PRISONERS IN GERMANY.

Lyttelton Times, Volume CXVII, Issue 17394, 3 February 1917, Page 13

PRISONERS IN GERMANY.

HOW THEY ARE EMPLOYED. A description of the extent and actual conditions bf employment of prisoners of war in Germany is supplied to "The Times" by ah English lady, who has lived in that country since the beginning of the war, and has bad exceptional opportunities of accurate observation. In the course of it she says:— Tho neighbourhood where I lived in Germany is purely agricultural, and it was in August, 1915, that the idea of employing prisoners of war to help with tho harvest became general. The intention then was to send them back later to the camps, but labour was scarce, and in most cases they remained where they were. During tho following year 1 saw tliem workin S everywhere, and in many cases they were doing the whole work of the farm, with the help only of German women. Many of them are employed in gardens, and I know of a large estate—the mistress of the house is of British birth—where the beautiful gardens aro run entirely by French prisoners. I have heard a large landowner in Mecklenburg boast chat ho has at last been able to make tine new roads from one part to another of his estate, at practically no cost, by employing Russians. On the estate that I know best there were twenty British prisoners, hailing from all parts of England, and from Scotland and Ireland. They had a 1 come from a prisoners' camp whicn has well earned a bad reputation. On Christmas Day, 1914, they had had no food. On other occasions they baa been deprived of food in tlie vain attempt to compel them to work in mines or munition works. Their present lot is, by comparison, happy. They are doing all kinds or farm work, usually of the roughest kind. Last winter they were employed in carting roots, threshing, carrying sacks, carting raaiiuie, ploughing, digging, working in »» woods, and sawing wood. Sometimes they worked in the gardens or «ne park. They work from 6 a.m too p.m., with twenty minutes for fast, an hour for dinner and a snort timo for tea. They livo in rooms aa joining the stables. There is one beuroom for ton men, while the g" alu has a room adjoining. -Until last M-ay the pay was 30 pfennige (3Jd) a. <U>, but it was then raised to sixty pre" nige. There was no work on Suntiayß, and for Roman Catholics no work o» saints' days; on Sundays the P* is ° n " ers usually went for a walk, or, *'"' they had obtained a football. oW<fi W.bali.