Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1915-01-31
ARE REPATRIAT!NG
CIVIL PRISONERS
Red Cross Committee in
Switzerland Doing
Good Work.
Thousands of Prisoners
Have Been Exchanged
Through Bureau.

Correspondence Of the Associated Press)
BERNE, Switzerland, Jan. 10.-Ac-
cording to date supplied by the In
tcrnational Bureau for lnterned Civil
Persons, about two thousand French
who had been itncrned i'm Germany
have been repatriated through the
services of the bureau. In these cases
the Red Cross committee supplied
free transportation through Switzer-
land. In addition about $50 French
citizens who were unable to pay their
railroad fare were assisted by the
committee in securing their release in
Germany
The bureau has been largely re.
sponsble for the reciprocal exchange
Of interned civil persons held in
France, Germany and Austro- Hun
gary In addition to repatriating
French citizens, 1t has also assisted
such Germans and Austro- Iungar-
ians as have been released by the
French government. BY December
is the number OF Germans who had
been aided by the bureau TO reach
their homes exceeded six thousand.
Austro- -Hungarians, In whose behalf
the bureau had been active, num-
bered more than sixteen hundred.
These large numbers of refugees were
For 1,015 Germans and Austro-Hun-
garians and 70 Austrians 1t secured
permanent residence in Switzerland
The bureau was organized during
the middle OF September For sew
eral weeks neither the German nor
the French government needed its re-
gusts that the civil prisoners OF war
held in the two countries be given
their liberty. On October 20 its ef-
fort led to the announcement that
both governments would liberate
the women and children held by
them and such males as had not
reached the age OF II. or had passed
the age of so. on September 20. 1914.
Shortly afterwards the first transports
from both countries began 10 arrive.
Extended Agreement.
As the result OF further negotiations
the French and German governments
agreed on November 25 TO include in
the class of exchangeable interned
men between the ages of As and so
who apparently were no longer fit for
military service.
Austria Hungary and France agreed
on October 13 on an exchange Of all
women and children and males who
had not yet reached the age Of II or
had passed 90. Later 1t was also de-
cided to exchange the military unit
on the basis already agreed upon with
Germany.
In addition to assisting the civil
prisoners OF war on the return TO
their homes, the bureau takes care Of
the correspondence Of those who have
not been liberated as yet, generally
males OF military age and fitness. II
also interests itself In the complaints
made by these.
The bureau. moreover. has charged
itself with the following: Securing
Information concerning n Itrals liy-
ing in any OF the belligerent states;
interesting itself to the extent possible
under existing conditions in the civil
prisoners Of war held i'm England.
Russia, Servia and the other belliger-
ent countries and their colonies
watching the treatment Of males OF
military age and fitness who have
been detained in any OF the countries
at war: and reporting on all cases Of
hostage. The bureau also undertakes
securing data on the whereabouts and
condition OF neutrals who for varioIs
reasons have not been able to cola