Grand Forks daily herald., 1914-09-17
OLYMPIA arena
PRISONERS PEN
Place Where Recent Bouts
+ Were Held is Converted
into Jail for Germans.

London. Sept. 17.-In the great
.stadium In Kensington. where only
few weeks ago the Freddie Welsh
Willie Ritchie and Gunboat Smith
Carpenter prize fights We're held,
strange scenes are being enacted daily
now. Some two hundred-odd men
and youhts, ranging all the way In
age from 20 to so, every afternoon,
at set hour, go through odd antics
such as running up and down the
arena, jumping, rolling on the ground
and other like stunts. These youths
and men are Germans, held prisoners
! by the government of England. Their
strange antics are the only exercise
they are allowed to take for a little
while each afternoon. A thin line OF
Irish guards, grim, silent, khaki-clad
men, stands guard while the Germans
20 through their daily exercise.
The Olympia was seized by the gov
ernment without "by your leave" or
a notice of any sort. Officials decided
1t was just the place they needed. and
they occupied it without further ado.
The German prisoners who are be-
ing held there are men who have
been taken from German merchant
men. German residents OF England
and German "floaters," who, 1t is
feared. are spies in the employ of the
kaiser.
Friends Send Assistance.
Friends of the prisoners, by special
permission. have been able to max
it a little easier for them. They have
provided them with bedsteads and
cots, clean linen and other such con-
veniences. English BARRIERS Ono Ger
NAM are permitted to shave the pri-
soners. Parcels Of food and deltca-
cies can be sent them by friends, too.
but only after being closely examined
by English officers. Solicitors or rela-
tives can interview the prisoners in
the presence of English officers. They
are only allowed to converse In the
English language.
The English officers make it as
pleasant for the prisoners as they can
under the circumstances. The daily
routine is much like that of a prison.
At a. m. all must arise and those
who have special bedding must STOW
1t away as in barracks. Accom-
panied by armed guards, the pris-
oners, In patches, are permitted to
perform ablutions. Then breakfast &c
served the same as in barracks, cof-
free. bread and bacon, or sausage,
ham and eggs. At midday hot meat
pudding. and in the evening bread and
butter and tea and jam, as much as
they wish.
All expense is borne by the govern
ment. Mineral water or any other
Misunderstanding drink may be sent
the prisoners by friends, or 1t will be
purchased for them If they have the
funds.
Numerous newspapers and maya
zines are supplied by the government
and several Of the prisoners have
decks Of cards. which they use to
while away the many weary hours
English Residents Freed.
Prisoners who have been residents
OF England for years, but who have
never taken out naturalization papers,
have been unable to secure their free
dom. English friends have interceded
for them. They were taken before
Olympia and closely questioned with
regard to their feelings for their ma
tive country. Those who have been
able to convince the officers by their
testimony and the pledges Of their
English friends, that they bear a love
for their adopted country. have been
allowed to go free.
It is a very motley assortment Of
prisoners. Many clerks and traders,
unable to prove their innocence, are
forced to lie by the side Of wretched
ruff1ans and outcasts.
The English officers feel sorry for
the better class of prisoners, but they
are powerless to help them. They are
forced by the terms Of war to hold
them as prisoners If they cannot
prove they have no relations with
their native country,
The crews of captured German
merchantmen are a sullen lot. They
do not mingle with anyone else in
the prison" Holding aloof BY
themselves, they converse in low
tones. talking about their probable
fate.