The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1915-11-12

The next cause OF trouble arose
I'm this way; An excellent rule had
been made by the authorities that hot
water could be obtained IN the otlica
cookhouse from early morning till late
at night But the German cooks en-
| forced an unwritten law that penny
must be paid by each person each
1 time hot water was required paid
my penny, like everybody else, and
obtained the hot water at once. 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 ! asked for water
but did not pay. On the succeeding
| days ! was ignored Systematically bv
the cooks. At my request our section
| chief called a general meeting. to
which 7 made my complaint about the
impossibility of procuring hot water
without payment. and explained that
as about three thousand men three
times daily fetched hot water this
meant about CO to ca C$15 to 500
day for the six cooks. Accordingly,
unanimous resolution was sent to
the governor, who promptly abolished
the abuse.
Regulating Camp Affairs.
"As a rule the military officials were
% al
gested by rs. For instance, there was
much delay in the delivery OF letters
and postal parcels sent to the prison.
ers proposed that a few reliable
prisoners be placed in the censor's Of.
fice 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 10 official instructions
our huts had to be scrubbed twice
monthly; we decided to do this every
week. each of US in turn. Whether
1t was a wealthy banker from the citv
Or a penniless waiter from Soho. each
one did his work without grumbing
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 luxuries
When Quarrels Break Out
Everything that tends to keep the
men busy is welcomed, because a Ger
tain amount of nervousness and irrita
bility is inevitable when thousands OF
men are suddenly taken from thei;
work and forced to live together al
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
young fellow thoughtlessly. The next
moment he was nearly lynched by the
bakers friends. | managed to get
him surrounded by more peaceable
persons and proposed to call our own
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 complete
apology
One fine evening we were standing
outside our hut, contemplating the
starry sky, while our doctor friend
gave us some astronomical expana
tions Suddenly a shot resounded. In
a moment there was wild confusion in
the camp and the combined efforts |
of all the more responsible men were
required to subdue it. We learned |
afterward that the sentry had shot at
a man who tried to escape. The ele
ments of a tragedy or Of a panic are
always present. and the only antidote
is work.
OF Course There Is Music.
Besides we had music! It is said |
that when half dozen Germans get |
together some sort of musical society |
is sure to be formed, SO you can imag |
inc that music is fourishing in the |
camp. Seeing the number of irstrate
musicians interned, wondered how
London orchestras could exist at all
Excellent choirs and bands have been