INDIAN PRISONERS

Evening Star, Issue 15914, 21 September 1915, Page 7

INDIAN PRISONERS

T™ Press Bureau issued a report on A„. gust 3 from the American Embassy in Berlin of a visit paid by Air J. B . Jacks'on to the Indian prisoners of war camp at Wunsdorf tract- fr ° m Which Ihe foll °wing is an ex* In all there are at present 400 Indian soldiers and four officers in th© camp. T spoke witn each of the officers, and each said that ho preferred to remain in this camp where lie could be near and care for his ” , of ttem wish at present to be tiansferred to an officers’ camp. These officers receive £3 each per month as pay but they eat practically the same food as their men, and use most of this money for their benefit. J

As all these Indians are professional solcuers and have no trades they are not called on to do any work outside the camp. They are exercised by tbeir own officers every day and a number of them, particularly the Gurkhas, are tond of playing football. They have the use of the well-arranged baths in the neighboring Mohammedan camp. The ■’Mosque in that camp is to be dedicated next week, and thereafter the Indian Mohammedans will use it M a place of worship, instead of the part of their barracks. There are no armed German, guards in the camp itseh. and the few non-commissioned officers who attend to its administration are very considerate of the feelings of tho Inchans, and do not go into their kitchens or the prayer section of the HToirma wwi a „ barracks. The German officer in chare© of the camp is a man who has lived in East Africa, and who seems to have the confidence'of the prisoners und«r him.

Indians have heretofore received! very little mail and few parcels. Parcels began to come only about a fortnight ago, when a number were received addressed- to Indian prisoners m general. To-day, however, parcels were received for the first time with individual addresses, there being 70 for Mohammedans and 84 for Gurkhas by name.