karl on the 17th of August. In this 5-member committee, Marko Spuga was considered the best educated, and all members were from Dalmatia. I the writer, as much as I followed this Spuga, I can confirm that he was a great lover of his Croatian homeland. There were only very few Hungarians and Austrians, so they did not obstruct the work of the committee, they were happy with each one of Spuga's proposals. Marko Spuga knew how to behave among people from other nationalities, so that most people from our Austro Hungarian Monarchy were happy with him, and so were the Germans. So Spuga was discussing with them how to prepare a parade as beautiful as possible to the Emperor of Croatia on the 17th of August. The birthday celebration was finished during the day in the nicest possible way. The Germans were in the parade, just like our people were in theirs. In the evening, there was a very nice performance, that both the Germans and our people from the Austro Hungarian Monarchy were happy with. But when we think that we have made everyone happy, we are easily deceived, as the proverb goes.
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A person has not been born yet who could make everyone happy, and especially these people of Croatian nationality here in detention, as I will explain below. At the beginning of the performance, an Austrian man gave a speech in his German language, and after him a Hungarian in his language, and on the part of the Croatians there was Marko Spuga, who I was very pleased with, and there was no Croat who would not congratulate him, long live this lover of his homeland, Croatia's son, Marko Spuga. The day of the 18th of August dawned and I heard some non-Croats saying, what kind of speech was given by Spuga, why did he not let another one speak, who had been preparing a speech for a month, then one of them brought a book and said, this speech would have been beautiful and pleasing to everyone, which described everything from Empress Maria Theresa onward. He was reading for half an hour, and when he had finished, he said, on this account I have to praise him, because I know what the custom is in this camp, isn't it funny to shout Hooray in English or German in a Croatian speech, and to be ashamed to shout in Croatian as Spuga did, who they are now trying to slander in front of people. Days were passing and Spuga's adversaries did not rest, they were gossiping against Spuga to ban him from the committee of that unfortunate theatre. The committee called a meeting on the 24th of August 1917, all Austro-Hungarian subjects (the Germans were not involved), to discuss setting up the theatre as a cinema. Some people gathered, Spuga continued the speech with the question, can we find some among us, with some money, to set up the cinema, or should the building be leased to those who said they would like to set up the theatre, and the proceeds of the theatre to go to the entire camp. Nothing was decided on that occasion, an uproar started,
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Those conspiring against Spuga started shouting, cursing Spuga, questioning some expenses from the parade for His Majesty's birthday, and when Spuga responded, and put a note on the board where they could check the accounts, they could no longer say those things in the open. That time thery were shouting that he had to stand down from the committee, and he thanked them for his service to the theatre, which he did free of charge, and the theatre was useless anyway, other than for an occasional exception, those who paid could watch. That time, a skirmish started among hard Austrian Dalmatians, that was a funny meeting, from which everyone was running to the door as fast as they could.
On the 27th of August, a German man called a meeting and some people gathered. He was saying that he would like to set up a cinema. He was speaking German, and a Hungarian man was speaking our language (I am not saying Croatian, because it is not customary here to say Croatian, these people are ashamed to say that, whoever says Croatian is immediately considered a Serb, so I will say in our Dalmatian or Austrian language). That time the meeting ended as usual in arguments, and the committee of the theatre leased the building to the German, I can't write where he came from, so he managed the theatre all the time. I mentioned earlier who benefits from this, whoever wants to watch has to pay, and the income, like the income of a shop, goes to some German or English gentleman, who are the masters here.
After this ridiculous meeting, no new meetings were called, because these people are not for talking about useful things, they go to meetings only out of wickedness, and they blame each other for the bad thoughts and hatred they harbour among them. They don't like seeing a more educated person among them in any role, they love the foreigner until they get bored with him, and then they repent dismissing their own but it is already too late. Those who up to now considered the Englishman to be their father and mother engage in conspiracy. Some people here have
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wives and children with them, and they are waiting for the Englishman to let them go free to Austria, I am sure they would not think that if they were not forced to, they are proud here to be lovers of the homeland and hard Austrians. But I don't trust these people. Among them is Jure from Podgora, who is their president, who has to be the first in anything, and is constantly dreaming up some wicked deeds, more engaged about Austria and against Croatia than the Illustrious Croatian Viceroy.
After this commotion about the Theatre, M. Spuga got a job as interpreter in the hospital, because people could not speak English. The rebels tried to ban him from this position, too, but they did not succeed. On the 31st of March 1918, I saw Jure from Podgora and Marko in front of the 31st barrack, they had written down the names of all sorts of people, and gave them to the Germans to print. Now they were showing them in the barracks. I walked past them on the said date, and I saw Jure holding the list in his hands and reading, and numerous people were around him listening. I heard one man complaining to Jure, why did you not write down the people from Vrgorac, you wrote some but left out others, that is not good. And Jure started, oh well, why didn't you tell me, well we'll have to correct that, also some villages are not recorded correctly. Jure's comrade Marko is standing in front of the barrack holding a piece of paper. I the writer am watching, and I notice some names of just people, who Jure is not worthy of talking against, and I ask Marko why these names, and M. answered, they are Serbs. I took leave and then heard that Jure wanted to sell those lists once the names are all correct, but I want to be careful about that transaction.
Several days later, a man got the main chef's job in the kitchen. He was from Dalmatia, but Jure and his clique banned him. Noone from the Kingdom of Croatia has any jobs here.
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A Hungarian man was the counter of the 27th barrack for a while, but they could not stand him, so they chased him away, and even beat him at the roll call. Who can describe what these people are doing, I don't like writing too much about the infernal lying camp and this kind of people. And I should also not forget this, how I lived among these Croatian nationals, and I am not mistaken to say that there were 90% of them who were against me the writer, they looked at me contemptibly as if I were some criminal, so I did not dare walk through the fence in the evening. I was thinking sadly, what did I do to anyone, and then I realized why all these evil looks, because I never agreed with someone when they were saying something that was wrong, and how could I agree when most of the time what I heard was wrong. Or when they said a word, I always hear, in our language, and I could not bear that so I always added, Croatian, and these Dalmatians were not happy to hear that. Or again I would hear how we are from Austria, and I always added, from Austria-Hungary, but then again I heard, our Austria, and to help the person speaking, I say Austria-Hungary. On several occasions, they nailed announcements on the board that were in English or German, and the person reading would say, why was this not written in our language, and then I mutter, why wasn't it written in Croatian, but the person perhaps did not know that Croatian was our official language. The person who heard me would look at me as if they wanted to kill me. I can't even describe here what kind of slavery I suffered among these people, but I was enduring like the apostles who preached about devotion to Jesus. On the 17th of August 1917, they saw three crowns in the performance to His Majesty, and after that they always had discussions guessing about these three crowns. One day they saw a letterbox with three crowns, and they asked me if I could understand
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who this third crown belonged to. I answered that I could not understand that, and one of them said, would it not be our Dalmatian crown, and I laughed saying, well then it might also be our Croatian-Slavic crown. Who can describe this excessive stupidity, some of those who come from villages are somewhat softer, but I am still careful not to engage in conversations with anyone.
Days were passing without me recording anything until the 23rd of December 1917. On this day, I had to record that several people gathered in front of my barrack and started talking about this and that. I wasn't interested in their conversation, and I had my own business to attend to, but I heard one speaking Italian, Dalmatia nostra libera [our free Dalmatia]. I keep listening, I am a Dalmatian Austrian, I am not like they are, cursed Serbs, who say they are Croatian although they are Dalmatian just like I am. I then heard a man speaking harshly, his name was Mate, does not matter now about his surname, listen so help me God, I would rather kill myself than call myself Croatian. Then I asked them nicely and politely, who is your minister, I got an answer that I rather prefer not to even write here, but I respond, you in Dalmatia have the same minister and viceroy as we do. You are Croats just like we are, perhaps you haven't seen the name in writing, Croatia Slavonia and Dalmatia, triune kingdom, so you can call yourselves whatever you like. I will not write down their response, it would be too much. I asked them, do you have any special books in Dalmatia, they said no, and I responded, from the books published in Zagreb we know about Dalmatia as we do about the whole of Croatia, and about the entire Monarchy of Austria-Hungary. Then I told them that we were called Hungarian citizens, and show them my passport, and I asked them, what country are you Dalmatians citizens of, and they answered Austrian. I asked them to show me their passports, they did, but there was no information about citizenship, so I told them
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citizenship is not easy to obtain, time will come when you will also be citizens, all this is because you don't like to be called Croats, which you are, so now you look like a barrel at the top of a hill that no one knows which way it is going to topple. And the Istrian man then asked, and what about us, and I answered, the same as Dalmatians, there is little difference. Also at that time there was a Croatian military postcard that not everyone here liked, and one that showed all Austro-Hungarian languages, and some asked which one is the Dalmatian language, and I the writer responded, Dalmatians have no separate language, their language is Croatian like ours, and about this one can only think, educated people's efforts are in vain, with the heads like these ones here. Whoever is stronger, he is right here. And I like what I see here. A big man, Andrija the Dalmatian, says in a conversation, we the Austrians, and another one says, I am Svabo Svabcic [Swabo the Swabian]. This one was illiterate, and lived in my barrack. On the 19th of March 1918, his friends, and my enemies probably persuaded him, told me, out with the books that you keep closed away, let people look at them and learn. I was petrified in my heart, there is no Croatian book that they might approve of, and I have no other books than those that I write myself and even those I have to show to these outlanders. Germans and others have all sorts of books, and no one bothers them, whose slave am I then. I am ashamed to say what the Dalmatian said, and I prefer to say a slave of Croatian nationality, and that slavery is harder to me than the English one.
They started selling the Croatian names in the camp on the 1st of May 1918. The company of Jure Dejan from Podgora was selling the list in the camp on that day. I saw Jure Bozin, called Kastelanac, his hands full with lists of names of Croatian people everywhere in Australia. Like a local policeman, he was carrything these lists around the camp and selling them for 6 pence each, only to those who had ordered them, who were all hard Austrians. That is how this company earned some money from selling Croatian names.
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About Austrians from Dalmatia and their behaviour
G. .... started a fight with two of the banned men, even before this banning was made public. After this, the above mentioned G. ... took a job in the Austrian theatre. He was standing at the door and letting people in. When he closed the door, a German man poked his head through a small window so he could watch the show although he did not have money for the ticket. The above mentioned G. ... punched him in the head with his fist. The German man was angry because he could not enter, so he waited for the first half of the show to finish, because that was when the doors would open again and people get out for 15 minutes. The German wanted to take a revenge, but other Germans calmed him down, and counseled him that this might cause an uproar among others, so the said hero had to stay calm. This happened in the evening of the 28th of April, and many people told me about it.
Then there is a man in front of him one can't mention Croatia even today, he is always talking about those who were banned. On the 2nd of June I heard him shouting in the barrack, look how the Serbs wanted to kill the policeman, and then to kill everyone with a machine gun. With this man shouting so freely, if there is a court trial for some of the banned men, they would need to call G...
The banned Croats freed from detention
Stories about them started circulating on the 21st of June, that the Serbs who had registered to defend this country, Australia, were set free. The following day I heard people saying that they did not register for anything, but they received 5 pounds each for expenses and transport, to go wherever each of them wanted. So they went free. And no-one knows about the torture they suffered since they had been banned, only they themselves know. (this page is from 1918)
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On the 23rd of June, 1918, M... ć started bragging, he had friends throughout this country. He was defending Austria too much, but it seemed to me only outwardly, he was an enemy of the banned Croats. He continued, last night they were playing cards in my 38th barrack, and one man he mentioned by the name punched another in the head, so a commotion started but they had to stop because it was late, otherwise knives would have started flashing. Another man asked him, do they really have knives, and he said, oh don't even ask, there is a lot of that, that spirit is still alive (by spirit, he meant that there were many men like those who had been banned and called Serbs). I hope to write soon about the devotion to Austria by the one who was telling the story and those who were involved in banning.

Related resources 

https://omaa-arts.sydney.edu.au/texts/3281/

Bibliographic citation

https://www.zotero.org/groups/4688363/oama/items/72IH8SAN/

https://www.zotero.org/groups/4688363/oama/items/A2WAFQW9/