A FRENCH CAMP FOR GERMAN PRISONERS.

Waikato Times, Volume 88, Issue 13488, 19 May 1917, Page 3 (Supplement)

A FRENCH CAMP FOR GERMAN PRISONERS.

kathenne, Burke describes a prison camp where men taken in the fighting on the Somme or round Verdun were kept, in her book, ••The White Koad to \ eidun."

"From Sezannes we proceeded direct to the new camp tor German prisoners at Connantre. The prisoners were mostly men who had been taken in the recent fighting on the Somme o r around \ erdun. The camp was aheadv excellently installed and the prisoners were busy m groups gardening, making bread, or sitting before great heaps ot potatoes preparing them for the evening meal. In one corner the inevitable German band was preparing for an evening concert. The German sense of order was everywhere in evidence. In the long barracks where the men slept the beds were tidy, and above each bed was a small shelf, each shelf arranged in exactly the same order, the principal ornaments being a mug, fork, and spoon; and just as each 'bed resembled each other bed, so the forks and spoons were placed in their respective mugs at exactly the same angle. There were small partitioned apartments for the non-commissioned officers.

The French commander of the camp told us that the German love of holding some form of office was everywhere apparent. The French made no attempt to command the prisoners themselves but always chose men from amongst the prisoners who were placed in authority over their comrades. The prisoners rejoiced exceedingly and promptly increased in self-importance and, alas, decreased in manners, if they were given the smallest position which raised them above the level of the rest of the men. "In the barracks where they were cutting up bread for the prisoners, we asked the men if they deeplv regretted their captivity. They replied unanimously that thev were "rather glad to be well fed," which seemed an answer in itself. They did not, however, appreciate the white bread, and stated thar thev preferred their own black bread. The French officers commanding the camp treat the prisoners as naughty children who must be 'kept in the corner' and punished for their own good. In all my travels through France 1 have never- seen any bitterness towards the prisoners. I remember once at Xevers we passed a group of German prisoners, and amongst them was a wounded man who was lying in a small cart. A handbag had fallen across his leg and none of his comrades attempted to remove it. A French woman, pushing her way between the guards, lifted it off and gave it to one of the Germans to carry. When the guards tried to remonstrate she replied .simply: T have a son who is a prisoner in their land; let us hopethat some German woman would do as much for him.'

"On the battlefield the kindness of French medical men to the German wounded has always been conspicuous. One of my neutral friends, passing through Germany, heard from one of the prominent German surgeons that they were well aware of this fact and knew that their wounded received every attention. There is a story known throughout France of a French doctor who was attending a wounded German on the battlefield. The man, who was probably half delirious, snatched at a revolver which was lying near and attempted to shoot the* doctor. The doctor took the revolver from him, patted him on the head, and said: 'Now then now then, don't be childish,' and went on dressing his wounds."