Centre Hall reporter. [volume] (Centre Hall, Pa.) 1868-1871, 1871-03-10
Prison Life In Germany.

A Berlin correspondent writes In
order 20 see something OF prison lie
among the French soldiers in Germany,
| recently spent day NJ Wittemberg,
about fifty miles from here. As IN other
fortified places of Germany, are kept
large number Of French prisoners.
Weinberg is known 10 Americans chiefly
as the scene Of Luther and Melnncthon's =
world.rcnowned deeds, and as where
their bodies still rest The large clois-
1 ter. now used for Protestant theological
seminary, in which Luther lived as n
monk tho plain Gothic church IN
which he preached, aud which is oele-
/ hrated rs the mother of all the Protestant
churches the place where he burned the
Pope's hull and the antiquated house
in which Mclancthon lived and taught
are all shown to the traveller, rs well AS
many relies of both these men. Most
/ of the day, however, spent among the
/ French prisoners, to whose quarters l
easily procured pass. These are not
/ kept within the walls Of the city, bat, as
is generally the case, in temporary bar
racks, erected in the outskirts of the
/ town, about mile beyond the fortlhca-
tions. The reason why the prisoners
are kept at the fortified towns is not that
there are there any better means for
their Safe.keeping, but because there are,
az any rate, always soldiers there.
These, besides their other duties, can
conveniently be made TO guard them
without additional expense 10 the govern
ment. The enclosure which contains
the barracks occupies, perhaps, hfty
acres. The barracks are built Of boards
capable of containing from 100 10 200
each. All are filed to their utmost eapa-
city, there being, in all, some 5000 pri-
soners al Wittemherg, Their only fur
niture being rough tables and chairs.
They have coarse mattresses and blankets
which they spread over the floor NJ night
and roll up in a corner in the day time.
Their quarters are kept comparatively
warm, which is saying great deal IN Ger
many. They are doing nothing; but
they lounge around and seem to be very
restless. They have no reading matter.
Occasionally they pass the time IN play
ing game of cards or other games.
They dispute great deal with each other,
as is the case wherever there Is crowd OF
Frenchmen. They have, of course, es-
tabhshed theatre among them, where
there are free entertainments every even
ing. Their food consists Of coarse rye
bread, stewed barley, potatoes, and a
little meat. Some few complained 10
me that they did not get enough To eat.
Others said they had enough, but that II
was not such as one could get fat on.
They feel much the loss OF their ac-
customed soup. They complain greatly
Of the cold particularly those from the
South of France. They are kept rather
closer than they like, never being allow
ed 10 go out of the enclosure, though
being free within it, The citizens OF
Wittemberg are allowed TO so visit them
on Sunday, and then only by special per
mission. They know very little of what
is going on in France, and nearly every
one with whom l talked asked me very
minutely about the war news. They
agree generally that they have been be
trayed by their leaders, and curse
Bazaine and Napoleon without measure.
In their politics they appear 10 be mostly
Republicans, though many do not care
anything about what government they
have. They are, however, all French in
their feelings, and have no mild words
for the Prussians they never say " Ger
mans