The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1915-12-29
Confined for Duration Of War $50
Of Kaiser's Subjects Live in
Big Structure in North
London
MODEL SYSTEM
IS WORKED OUT
Scheme Of Self-Government Under
British Officer is Success; Dem
ocratic Spirit Governs;
Daily Routine
BY WILBUR S. FORREST.
y. p. staff correspondent

LONDON, Dec. 2.--(By mail)-
When a German torpedo destroyed
the Lusitania May Z, causing riots and
the subsequent wholesale internment
Iof enemy aliens. England kept its So
luton of the difficult internment prob
lem strictly secret. After seven
months the United Press is able to-
Cay, through the courtesy of the war
office, to tell the story for the first
time.
British leniency and German thor
oughness have co-ordinated to make
England's enemy internment business
a positive success. Five London Bob
bies and ten-foot fence of American
barbed wire guard $50 of the Kaiser's
military eligibles at Islington, North
London. Inside a great central build
ing and auxiliary structures which in
ante-bellum days composed a munich
Pal refuge for the poor. is today a
model system Of self-government
where $50 citizens" have worked out
their own restricted salvation for the
duration of the war.
Take note of the Germans you
would meet on the streets of Mil
waukee, st. Louis or Cincinnati and
you would know the appearance of
the personnel at lslington. Almost all
these were business heads, clerks,
bakers, butchers, BARRIERS, cabinet
makers, bookbnders or tradesmen in
London before the Lusitania riots. In
May hundreds of them were bundled
up and sent to Islington, away from
harm and mischief
The $50 were placed in charge of
Major Halliday. who has seen service
in India. He divided the internes into
units of between 30 and 40 and in
structed each group to elect its cap
tain. The captains met and elected
q captain OF captains, wealthy Prus-
sian business man Of London before
the war. Presided over by this dig
nitary, a council of captains IS held
daily to adjudicate disputes, consider
claims and administer business. If
judgment of this body is unsatisfac-
tory the case may be passed to Major
Halliday.
The latest inferno at Islington is a
German merchant, enjoying an income
of s125,0OO year He was unable to
secure one of the few private rooms
reserved at $3.50 per week because
other internes had taken them. He
appealed to the council of captains.
The democratic spirit of this unique
tribunal asserted itself and the appli-
cant was politely informed that his
$3.50 was no better than anyone's in
Islington's Germany" He appealed
to Major Halliday. The major replied
that he felt compelled to abide by the
decision of the lower court.
The wealthy citizen was forced to
occupy regulation quarters. These
quarters, in the main building, arc
ample. They consist of high walled,
well ventilated rooms where from
eight to fifteen sanitary couches are
ranged along the walls. On each is
mattress, blankets and pillow. These
together with general lavatories. wash
rooms and bathrooms on every floor,
make this internment camp more like
a weii planned hotel. Large day
rooms where visitors may be enter
tanned, a commodious yard with rain
shelter. workshops, tennis court.
dining rooms and tea rooms, make it
unnecessary for the men to occupy
their sleeping quarters during day.
light
Afternoon tea is daily event. Here
is the routine: Arise at eight; break
fast at $40; work. study or diversion
until noon working is optional but
hundreds are busy at various tasks
under supervision of the council Of
captains) dinner at Y; work or en-.