El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1915-11-26
ARE PRISONERS
IN NAME ONLY
French Treat German Pris-
oners as Guests; Wives
and Babies With Them.

lie Puy. Central France, Nov. 90
German officers IivinE IN a historic
chateau on the banks of the romantic
Loire, much as they would live in some
castle on the Rhine, some OF them with
their wives and babies. with German
Orderlies. German cooks. German mem
US, German war-maps. German orches-
tras, German games. German drills
these were some Of the things making
II apparent today that France was liT-
ing up to the complete letter and spirit
OF its international obligation Of look
ing after German prisoners of war
The visit TO this German officers
camp was made by The Associated
Press through the courtesy of the min
iStry Of foreign affairs, with two
French army officers assigned from the
ministry OF war TO assist IN showing
and explaining all the details of the
care given 20 German Officers
The ancient castle of ROche-Arneud
is the temporary home of a hundred
or more Of theeS German officers,
gathered in from the battle Of Cham
payne and from all along the fighting
line, and even from the remote Ger
man islands of the South Pacific which
have been taken by French landing
parties. The castle dominates a sweep
Of 80 miles Of valleys. hills and low
mountains, much like the picturesque
RANGES OF the b4ue EAuEt.
There was q slight air Of suspicion
about the Germans as the French Of
ficers entered with the party. They
raised their heads proudly and strutted
away IN pairs and groups. until soon
all Of them We're lost in the maze of
shrubbery. But while they were in
sight no one Of them failed to come
to attention and give deferential mill
tary salute TO the French officers es-
cOrting the party The latter. too. were
most careful not to permit the visitors
to intrude upon the privacy of the Ger
man prisoners by asking them personal
treating them as though they were an
exhibit II was this the German Of
fictrs seemed TO fear, but the scrupu-
lous care Of the French Officers over
came any such fears
On Parole Of Honor.
A stone wall. five rect high. topped
by four strands OF barbed wire a foot
apart, circled the outer edge Of the
castle gardens
That is the only restraint" said the
officer There are no bars OF bolts
for the Officers are on the parole OF
honor and these strands Of wire are
little more than a Formally"
In the living quarters OF the castle
through their customary avOCauiOns-
The rooms were large and light. as
may be expected in a castle Of this
proportion. with the windows overlook
-
Of the occupants were on each door.
On one. for example, were the names-
Captain Freiheer, Captain Gruner- As
the French commandment Knocked, the
door was thrown open and the German
captains stood like statues at military
salute One Of them. 4 big yellow
bearded man; the other with mono
Gle IN his eve looked the part OF q
young nObleman- They were smoking
cigarets and a box Of cigars was open
on the table. One of them was inter
ester in a portrait he was painting.
The library shelves showed collections
of German classics In the next room
a wounded German officer labored to
his feet and despite his wound threw
back his shoulders and came 10 the
salute His wound was slight
and he was now cOnvalescing with
every comfort about him on his bed
was carelessly thrown a roll Of fine
made BY army engineers When ne
saw the visitors glancing at these
plans he shook his head and smiled
mo, they are not war plans" said
he Il am the burgomaster Of Metz,
and those are some Of the plans for
Improvements which were
under my control continue 70 study
them and they interest me greatly"
Some Of the officers just brought in
from the battle-line at Champagne,
where $4,000 German prisoners were
taken, were in one Of the large rooms.
The Women and Babies.
Now the party turned 10 the rooms
where the wives and babies Of the
German officers We're CHARTERED. It
was on the first floor Of q substantial
building on the court. up one flight
OF narrow stairs In the first room
stood a typical young German woman.
buXOm and good looking. with flaNen
hair done up in coil The furnish
ings were simple but good, and a large
window threw a flood Of sunshine on
TO a little cradle in which the baby
was lying.
It's nice you have such fresh afr
and sunshine for the baby" said the
visitor.
Yes" replied the German wife dubi-
ously, but the room is very small
and the soldiers make much noise
at night"
That was her only comment, but
so far as could be seen there was
eEery evidence Of creature comfort
naturally to be expected under such
0nditiOns.
In the next room the German wife
had her door firmly closed and il took
a sharp knock on the c0or, and a word
o. command in German. to bring a
slow and reluctant opening. Then
this young German matrOn appeared.
With the baby in the background under
another flood Of sunlight. but with
her good-loOklng face full Of fire and
resentment at the intrusion. She said
nothing and the party did not press
inquiries.
W omen Elead TO Leave.
As the party withdrew TO the great !
court of the castle. the two German
women left together in their rooms
evidently held a council Of war. Soon
hey appeared at their doorway and .
ogether marched out to the center of !
he court where the French officers
md visitors were grouped together
We want to leave here" they said, ]
peaking together and very firmly
We have addressed a letter asking /
hat we be allowed to leave, and we 1
ave no answer"
German officers crowded to the win
lows as the two wives made their pro-
est. and looked down intently at the !
ene. One Of the visitors asked /
Why the wives were there. They had /
ONE voluntarily. IL was explained. |
Wishing to be with heir husbands but /
low, after some months they wanted 1
o leave. The mother OF one Of them. 4
living in Switzerland. it was stated. 4
lad written a letter requesting that 4
hey be permitted to return TO Ger /
many. The application had been duly 4
iassed upon by the French military
who concluded that il was (
ot reasonable for prisoners who had \
Ill H-.e--