The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1901-11-23

While the press Of nearly every civil
lized country has risen above official
depreciation to denounce Kitchener's
concentration camps in South Africa,
where the death rate among women
and children is, according even to the
British newspapers, something appal-
ling" there has been little or no men-
ton of the treatment which Boer pris-
oners of war are receiving in the Ber-
das-practically in Americas very
dooryard.
The following facts concerning the
British camps in the Bermudas are Civ
en- by Mr.. Grebtog, correspondent OF
the New York Staats-Zetung, who
gathered them in the islands in the
face of difficulties which systematical,
ly discouraged investigation. He says
in part:
The British government has repeat
edly declared that these prisoners
don't lack anything. This almost i'm
pudent lie is told with the intention of
preventing contributions to the COM
fort of the prisoners. have seen let
ters from English army officers and
officials in which they acknowledge
receipt of gifts and ask for more, as
they are verify necessary. Yes, in st.
Georges parish in Bermuda the mill
tary commander has issued procla-
NATION stating what the prisoners
mostly lack, thus proving that they
suffer want.
AS a matter of fact they go in rags.
Everything that the British govern
ment provides for them in the matter
of dress is the worn-out cast-of Khaki
uniforms of the army. To don these
the Beers are too proud-and who can
blame them?
The British government has declared
the Bermudas an ''ideal and garden
prison." and from the English point Of
view it is an ideal prison, for an es-
cape from these islands, under the guns
of the British forts and warships, is
almost an impossibility. But as far
as the "garden" is concerned England
has taken excellent care to close the
doors Of the paradise, which Bermuda
is indeed, upon the Boer prisoners.
They are secluded upon four naked
rocks, to-wit: Marshall's, Burt's, Dor
rell's and fuckers Islands. Those who
fall sick are taken to Ports Island.
About the middle of last October the
number of tile prisoners was 5000.
One-third of them are crowded togeth-
er in three acres on Burt's Island
still more on a small part Of Dorrell's
Island.
They live in tents, which, according
to army regulations, should have a
wooden floor. AS matter Of fact, the
straw of their miserable beds rests
upon the naked rock. At this time OF
the year the temperature in the Ber
nludas is below So degrees, but the
rainy season, now approaching. brings
rough and chilly winds and drenchin2
downpours. Altogether it is not diff
cult to understand that tents are moi
fit places to house people-espcciall!
old men-during prolonged season OF
chilly rains. The sea wind. also, brings
constant dampness, which leaves cloth
inc limp and lank. and rs the inhabi
tants of the islands tell me, during
heavy storms the waves break over
that part of Dolrcll's Island where tho
prisoners are located. and spray falls
all over the rock as a heavy rain.
But even the summer was bat
enough for the prisoners without colo
and dampness. In July and Angus
the thermometer stood for weeks be
tween 95 and 100 Fahrenheit. NJ
breeze came from the wide water des
ert and hot burned the sun on tn
walls of the tents and upon the naked
rock, which gave back the pitiless hea
through the night. When after sleep
less night the sun drove the prisoner
out of their tents they found their onl.
drink warm. distilled sea water, ant
no spot of shade within the barb-wiret
limits of their camp. The only tree
and flowers of the four islands of thi