PRISONERS IN GERMANY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17942, 22 May 1920, Page 7

PRISONERS IN GERMANY

A MARRIED COUPLE'S EXPERIENCES.

(Fbom Odb Own CoeeespondentJ

AUCKLAND, May 21. Mr and Mrs Wilfred Morris, who wears married in Feilding by the Bev. George Budd a few months before the war, and left immediately en route for Genpany so that they -both might study musio there, wero passengers .by the lonic, which arrived m Auckland yesterday. They have a long story to tell of their experiences at Ruhleben, where Mr Morris was interned for nearly four years. Although released soma 16 months ago, Mr Morris still looks thin and worn from tho experiences he had come through. The first six months he described as a trying time, the affioer-in-charge being a bard-hearted man. 'But after that parcels commenced to arrive from, his friends in New Zealand, and continued on to the end whioh gave him necessaries that kept him' alive. Out of 4000 civilians interned, they formed a very fine orchestra of 40 members, who continued their activities on till the armdstise was signed. , The only people who "went under" wero thoae who did not keep themselves fully employed Camp schools were formed, and some of the pupils applied thomselves so well that they became good scholars; and have got good positions since the war ceased through the good use they maito of their timo when interned. Mr Morris speaks in grateful terms of the help he re* ceived when interned from a Scottish musical professor, who spared no effort in trying to help those who were musically inclined. •Mrs Morris was permitted to live with a German family, and, being able to speak the German language, was allowed! to take in musical pupils, and thereby earned sufficient to keep herself in the necessaries-of life, with farther heh> of parcels she got from New Zealand. She did not Buffer very severely during the war, although the strain of it all will leave its effects on her mind while life lasts. Mr and Mrs Morris came back under the repatriation scheme,'; and were among the last to take advantage of this way of returnia«r to their own country.