The Bemidji daily pioneer., 1915-07-23
PRISONERS TREATED WELL
Continued froB rare IL

German officer or soldier except the
two at the gate. could be seen.
For several hours visited among.
the Canadians, the English and,
French, entirely out of earshot of any
German authority. / asked the men
of my impression of their freedom
was correct and everyone said it was
a fact. Everybody believed
what an English soldier said:
|"of course, it's fortunate, 10
be q war prisoner but we
fortunate to be in such camp where
we are given SO much freedom
In what other prison camp, asked,
are the men permitted to gather in
groups and talk as they please and
do what they please: Many, who
had been In other camps said Goettin-
gen was the first of its kind and they
attributed this fact to the administra-
tive ability of the camp commander,
whom every prisoner praised
Ambassador Gerard and the Span.
tsh Ambassador in Berlin, who were
here some weeks ago to dedicate the
first American Y. M. c. A., ever built
in prison camp or prison, declare
the commander is prison genius"
Gerard said If this officer could take
charge Of all the prisons in Europe
there would be no complaint against
the handling of prisoners of war.
Even among swedish Investigators
Goettingen is considered the finest
camp in Europe. John B. Jackson,
of Trenton, j., former American
Minister to Rouman1a, who has seen
all the camps in England and Ger
many holds the same opinion
Camp conditions are excellent, the
spirit of the men is inspiring, the
camp health is=equal to that in the
most healthful spots in the world.
Less than Is were in the hospital to-
day. = The men not only appeared
happy but said they were, happier
than they ever expected to be as
prisoners of war. And today there
are about 8,10O former soldiers of the
Allies imprisoned here, among them
100 Canadians, members of the for
mer 18th, Toronto Highlanders who
were captured at Ypres, April "a.
This camp was founded in. a large
field outside the old university city
of: .Goettingen: and at the foot of a
high hill on top of which is Bis
marck.s tomb. It is made up of sew
eral hundred frame upholstered
shacks, zone story high and similar
in every way to cheap cottages one
! sees at American summer resorts
Between every five cottages is a
street, some so wide that the ex-sol-
diers have potato patches in front
for flower gardens.
| The7Y M. c. A: building is large
cottageaGwith library of. French
English and Russian books and
magazines at one end and stage al
the other. This afternoon the Eng
lishc and French were preparing fol
an English concert. A Frenchman
was painting scenery for the stage
TBelgians were installing footlights
and the English were marking the
benches with the names of the audi
ence, which, because of the limited
capacity Of the hall, was limited tc
invited English soldiers.
This camp is famous in Germany
also because of the interest the pro.
fessors in the University of Goet:
tingen take in the welfare of the
prisoners. Many of them have classes
in the camp and instruct the men in
regular university courses. These
are open to those who wish to at.
tend. :. ziz - .-
In the postofflce today Eighteen
English soldiers we're asserting mail
packages which today's post brought
from England: German inspectors
were looking inside before the pack
ages were handed out to see that the
camp rules regarding the receiving
Of home articles were not broken.
Working in this building were two
Canadians, both Of whom lived in
Toronto and had often visited " in
Niagara Falls, Buffalo and Detroit
Leaving the camp for the railroad