IN A GERMAN PRISON

Otautau Standard and Wallace County Chronicle, Volume XI, Issue 522, 18 May 1915, Page 2

IN A GERMAN PRISON

.- * . A ' Times ' correspondent, writing from I " Germany, February," describes a visit to ; one of the German Kiiegegefangenlager (prison camps), where 8,000 mien, British, , French, Russian, Belgians, and Turcos are ! detained. He was escorted by an officer. I There were 10 "pens," containing buildings of stained pine boards on a bricl* foundation, heated, lighted, and ventilated. All the buildings were new and specially constructed. The mattresses were of shavings, placed on the floor, but the blankets were scanty. Many of the men had been there fou*? or five months, but were m good spirits and optimistic. They asked if the Russians were m Berlin, and daily expected to hear the boom of friendly guns. "All discipline is maintained by their, own non-commissioned officers," the guide remarked. " They have full charge and full responsibility. If anything goes wrong a look-out touches a bell, and then we take action," and he pointed to the batteries of artillery posted on an elevated platform. | — No Chocolate Allowed. — The chief meal of the day is at, noon, and consists of a big tin bowl of meat and potato soup and a piece of black bread. For breakfast, I Was told, the prisoners received coffee, with sugar and , bread ; and m the evening bread, with sometimes potatoes or other vegetables — m all, one pound of bread daily for each man/ Each "pen" has a store, but no food, chocolate, or tobacco is allowed to be sold. In one of the buildings I came upon a group of British Guardsmen— tall, splendid fellows, far excelling m physique and bearing all the other prisoners. They seemed remarkably fit, and only complained that i it was hard to pass the time, but other- [ wise they were well treated. Questioned about the food, they said it was' good • but one man spoke up: "We want more* bread." I was informed that the allowance was the same as that of the German' soldiers. The clothing of the prisoners was pitiable, and consisted of odd articles of all kinds of attire, and much of it was mere rags. —One Post Card Weekly.— The prisoners are allowed to write one post card weekly, which is forwarded through the Central Distributing Bureau Geneva. The working day is at present five hours, and chiefly road building and repairing are done. Each receives a halfpenny per day for his work. By Bpm all lights are out m the buildings, and silence must be observed thereafter. The matter of keeping- prisoners occupied is of great concern to the authorities. "When spring comes it will be different. Then there will be much to do, for the prisoners must till our soil and plant crops. They will no doubt be with us for the harvest ' concluded the officer, thoughtfully. '