The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1915-11-06

THE text cause of trouble arose
in this way: An excellent rule had
been made by the authorities that hot
water could be obtained in the official
cookhouse from early morning till ate
at night. But the German cooks en-
forced an unwritten law that a penny
must be paid by each person each
time hot water was required. paid
my penny, like everybody else, and
obtained the hot water at one / no.
ticed, however, a sailor who did not
get any until all had been served.
When asked for an explanation, he
frankly told me that he had no money
and therefore was boycotted by the
cooks.
"The next day l asked for water,
but did not pay. On the succeeding
days | was ignored Systematically by
the cooks. At my request our section
chief called a general meeting, to
which l made my complaint about the
im~possibility of procuring hot water
without payment, and explained that
as about three thousand men three
times daily fetched hot water this
meant about e3 to ga (s15 to 500
a day for the six cooks. Accordingly,
a unanimous resolution was sent to
the governor, who promptly abolished
the abuse.
Regulating Camp Affairs.
"As a rule the military officials were
willing to make any alterations sug-
gested by US. For instance, there was
much delay in the delivery of letters
and postal parcels sent to the prison
ers. l proposed that a few reliable
prisoners be placed in the censor's Of
fee, open the parcels in his presence.
and, after his inspection, close them
up again. This plan was agreed to,
and it worked splendidly. Also one
hundred parcels, the addresses Of
which had been lost under the old
system. were on our suggestion ex-
posed in the camp and speedily re-
claimed by their owners.
According to official instructions
our huts had to be scrubbed twice
monthly; we decided to do this every
week, each of us in turn. Whether
it was a wealthy banker from the city
or a penniless waiter from Soho, each
one did his work without grumbling.
Only one elderly merchant offered five
%shillings to anyone willing to do his
share. Not because | do not want
to scrub he explained, but because
for three days after doing so cannot
move without pain in my back A
young fellow consented to do the job
for him for %sixpence. Some of the
prisoners received neither money nor
parcels and therefore had to subsist
entirely on the official rations, which,
of course, did not include Injuries.
When Quarrels Break Out.
Everything that tends to keep the
men busy is welcomed, because a GER
tain amount of and irrita.
bility is inevitable when thousands OF
men are suddenly taken from their
work and forced to live together at
close quarters, Quarrels break out
easily and may quickly assume dan,
gerous proportions.
zone afternoon a German baker
commented bitterly on the anti-Ger.
man riots in London, which had ru
ined him. Served you right said a
young fellow thoughtlessly. The next
moment he was nearly lynched by the
bakers friends. | managed to gel
him surrounded by more ~peaceable
persons and proposed to call our owl
police. No, no. the crowd shouted
Father Ludwig, you go and settle the
quarrel 1t was not a difficult task
as the young man made a complete
apology.
"One fine evening we were standing
! outside our hut, contemplating thu
starry sky, while our doctor frienC
r gave us some astronomical explana
4 tions. Suddenly a shot resounded. II
a moment there was wild confusion II
/ the camp and the combined effort,
of all the more responsible men wer,
required TO subdue it. We Learned
' afterward that the sentry had shot a
1 a man who tried to escape. The eIe
ments of a tragedy or of a panic ar
= always present, aud the only antidot
I is work.
Z OF Course There Is Music.
) Besides we had music! 1t is sal
3 that when half a dozen Germans ge
1 together some sort of musical societ
is sure to be formed, SO you can imae
inc that music is .tiourishing in tn
I camp. Seeing the number of first-rat
7 musicians interned; | wondered hoy
London orchestras could exist at al
EvoaIIenf chOfra and handa have hoo