ECHOES OF THE WAR

Evening Post, Volume XC, Issue 92, 16 October 1915, Page 13

ECHOES OF THE WAR

NOTES AND CAMPAIGN INCIDENTS

"INTERNED" IN GERMANY'S RUHLEBEN GREAT INTELLECTUAL LIFE. ENEMY'£ " RECRUITING " EFFORTS In the People's Journal an "exchanged" Scotsman, William!. Simpson, recently returned from the German camp far civilian prisoners at Ruhleben, tells of the life there. The principal drawback, he says, is "the wretched food." Otherwise, it is not so bad. When the war broke out Simpson had been for twenty-six years a teacher of English and German in Hanover. He made no pretence of pro-German sympathies, and was soon interned at Ruhleben. j FIVE SHILLINGS A WEEK. The fare of the prisoners would be much worse but for an allowance of 5s a week from the British Relief Fund, allowing them to buy extras. Mr.. Simpson states: Most of the washing for the camp is I done by the niggers, who make a little money for luxuries in that way. My laundry usually costs me Is 6d a week, but I was a good deal better situated than many of the prisoners, for I was able to make a little money by teaching languages. There is no limit to the amount of money that one may spend at the canteen if one has it. Some of the wealthy prisoners will be spending as mnch as £5 a week each, I daresay, and they are permitted to employ less fortunate men to wait' upon them, paying them to do the washing-up, cleaning, etc. But there's one thing I will say about Ruhleben. No one " swanks " there. The millionaire and the penniless Jack Tar behave towards each other like brothers. There are between 2000-and 3000 sailors among the commnnity, men taken from the British ships trapped in German ports at the outbreak of war. A splendid set of fellows they are, though a little inclined to kick over the traces sometimes. One of them caused a certain amount of unpleasantness by talking in a loud voice about the "olankety -blank Germans." You will doubtless know the swearword that he used when I tell you that Baron yon Toube, the second in command of the camp, understood it to mean "bloodthirsty" Germans, whereas he meant nothing of the sort. When it was eventually explained/that the adjective was one in very common use, and did not credit the Germans with " bloodthirstiness " or any other murderous quality, the Baron, who is quite a good sort, laughed at his mistake. " WILL YOU JOIN OUR ARMY?" Soon after this incident, however, "we were all lined up, and those cherishing pro-German sentiments were requested to step out from the ranks of those favourable to the Allies' cause. A good many stepped out. Some -who had lived in Germany for many years were undoubtedly sincerely on the side of the Fatherland, but there were others who • merely declared themselves pro-German because they thought it would mean better treatment. The latter, I am glad to tell your "were very much disappointed. " Are you willing to join our army'" was the question put to them. Of course, that weeded out the sincere from the insincere. Those who were willing to join were marched off, while the remainder were placed in part of the camp separate from ourselves. They continue to receive 5s a week from the .British Relief Fund, but that is, I suppose, unavoidable, although it seems rather a pity. They are known to the I loyal Britishers on the other side of the camp as the P.G.s (pro-Germans) — only usually we put an " i" between the P. and G. ' ♦ On another occasion the Irish were lined up, apparently with the idea of offering them their freedom if they would enlist to fight against Britain. But the expression of the men's faces quickly informed the officials that the Irish feeling towards Britain was not of the sort that some German newspapers had represented it to be, and the offer was never made. How do the prisoners paas their time? I Well, the days go pleasantly enough, j although the feeliiig of restraint is very irksome to some, the separation from friends and relatives is, naturally, a severe trial. CHATS WITH FOOTBALL "STARS." On payment of a small subscription one is free to play golf, or football, or lawn tennis, and first-class boxing matches are frequent. The Germans do not attempt to take part in any of the games, bnt they look on with interest, the boxing in particular seeming to afford them much pleasure. Among the prisoners is a well-known professional golfer from Carnoustie, and he has started a school for teaching 'the game. He_ ought to get excellent fees from some of his wealthy patrons. But the most notable professional I came into contact with was Steve Bloomer, the footballer. Bloomer needs no introduction to British readers. The greatest inside forward we have seen within the last twenty years, the sharpest thorn that the flesh of Scottish international defence has known in modern times, his is a name to conjure with- in the football world. But I found him a quite unassuming fellow, with a shrewd sense of humour and an inex- ! haustible fund of sporting anecdotes. He slept in the same stable as myself, and highly delighted were we if we could coax him into telling us the story of one or another of the many famous matches in which he saved the situation by some brilliantly scored goal when all seemed lost.Bloomer naturally took a big share in the arrangements for the great Sports Week, which was one of the outstanding' events during my stay at Ruhleben. There was a football match during every day of that week, and a team which Bloomer had trained was among the teams that especially distinguished themselves. There were tugs-of-war and numerous running and leaping contests ; and at the conclusion of the tournament the prizes were distributed by the - Baroness yon Tauben. wife of the German officer I have previously referred to. If you are of n, studious turn of mind you can make a stay at Ruhleben intellectually profitable. Among the prisoners are teachers of almost every language. and classes in science, navigation, etc., are held every day, prisoners teaching. Only in the case of wealthy people are ! any fees taken. I There is a good lending library, and if you care to retire to your bed' with a book immediately after breakfast arid remain there until" 10 o'clock at night, when lights are put out, no one will interfere- But you mu&t not amoke in 1 j>our "bedxgoaa,"- U you &t$ saugh*

doing that it means seventy-two hours in the cells on a diet of bread and water. CONCERTS FOR ALL. Very few evenings pass without a firstclass concert. These concerts are held in the Grand Stand Hall, and wnen I tell you that there is an orchestra of fifty instruments, the members all being musicians of approved skill and including in their ranks one of the world's most brilliant violinists, you will guess they are worth going to. But it is not only music that is strongly represented. Among _ the prisoners are conjurers, actors, jugglers, and comedians. In the whole of London and Glasgow you' could not get a r -better entertainment, no matter how much you paid for it, than you get at Ruhleben. There is a Debating Society which has a large membership, and on one occasion we got up a mock election. The Liberal member -was a Jew named Cohen, and he made a very strong speech against Tariff Reform ; bnt, if I remember rightly, it was the Conservative who won. A merry Ufa? It sounds like that, I dare say. But the cage is there although, the bars may be gilded. And how the prisoners yearn for wings to soar over the barbea-wire barriers, ove* the high palisades, and bo to freedom ! Yet, Irfctie would wings avail, for th« guards carry loaded rifles, and are told to use them at the slightest sign of any attempt to escape. While I was at 'the camp seven pri soners made an attempt. Four, I believe, were caught, but they were never brought back to the camp. What became of the others I do not know, though it is said they got clean away. A message from one of the recaptured men which was smuggled through to- (he camp related 'that he was being treated "very, very harshly."