The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-05-29
l,5OO BRITISHERS
IN INTERN MENT
Are Proving Their Right to the Name
of "Handymen' by Adopting
Themselves to Their Lot
in Holland.

Groningen. The Netherlands, May Is
Fifteen hundred men of the British navy
In the internment camp here are prov
| ing their right to the name Of handy
men, by accommodating themselves
successfully to their change in lot
The camp, in .the immediate vicinity
OF Groningen, is the most healthy and
well situated internment depot in this
country, and its practical arrangement
has been carried out by the jackies them
selves.
The encampment is about six miles in
circumference and is on the sandy heath.
cr-coated soil usual in this part of Hol-
land Four immense huts have been
erected side by side along the center
line, Three OF them are used as dormi-
tories and dining rooms by the three
battalions Of sailors and are named aft
er renowned British admirals- Benhow,
Drake and Collingwood. The fourth hut
is church. theatre and recreation hall
combined end seats about 900 men. On
other parts OF the ground are the admin
istration huts. capacious gymnasium,
wash houses, workshops, store rooms, Ii
brary and guardroom for the Dutch
soldiers in charge. The spirit and disci
pine of the men are very high and they
show great willingness to perform any
duty allotted to them by the Dutch au
thorities. with whom they are on excel
lent terms.
Numbers of the men have entered the
courses of higher mathematics at Gron-
ingen university; others give their time
to the study of modern languages
French, German Italian and Dutch, the
last is now spoken with more or less
facility by all the men. Then there are
fret workers wood carvers, shoemakers
and repairers. and large number of
ture with yari-colored woods articles of
real artistic value as well as OF use. At
an exposition of the mems work this
week a collection Of exhibits was gath
cred which was of very high class char
icter. The proceeds of the sale of the
work are devoted to the provision Of
for the less fortunate British
prisoners over the frontier in Germany. |
A brass band is in daily practice with |
his will head the column OF men when |
t turns out for its daily route march |
inder a small Dutch guard over the
country.
A dramatic club also has been formed |
inder the leadership of a son OF the late |
english actor Penley.
1.-THE Timbertown Follies," burlcsaue
roupc, has attained such success that it /
He'd the opera house in Groningen for
many nights And has been invited, with
he permission Of the Dutch military au-
horities, to perform in Tho Hague and
ther cities.
The men make all their own costumes
nd paint their own scenery. much OF
which would do credit to frst-class
heatre
Small truck gardens arc beginning to
reduce good results under the careful
ttention of the informed men. and the
resh vegeta bles raised make welcome
EDITION to the ample meat, bread and
I'm or molasses. potatoes and canned
,ods officially served.
Pretty flower gardens also have been
id out in the form of anchor. boats and
iher naval devices.
Church parade, at which attendance il /,
every Sunday by all ranks
the British navy and army, il con
Icted by a chaplain OF the Church of
ngland Tho Catholics and monochrome
Is among the men, however. are march
'paratelv to town churches OF their re.
,ective denominations under guard The
'otchmen in the camp who speak only
aelio are provided for with a special !
ryice in that tongue.