Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-03-30
ASSOCIATED Press Correspondence.)

ASSOCIATED Press Correspondence
Berlin, March 1S.-Fortunes Of war
have thrown together some 10000
members of the armies and navies of
the countries with which Germany Is
at war into q conglomerate gathering
in the huge prison camp at DoeberitZ.
about Is miles from Berlin.
Fresh faced English sailor boys still
in their teens, bearded Scotch high
landers, soldiers from the south of
France and Moujiks from far away
Russia suddenly have been plunged to-
gether. each with his customs, likes
and dislikes. Pretty nearly every one
is face to face with his ally for the
first time in his life.
How to control the throng of pris-
oners so that discipline may be tenn
pered with humaritian measures and
the thousands may rub shoulders with
out friction is a problem which Ger
man system has been graphing. A
group of newspaper men from neutai
countries who visited DoeberitZ recent
" found it organized, active ana IN
tcnsely interesting and its lnhaoltantS
as commended as might be expected I'M
der the circumstances.
In dealing with problems arising
from the proper control of the prison.
ers. the authorities have drawn GER
tain broad conclusions, summed up as
follows by a reserve office stationed at
the prison camp.
The Russians are the most lnsus-
trious; the English are by tar the
LATEST and hardest to handle; the
French are the most docile, and last
Of make trouble of any kind.
Doeberitz is a huge collection OF
long wooden shacks built by the pris-
oners. The camp is enclosed by Il
barbed wire fence, 10 or oozen ieet
high which. contrary to legend is not
charged with electricity to prevent es-
cane, Only four men, Russians, nave
triad to get away thus far, and they
came back. ,
A, night time and in leisure hours
tho men are divided according TO ma
tioral,ty. and so far as possible IN
,acial snb- divisions. In the work SHOPS
hov.aver. English and Russians are pu,
,ooatber The English objected 10
this arrangement at flrs'' Men -
both races are proving aoape d. s"oo
making. but the Frenchmen seer" W
hove little skill at II. ana are inoi7
oya;,ah,e in the cook houses.
prisoners artistically inclined ana Al
roor nhvsical condition have a mousse III
Witch they paint and make crayoh ara"
:- ond nhotographic engagements WIS.,
;tors 10 the camp not infreduentiy pui-
osase the output. the money finding It's
nav TO the canteen for food ana 'ooacoo
Az meal time French and Belgian Eng
Itch and Russian, gather toge'her anu
a.r. through the cook houses. Fac"
house Is equipped with huge boilers con-
.a,,;np hundreds of quarts OF the Stew
so,,n or goulash that forms the pr'hcipa.
;.or, IN the bill Of fare. That this food
- rorrisbine and appetizing has been at
tested to by scores OF VISITORS " 'ie
90 mn who invariably are invited 10 sam
-. q The prisoners say the same Out
.omnlain that the fare IS monot-
onous. ST.. cerr,n
.,,,hor;ties to facilitate the canteen ana
a.adua,,v a banking system with num-
dreds Of accounts has been eNoi|eu
Tbere is also a postoffice, which nan
a,es between $1,000 and $1,000 letters a
r,onth. The prisoners are aho"eo ~
Ute on an average. two letters a "eeA
The Russian mail presents the greatest
difficulties for the censors. the men VIZ
&. variety Of ways-Russian in German
scr,rt German in Russian SCRIPT Fon'A