The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-11-26
GERMAN PRISONERS LIVE IN
 CASTLES ON BANKS OF LOIRE
Families With German Orderles, German German Menus, Orchestras, and
 DrilIsAI the Comforts of Home, Say French

positions of the German and Allied forces. It was 5evidert that German fervor was still dominant as the col ored pins and flags showed the Ger
 mans moving steadily forward in the various theatres of war.
 .'But that is mistake,,' said the officer scoJnmandant, noticing a Ger man war flag pin way down in Serbia beyond the actual point of German advance. Then he laughed and pass ed along. making no change m pins and flags and remarking:
 'Its their own affair; let them have it that way If it suits them
 k Some of the officers just brought in from the battle line at Champag gne where 24,00 German prisoners were taken, were in one of the large rooms. one of these young German officers from Champagne stood at military salute while the party passed. Then as Champagne was mentioned, his salute gradually faded away, his arm relaxed to his side and he took on sickly smile at the visitors, as much as to say:
 .sYes. they rather got the best of us that tirne.' 1a Now the party turned to the rooms were the wives and babies of the Ger man officers were quartered It was on the first floor of Q substantial H narrow stairs. Tn the first room stood a typical German woman. buxom and good looking, with flaxen hair, done up in a coil. The furnishings were simple but good, and a 1urge window threw a flood Of sunshine on a little cradle in which the baby was lying.
 "It's nice you have such fresh air and sunshine for the baby" said the visitor
 .fYes,'' replied the German wife dubiousIy, .'fuf the room is very small and the soldiers make much noise un- derneath at night.,e
 That was her only command, but so far ias could be seen there was every evidence Of creature comfort naturally to be expected under such conditions.
 In the next room the German wife had her. door firmly closed and it took : sharp knock on the door, and a word Of command in German, to bring ali slow and reluctant opening. Then this young German matron appeared, with the baby Tn the background uni der another flood of sunlight, but with Ter good looking face full of fire and resentment at the intrusion. She said nothing and the party did not press. Inquiries.
 As the party withdrew to the great court of the castle, the two German women left together in their rooms evidently held council of war. Soon they appeared in their doorway and together marched out to the center of the court where the French officers and visitors were grouped together.
 We want to leave here" they sai d. speaking together and very firmly. We have addressed a letter asking that we be allowed to leave, and we have no answer
 German officers crowded to the windows as their wives made their protest. and looked down intent1y on the scene. One of the visitors askeds why the wives were there They had come voluntarily. it was explained, wishing to be with their husbands, but now after some months they want to leave. The mother of one of them, living in Switzerland. it was stated, had written a letter requesting that they be permitted to return to Ger many. The application had been duly passed upon by the French military authorities, who had concluded that it was no reasonable for prisoners who had voluntarily joined their hus- bands and remained in France a long time obtaining much information, now to go back to Germany. And that being the decision of the higher authorities. it only remained for the Ecomnandant to, carry it out.
 | Naturally they would like to leave, they would like to go home said one O. the officers, s'but such course would be obviously unreasonable.
 One OF the off1cerS wives is from Berlin. the other from Wuertenburg. They were with their husbands in German Togoland when the French capture was made. Then came the long ocean journey to France, the wives choosing to remain with their husbands. One baby was born on the Eocean, and the other after the prison slip had landed at Bordeaux. Just what nationality this last French born, German baby has is not clear. The visitors were also lead to the assembly rooms of the German of ficerss equipped much like club quar- ters. with gymnasium, games; billiards
 and musical instruments. A huge base yioIfncel1o was pointed out as part of the German orchestra The of ficers were sitting around in the man. ner of cIubmen. Many of them wore. the iron cross conspicuou1y displayed cn the left breast of their uniform a
 astDo they retain the iron cross and all their decorations? was asked.
 aYes.,' said tl1e French command
 ant, they netain everything. their decorations and their household goods --everything but their. arms those tney laid down at Champagne