Evening journal., 1915-07-23
Rr CARL V. ACkFRMAN.

PRISON CAMP. GOETTINGEN.
Germany. June 1S.-(By MaiD ~
Here is one spot in belligerent Eu-
rope where prisoners of war enjoy
more personal freedom than they did
AZ the front as soldiers lie camp is
almost a free city" The men do al
most as they wish and after several
months under rigorous orders at the
front they are enjoying their free
dom" even II they can't so outside
the grounds Camp rules are the most
simple and necessary 10 safeguard the
health and comfort OF the inmates.
When I came into camp today the
Main street was crowded with Eng
fish soldiers, many wearing wooden
shoes: with Frenchmen in tattered
led trousers and blue coats; Scot
tish Highlanders in plaid skirts and
brighter plaid stockings and a few
hundred giant Russians. Not a Ger
man officer or soldiers except the two
n the gate could be seen.
For several hours / visited among
The Canadians, the English and the
French. entirely out OF earshot OF
any German authority asked the
men II my Impression OF their free
dom was correct and everyone said IL
was a fact Every man believed what
an English soldier said. "Of course,
rs fortunate 20 be war-prisoner
hut we are fortunate TO be in a camp
where we are given so much freedom"
In what other prison camp, | asked
sre the men permitted 10 gather in
eroups and talk as they please and
do what they please. Many. who had
been in other camps said Goettingen
was the first Of its kind and they at
tribnted this fact to the admnistra-
tive ability of the camp commander.
whom every prisoner praised
Ambassador Gerard ard the Span
ish minister In berlin. who were here
some weeks ago to dedicate the FIRST
American Y NJ. G. A. ever built In a
prison camp or prison. declare the
commander is a "prison-genius Ger
ard said II this officer could take
charge of all the prisons in Europe
there would he no complaint against
the handling Of prisoners OF war.
Even among the Swedish investiga-
tors Goettingen is considered the fn-
est camp in Europe. John B. Jackson
Of Trenton. n. j., former American
minister TO Roumania, who has seen
al the camps in England and Ger
many holds the same opinion
Camp conditions are excellent. the
spirit of the men is inspiring. the
comp health is equal to that in the
most healthful spots in the world.
Less than 25 we're in the hospital
today. The men not only appeared
happy but said they we're happier
than they ever expected to be as pris-
oners OF war And today there are
about $500 former soldiers OF the al
lies imprisoned here among them 100
Canadians members Of the former
18th Toronto Highlanders who we're
captured at Ypres April a.
This camp was founded in a large
field outside the old university city
of Goettingen and al the foot Of a
high hill on top OF which is Bis
marcks tomb II Is made up Of sew
eral hundred frame unplastered
shncks. one story high and similar
In every way 10 cheap cottages one
sees AZ American Summer resorts.
Between every fve cottages is a
street. some so wide that the ex-sol-
1iers, have potato patches in front for
Hover gardens.
The Y. NJ c. A. building Is a large
cottage with a library OF French, Eng
lish and Russian books and maya
zines at one end and a stage al the
other This afternoon the English
and French were preparing for an
English concert A Frenchman was
Pointing the scenery for the stage.
belgians we're installing electric foot
lights and the English were marking
the benches with the names of the
audience, which because of the limited
capacity OF the hall was limited to
Invited English soldiers.
This camp Is famous in Germany.
also, because of the interest the pro-
tessors IN the University Of Goettin-
gen take In the welfare Of the pris-
oners. Many Of them have classes in
the camp and instruct tie men in reg.
ular university courses These are
open 10 those who wish 70 attend
In the postofice today eighteen
English soldiers we're asserting mai
packages which today's post brought
rom England German inspector.
we're looking inside before the pack
eges we're handed out to see that III,
camp rules regarding the receivinl
OF home articles were not broken
Working in this building we're tw,
Canadians, both Of whom lived in Tor
cnto and had often visited in Niagari
Falls. Buffalo and Detroit.
Leaving the camp for the railroa,
station | saw ninety English soldiers
being brought in They were anon,
the recent captives in Flanders anC
their clothes we're torn and dirty NJ,
guide in the camp. Lieutenant Gropp
Who said he had a brother-in-lav
William Person. living at No. 7s.
Beldon avenue, Chicago. declare,
these fellows would soon be giver
special baths and ordered to wasl
their clothes.
One OF the most amusing sights II
the camp was to see fve Russianl
taking a powder bath TO kill the lie,
they carried when they arrived from
the Galician front four days ago
These men we're lying naked in thi,
powder. They had TO stay there foui
hours Then they took a sun bath anC