INTERNED IN SWITZERLAND

Evening Star, Issue 16263, 4 November 1916, Page 6

INTERNED IN SWITZERLAND

HOSPITALITY TO DISABLED. Writing from Zurich a Central News correspondent says: Exactly a year ago I returned from Switzerland appalled at the deserted state of ihe holiday resorts which I used to know crowded in winter and summer. I have just concluded a similar visit to tho same villages, and have observed a very striking change. It is true that tourist's other than Swiss are still few and far between ; but, the place is alive with interned soldiers. I am nob sure whether it is realised how much liberty these interned soldiers are allowed. They can walk, play games, have their friends to see them, and within reasonable limits may enjoy these pleasure resorts ns fully as any tourist. An officer at Chateau d'Oox told me that ho could obtain permission to visit Geneva, 50 miles away, and one at Muerren was able to play golf at Interlakon. At Merging famous for its ski-ing slopes, I found a couple of hundred French arid Belgian- soldiers, the red trousers and blue coats of the " pionpiou " vying with the scarlet handkerchiefs of the peasant* girls in brightening tho valley. A walk of a couple of hundred yards would have carried these men back into France. At Chateau d'Oex and Rougcment I found three or four hundred of our own British wounded—the tennis courts alive with British officers, some of whom were accompanied by their wives, sisters, mothers, who had' come out from England to them. Two hail lost their right arms, but were already learning to play well with their left. Some limped, but put extra fierceness into their service; some had little tubes in their throats, and spoketmly in whispers; but all were cheerful and happy. Chateau d'Oex is indeed a much merrier place than England at present; and rightly so, for these are tho men who have fought and suffered for us. Interlaken has another 300 interned French soldiers, as well as quite a good number of visitors. Grindelwald, which last August could boast of only about a dozen visitors, has now 300 French soldiers and their friends. I. reached Muerren just as a trainload' of our own rfen arrived, and as man after man emerged from the little train he was greeted with hearty cheers. Nearly every hotel in the place is full of these i'ino fellows, who after living for months in a square compound, with no view rind nothing to do, are now comfortably settled in one of the most superbly situated villages in the world, well fed, well housed, and able to sleep soundly for the first time for two years. Already the Tommies have, christened the Jungfrau "Flossie " ; and it is a sight for the gods to seo them so happy.