Semi-weekly herald., 1915-08-02

When / came into the camp TODAY
the MAIN street" was crowded with
English soldiers, many wearing wood
en- shoes, with French in tattered
red trousers and blue coats. Scot
tish highlanders in plaid skirts and
brighter plaid stockings and few
hundred giant Russians. Not Ger
man officer or soldier except the
two at the gate, could be seen.
For several hours l visited among
the Canadians. the English and the
French, entirely out of earshot of
any German authority. I asked the
men if my impression of their free
dom was correct and everyone said
it was fact. Every man believed
what an English soldier said, "Of
course, it's fortunate to be a war
prisoner but we are fortunate to
be in a camp where we are given
such freedom"
In what other prison camp, asked,
are the men permitted to gather
in groups and talk as they please?
Many who had been in other camps
said this was the first of its kind
and they attributed this fact to the
administrative ability of the camp
commander, whom every prisoner
praised.
Ambassador Gerard and the Span
ish ambassador in Berlin, who were
here some weeks ago to dedicate the
first American Y. NJ. C. A., ever
built in prison camp, declared the
commander is a "prison genius" Ger
ard said if this officer could take
charge of all the prisons of Europe
there would be no complaint against
the handling of prisoners of war.
Even among Swedish investigators
this is considered the finest camp in
Europe John B. Jackson, of Trenton,
N. J., former minist to Roumania,
who has seen all the camps in Eng
land and Germany holds the samo
opinion.
Camp conditions are excellent, the
spirit Of the men is inspiring, the
camp health is equal to that in the
most healthful spots of the world.
Less than 25 were in the hospital to-
day. The men not only appear happy
but said they were happier than they
ever expected to be as prisoners of
war. And today there are about g.
100 former soldiers of the allies i'm
prisoned here among them 100 Cana
dian members of the former 4Sth
Toronto Highlanders who were cap
tured at Ypres, April q.
This camp was founded in a large
field outside of the old university city
of Goettingen and at the foot of
hill on top of which is Bismarc's
tomb. 1t is made up of several hun
dred frame upholstered shacks, one
story high and similar in every way
to cheap cottages one sees at Ameri-
can summer resorts. Between every
five cottages is a street, some so wide
that the ex-soldiers have potato
patches in front for flower gardens.
The Y. NJ. C. A. building is large
cottage with a library of French,
English and Russian books and maga-
Zines at one end and stage at the
other This afternoon the English
and French were preparing for an
English concert: A Frenchman was
painting scenery for the stage. Bel
gians were installing electric foot
lights and the English were making
the benches with the names of the
audience, which because of the limited
capacity Of the hall, was limited to
invited English soldiers.
This camp is famous in Germany,
also, because Of the interest the pro-
fessors in the University OF Goettlng-
en- take in the welfare of the prison
ers. Many of them have classes in
the camp and instruct the men in
regular university courses. These are
omen to those who wish TO attend.
In the postoffice today, eighteen
English soldiers were asserting mail
packages which today's post brought
from England. German inspectors
were looking inside before the pack
ages We're handler out to see that the
camp rules regarding the receiving
Of home articles were not broken.
Working in this building, We're two
Canadians, both of them lived in To-
ronto and had often visited in Ma
CARA Falls and Buffalo and Detroit.
Leaving the camp for the railroad
station l saw ninety English sol
diers being brought in. They were
among the recent eaptives in Flan-
ders and their clothes were torn and
dirty, My guide in the camp, Lieu
tenant Gropp, who said he had a
Brother-in-law William Presson living