The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-12-19
'GERmAh PRISONERS
ARE WELL TREATED
Even Patd BY British TOR Work They
Do In Waiting on Each Other In
Detention Camp.
ARE THEIR OWN MEN
Discipline Is In the Hands of Their
Own Omners--Psss DAYS In Games,
Reading and Study, Far From
Roar of Cannon and Scenes of
Blood.

London. Doc. 1s.-The rnost 6nvi-
able role IN the war unquestionably IS
that OF the German military prisoner.
IN Great Britain. The renaatka biz
treatment which the kaisers soldiers
receive afttr they, have been captured
by the British troops is one Of the
greatest wonders o. the var
This vas clearly dena6nstrated dur
ing thorough irve.tlgation OF a
British camp for rniliCary prisoners
which your correspondent was au-
thorized TO visit by special courtesy
OF the war Office
The camp visited WIS a. porches-
ter four hours py train from. Lon
don. where there ars ~ present al
most 1000 German folders captured
on the batt!eAelds Of BelTiuna and
France. particu ,Asly about Loos
These men ire their ov--. lives do
what they wish with III II tine. and
receive practically no ordeds az all
from the handfQl q B.i.ish officers in
charge Of tho camp These od.cers
have wisely adopted the system Of
leaving the discipline Of the camp In
the hands OF the German noacomn1is-
stoned offeers
live Their Own Life.
There !s ahsoNteiy nothing In the
camp to justify the use OF the term
y. isticiS. ICEO4I Tie lev SA2EQS
surrounding TIE enclosure. No orders
or restrictions whatsoever interfere
with the dali life OF these men The,
live as they please and DO as they
will The British government. pro-
vides them with every comfort Of life.
They are oQartered in laree. airy
houses specially Constructed well
heated and equipped with every mod
ern comfort shower baths. with no:
and cold water, and, steam baths are
at their disposal as otter as they
please Nothing which might ada IL
their personal Comfort is omitted
Wholes onfe food otthe very best qua
ity lie supplied % these men n alum
dant rations Ind the cooking IS done
by their orn cooks Fer this vor.
these cooks who also are German
prisoners captured at the trent re-
csive comp ensatior from the Er!tis i
government OF SIX shill.ngs = week
All the other men performing worA
Of any description for their fellow
prisoners such as the. shoenlake fs
who repair their poots and the tailors
who patch up their uniforms also re-
cetye special wages Tor these services
Not ore German prisoner Is en- p.oye
Or work OF any description .beyoud
the aetna, clearing OF his own quar-
teee without receiving generous com.
psnsation II the form OF weskly
wages
Have Christmas Troe
The a,aa$ing freedom. left to these
men VAS evidenced on all s.ees dur.
ing my tour Of the camp IL the SER
gear - ,.rnese wac a Christmas tree
pr$pa -ed BY the Een. The prisoners
h4s'e.1rEAn.zed a band. WITH ins.fu.
r.enx generally supplied BY the Brit
!sh. sonr-thosa instruments they play
daily their national anthem and Ger
man tunes. Al day long they have
nothing 70 Go bur pats tbs time a~aS
in games or f-Hd!es Of their o~r
choosing While sonfe' are really en-.
gagged In serious Studios" others pla3
cards. while those with artistic lean
iass paint or devote their time to
wood carving. ~...
Your correspondent was Permitted
TO speak ~ great lenEta 70 MANY o,
these prisoners irtantrvr.er from a.
parts Of Germany. and sailors from,
German submarines and cruisers
Everyone expressed great satisfaction
az the treatment he wa. receiving. ant
although unwilling TO say SO openly
many minated that they we're glad
to be away from the fighting linf
ard 10 ae living In such safe and COM
forta bic quarters :
Happy and Conter.ed
Your correspondent had long tall
with Sergeant Majer En.! Futter
who Is warrant oEcsr Of the entire
camp ana who was captured At Ia
Bassee The .sergeant-major had NJ
hesitation in saving tina, all the naer
were happy and" contentsd- Several