South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1915-04-23
BY Frederick Werner.

BERLIN, April %. - Stories Of
cruel and inhuman treatment of pris-
oners of war in German cOncentra-
ton camps have lately become so fire.
quent in the French and English
press that IL was with great pleasure
1 accepted an invitation from the
German minister of war to visit any
camp l might desire, the only condi-
ton imposed upon me being that !
should try my best to give an UNI
biased impression what / saw to my
American readers.
Supplied with an official document
stating that / was travelling as a rep
resentative Of the war ministry and
permitting me 10 make use OF mill
tary trains, L was allowed absolute
freedom Of movement everywhere,
and i can truthfully state that what /
saw was not what the authorities
particularly wanted 20 show, but
everything I thought would help 10
give me a true idea of actual Condi-
tions.
Before I start to give details let me
/ first state that have personally con-
/ WINGED myself there is no truth what
/ ever in the statement made time and
again in hostile countries that Ger
many is starving her prisoners of
war Thousands or German citizens
the fare supplied captured enemies
Talking without the presence Of
witnesses with many English, Rus
/ sian and Serbian and French prison
| ers Of war. who had no object in con-
I cealing anything from me. I was told
! time and again that the fare is suffi-
Cient and well prepared. My visit to
| the food depots and larders Of vari-
! Gus prisoners camps confirmed this.
Have Heavy Menu.
On week days the prisoners twice
I daily receive bowl OF some kind of
soup with squares Of meat in it, diff
I ferent of course from the dishes with
which they are familiar at home. but
| nevertheless good, nourishing German
soup made with beans, lentils, kale.
potatoes or peas, first time at
o'clock in the morning and second
/ time at 4.30 in the afternoon. while
/ at noon they are given a cold ration
consisting of sausage. cheese and war
/ bread ON Sundays they get three
! hot meals
! The meat is cut up and put into
| the soup first because il is easier 10
| see that each prisoner gets an equal
amount Of meat. and second because
no knives are permitted within the
/ camps. Every prisoner has a fold
/ ing spoon which he carries in the
/ breast pocket Of his coac.
Every captive is weighed regularly
I TO see that he is not losing flesh.
Sanitary conditions are excellent
and there was very little sickness
anywhere. though the winter has been
/ damp and cold This is perhaps
/ principally due TO the fact that con-
centration camps have been con-
/ ing water is good and plentiful. The
I barracks are we'll ventilated and
I heated. Here I must also mention
/ that the clothes of all arriving prison
/ ers are disinfected and stcrilizcd i'm
I special ovens before they are admit
\ ted into the camps and men them
selves get a shower bath Bathing at
regular intervals is compulsory.
Much Typhoid Fever.
Among the French prisoners saw
near the front there was q good
many cases of typhoid and enteric
/ fever and special fever hospitals have
( been built in isolated places. All at
| tendants and nurses are innoculated
with anti-typhoid serum with excel
/ lent results.
Nearly everywhere 7 found the
/ prisoners in excellent spirits. They
got along sIlcudidly together and
most is the enforced idleneSs and the
scarcity OF reading matter in their
own languages. While there was
still snow on the ground russian and
I English prisoners engaged In many
snow ballinE contests.
The membership of the Gree Ma
tional society which was founded hy
/ Prof Kahl q little over six weeks ago
| continues TO increase by leaps and
/ bounds. a fact which speaks well for
Y their relations with their guards are
quite friendly. though both sides are
I equally convinced Of ultimate victory
I for their cause Discipline Is strict
but no more than reasonable.
What the prisoners complain of
/ the patriotism of the German people.
The object OF the society is not SO
much 10 arouse enthusiasm for the
war as 20 preserve the surprisine
unity of purpose and obhteration OF
all party differences which has
+ astonished the world and added inn
monsely 20 the strength Of Germany
during the war.
AS far as the national aims Of the
society are concerned IL has the
I hearty endorsement OF the govern
ment. but its political aims are oven
d.. e s.-