Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-08-30
BRITISH OFFICERS HELD
IN ANCIENT FORTRESS
Dutch Profess to Guard Place Thor
oughly, but Escapes Are
Frequent.
PLEASANT DAILY ROUTINE
Men Revive Games Of Early School
Days, and Use Deep Moat for
Fishing and Swimming Purposes.
Kind Hollander Installs Pianola.

THE HAGUE. NETHERLANDS. Au-
gust 2e.-The ancient fortress of
Wierickerschams. where are informed
the British officers Of tho Antwerp
relief expedition, which was forced by
the Germans 10 retreat into Holland
year ago, occasionally loses some of
It's khaki-clad guests. notwithstanding
that the Dutch profess to guard the
place thoroughly. The British officers,
like many of those informed in other
camps In Holland. refuse to pledge
themselves against trying to escape
into England TO rejoin the fighting
forces. and once outside the fortress
these prisoners find the Dutch people
disposed to make things easy for them.
The guards al the camp are under
orders to shoot any escaping prisoner.
and 1t Is true that they do shoot at
them, but there Is often>,~somcthing
mysteriously poor about their aim. In
fact IL II were not for the constant
arrival of Ship wrecked aviators. the
quota Of prisoners at Wicrickerschams
would not be long sustained.
The fortress is an interesting place.
Although visible from two railway
lines. nobody seems TO have been aware
OF It's existence until the war brought
II to notice. II is surrounded by n
cluster OF green trees and a broad
moat. which makes It virtually an
island. Even the farmers who live
nearby know SO little OF its origin that.
with the historical generosity of the
indifferent. they vaguely refer to the
castle as dating back to the time OF
the Romans. As matter of fact the
fort was built by King William of
England. the Stakeholder of Holland.
and cannot be older than the wear lI7o
IT was In that year that King Louis
NV. Of France invaded Holland and
marched right up TO Amsterdam. Tho
country was at once flooded and sew
eral Notifications were built in this
impromptu sea TO guard the few high
roads which could no, be Submerged
MoAT USED FOR FISHING
AND SWIMMING PURPOSES
The deep and broad moat which sur
rounds the fortress is now used for
fishing and swimming purposes by the
forty-fve British officers informed
there. In the distance there is a
pretty Dutch landscape. with rcdroofcd
houses, clusters OF trees, few busy
windmills. and high sky, all OF them
suggestive OF liberty that is near at
hand, but which is barred by a double
row OF wire fences. both above ana
under water. and series OF armed
Dutch guards. At night the entire
zone OF barbed wire and rifles is
lighted UP by strong arc lights, Civ
ing tho old fort an appearance some
thing like an American amusement
park on a summer night But when
approached closely IT is seen that mos
quitoes and bats are the only ones 10
enjoy this beautiful glare The occu-
pants OF tho fort are safely locked up
for the night. and al IL O'Clock tho,
arc sent TO bed.
For year now these men have bean
in prison which really is no; a prison.
II they were prisoners OF war they
could he treated severely and could
ne punished for the breaking OF any,
rule Of the camp Since they are in
termed foreign soldiers and have not
given their parole that they sh1ll MOI
try 10 escape they are AT perfect lib
erty TO walk away the moment they
can When they are caught they are
brought back, but they renew their
efforts the next morning, and unless
they actually destroy government prom
erty there is no way in which to pun
ish them for the troubl. which ,h.v
have caused ali around AS matter
Of cact, the Dutch boy. who is stand
ing guard. is not going TO burden his
conscience with the death OF an OK
cellent fellow with whom he has PLAYED
games for many months AMI against
whom he has nothing but friendly feel
irgs.
AS for the daily routine o. the in
termed officers IL can be we'll compared
TO father quiet watering place The
men nave revived the games of their
do.
day indulge in a mild game of round
e-s. The British government. has built
Two excellent tennis courts The
Dutch government has pu, up a Jump
ing board, and between II and al
lows the men the liberty CT the moat.
kind Hollander has installed =
pianola