CAPTIVES OF WAR

BANISHED TO SOMES ISLAND THE LOT OF THE GERMAN EXILES HOW THEY AEE FARING. A VISIT TO THEIR SEA-GIRT HOME.

Somes Island is now something more than a quarantine station, for it has suddenly had greatness thrust upon, it through being made a military camp for the internment of German prisoners of war. No longer can the motor-launch owner or the yachtsman crusing round the confines of the harbour call there without let or hindrance. It is a place* to be respected and any unauthorised person approaching the forbidden territory is liable to be startled with the report of a ball-loaded rifle fired as a warning that he must proceed no further. It is now really a German settlement, and its population has swelled from a couple of families (whose duties are to tend the light that guides the ships that pass in the night) to some 130 souls. Of these 114 are German subjects, many of them German reservists, brought unexpectedly together through the exigencies of war. From all parts of the Dominion theyi have come, and some have been taken, from deep-sea craft, and not until the battle-flag is furled and "the shouting' and the tumult dies" will the majority, of them regain their liberty. It is the fortune (or misfortune) of war that has placed them temporarily in* exile, but even if they have for the meantime been denied their freedom they have the consolation of knowing that they are faring much better than they would have done in the firing line." THE EVENT OF THE DAY. With the permission of the military authorities a Post representative was yesterday enabled to pay a visit, to the island to see the actual conditions under which the prisoners of war are living. The afternoon sun cast a genial warmth as the little steamer of the mosquito fleet nosed her way round the rocky headland, which towered high above her. A warning blast of the whistle had announced the coming of the little vessel, and when she moored up alongside the tiny wharf there was a crowd of spectators to greet her. On the jetty a sentry \vith fixed bayonet kept them at a respectful distance, for it is forbidden that they shall be allowed to come close up to the landing place. The arrival and the departure of the steamer are practically the only excitement the day provides, and assume relatively the same importance as the coming and going of a mail liner in one of the lArge ports. High up On the crest of the hill could be seen the plain and unadorned block of buildings built for quarantine purposes. They are reminiscent of the hostelries one meets along a country road, twostoried structures with windows at regular intervals and ■ their uniformity precluding any pretence to pleasing architecture. On the sloping hillside in front of them is stretched a ' carpet of green grass, and by means of a zigzag pathway the summit is reached. OF VARIED CALLINGS. Most of the Germans were standing in a group in the enclosure between the buildings when the visitors by the steamer arrived. Their garb disclosed the fact that mostly they were working men, and ono instinctively recognised that many of them were men who went down, to the sea in ships. Two or three of them were more sumptuously clothed than their fellows, and not much perspicacity was required to sum them up as business men or commercial travellers. They were a quiet, orderly lot, who seemed quite content to take things as they found them and accept the inevitable. In fact, a feature which could not but be noticeable was the philosophical calm which pervailed — a serenity which would not have been possible had there not been a very large degree of contentment, THE ACCOMMODATION INSPECTED. In charge of Major Matheson, the officer in command on the island, the reporter was allowed to make a. tour of inspection. He found that the accommodation for the interned men was divided among three or fdur of the large wooden buildings forming the quarantine station. These buildings were subdivided into rooms of varying size, with two, three, or perhaps six, ot even more, men in each of them, according to the space available. A large number of these cubicles were fitted with bunks, with straw for mattresses and blankets for covering, while in the larger rooms "shakedowns" were provided on the floor. There was absolutely no semblance of crowding. The accommodation provided by the various buildings is too generous to necessitate that, and, with the afternoon sun streaming in through tho windows, the interior of the buildings wore a decidedly cheerful aspect. ■ HOW THE TIME IS PASSED. Many of the prisoner* of war were scattered about among the various messrooms, and invariably they greeted the visitors with a cheery "good day." Some were card-playing, others were reading,' and others were having an' afternoon siesta. In eeveral of the rooms fires fed by driftwood blazed up merrily and home-like, and, aided by the sun's rays, made the temperature inside decidedly comfortable. On the wall of one messroom was a hand-printed mural textdecorated with two German flags printed in ink. The inscription ran, "Hiefwird nur Deutsch Gesprochen" (Here we only speak German), and the explanation volunteered by one of the exiles was that one of tho men in that "mess" could not speak English, and the conversation, was confined to the German tongue for his benefit. The buildings, were scrupulously clean throughout ; in fact, it appears that tho occupants take a pride in observing the virtue that is characterised as being next to that of godliness. Only the previous day a German naval reserve man, in whom the instincts fostered ' by the discipline of life in the fleet were still extant, had set an example by scrubbing out the messroom with which he was associated, and the good work was enthusiastically taken up until the whole of the messrooms had received a cleansing such as they had probably never been subjected to before. "TABOOED" TEBEITORY. The information gathered showed that the men are divided into groups of ten for mess purposes. Each batch has two orderlies to assist the cook for every meal. TBreakfast is served at 8 o'clock", dinner at midday, and tea at 5 o'clock, and there is always ample food for everybody, the most important meal consisting of meat and two or three varieties of Vegetables. The men keep their own "mess equipment," or knives, forks, and Spoons. During the intervals between meals they are free to roam the island as they desire, with tho exception that' they must regard the land immediately adjacent to the lighthouse as "tapu." Although not remarkablo for its size, their island homo providers them

ample opportunity for stretching their legs, and those who are disciples of Izaak Walton may indulge in deep-sea fishing — as some of them do. As a precaution, a guard of twenty-five Territorials is maintained. MAJOR MATHESON'S EFFORTS. Conversation with several of the detained men showed that they were well satisfied with the treatment they were receiving, and they frankly admitted they had no complaints whatever to make, except, in one or two instances, they had not been accorded an opportunity of procuring their "kits" from their homes before they were taken into custody. Of Major Matheson's efforts on their behalf they could not speak too highly, and were most grateful for his endeavours to make them comfortable.