East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1915-07-23
Stories From the War Zone

red trousers and blue coats: Scottish
Highlanders in plaid skirts and bright
er plaid stockings and a few hundred
giant Russians. Not German Off
Ger or soldier except the two at the
gate, could be seen.
For several hours l visited among
the Canadians. the English and
French. entirely out of earshot of any
Germany authority. | asked the men
II my impression of their freedom was
correct and everyone said it was a
fact Every man believed what an
English soldier said. "Of course. it's
fortunate to be a war-prisOner but we
are fortunate to be in a camp where
We are given so much freedom"
In what other prison camp, l asked
are the men permitted to gather in
groups and talk as they please and
do what they please. Many. who had
been in other camps said Gottingen
was the first of its kind and they at.
tributed this fact to the administra-
tive ability Of the camp commander,
whom every prisoner praised.
Ambassador Gerard and the Spanish
Ambassador in Berlin, who were here
some weeks ago to dedicate the first
American Y NJ. c. A. ever built in a
prison camp or prison, declared the
commander is 'prison-genius." "
Gerard said II this officer could take
charge of all the prisons in Europe
there would be no complaint against
the handling of prisoners of war.
Even among Swedish investigators
Goettingen is considered the finest
camp In Europe. John B. Jackson,
of Trenton. N. j., former American
minister to Roumania, who has seen
all the camps in England and Ger
many holds the same opinion.
Camp conditions are excellent. the
spirit of the men is inspiring, the
camp health is equal to that in the
most healthful spots in the world
! Less than Is were in the hospital to-
day. The men not only appear happy
but said they were happier than they
ever expected to be as prisoners OF
war. And today there are about s, =
( 100 former soldiers Of the allies inn
prisoned here. among them $50 Ca
nadians. members of the former 4Sth
Toronto Highlanders who were cap.
tured at Ypres April "a.
This camp was founded in large
field outside the old university city oi
GOettlngen and at the foot Of a high
hill on top Of which is Bismarck's
tomb. 1t Is made up Of several hun.
dred frame upholstered shacks, one
story high and similar in every way
to cheap cottages one sees at Ameri
can summer resorts. Between every
five cottages is a street. some SC
wide that the ex-soldiers have potato
patches in front for flower gardens
The Y. N. c. A. building is a larg,
cottage with a library Of French
English and Russian books and maga
zines at one end and a stage at thu
other. This afternoon the Englisl
and French were preparing for al
English concert. A Frenchman wa
. painting the scenery for the stage
Belgians were installing electric foot
lights and the English were markinl
the benches with the names Of tn,
audience which because OF the limit
ed capacity Of the hall, was limited t.
invited English soldiers.
This camp Is famous in Germany
also, because of the interest the pro
fessors in the University Of Goettln
gen take in the welfare Of the prison
ers. Many Of them have classes II
the camp and instruct the men II
regular university courses. These ar
open to those who wish to attend.
In the post office today eighteei
English soldiers were asserting mai
packages which today's post brough
from England. German Inspector
were looking inside before the pack
ages we're handed out to see that tn
! camp rules regarding the receiving 0
home articles were not broken. Work
ing in this building were two canadi
ans both Of whom lived in Toront'
and had often visited in Niagara Falls
Buffalo and Detroit.
; Leaving the camp for the railroa'
station J saw ninety English soldier
being brought in. They were anon
the recent captiyes in Flanders AM
their clothes were torn and dirty Nj