Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1915-12-29
United Press Correspondent
Visits An Internment Camp

lmsitania riots In May hundreds of
them were bundled up and sent to
Islington away from harm and mischief.
The 100 were placed in charge of
Major Halliday, who has seen service
in India. He divided the internees in
to units Of between 80 and 40 and In.
structed each group TO elect its captain.
The captains met and elected Captain
Of Captains, wealthy Prussian bust.
ness man Of London before the war.
Presided over by this dignitary, a
council Of captains is held daily to ad.
Indicate disputes, consider claims and
administer business. If Judgment Of
this body is unsatisfactory the case may
be passed to Major Halliday.
The latest internee at Islington is a
German merchant, enjoying an income
Of $l25,0O0 year. lie was unable to
secure one of the few private rooms
reserved at $3.50 per week because
other internees had taken them. He ap.
pealed to the council of captains. The
democratic spirit of this unique tribunal
asserted itself and the applicant was
politely Informed that his $500 was no
better than anyOne's in Islington 3
"Germany" He appealed to Major
Halliday. The Major replied that he
felt compelled to abide by the decision
Of the lower court.
The wealthy citizen was forced to
occupy regulation quarters. These
quarters, In the main building, are am.
pie. They consist of high walled, well
ventilated rooms whore from eight to
fifteen sanitary couches are ranged
along the walls. On each is a mattress,
blankets and pillow. These together
with general lavatories, washrooms and
bathrooms on every floor, make this
interment camp more like well plan
ned hotel. Large day rooms where
visitors may be entertained, u com.
modious yard with a rain shelter, work.
shops, tennis court, dining rooms and
tea rooms, make it unnecessary for the
men to occupy their sleeping quarters
during daylight.
Afternoon tea is daily event. Here
is the routine: Arise at eight; break
fast at $3.50; work, study or diversion
until noon (working is optional but
hundreds are busy at various tasks un-
der supervision Of the council Of emp
tains);; dinner at l2; work, or enter
tain wives and children until five; tea
with trimmings, 8 to $50; supper at Z;
to bed at nine.
Other unique features are; Unre-
stricted smoking, except in woodwork
ing shop, bi.monthly theatricals; o
weekly paper printed In England;
privilege Of writing two letters each
week in German, to Germany or else.
wherej opportunity of leaving the
premises, under guard, for medical
treatment, teetotalism.
All citizens Of the Islington camp are
married, hundreds OF them to British
wives. Each man is allowed to see his
family once In days for 30 minutes
When the United Press man arrived
forty families were strolling about the
enclosurel Many families live now near
the camp Of their husbands or brothers
Every wife, IL In want, receives q
grant of $2.76 per week with an addi
tional 80 cents for every child.
When an enemy alien reaches Isling
ton he deposits his cash with the com
mandant and keeps IS or $40. This
pocket change circulates rapidly. A
laundry, manned by internees furnishes
clean linen at twelve cents a week
There Is u four.chair barbershop where
ahayea cost four cents In the morning