Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-12-05
GERMAN OFFICERS LIVE
IN HISTORIC CHATEAU
'roof That France Is Looking After
Obligation to Care for Its
War Prisoners.
INTERESTING VISIT no CAMP
y" Sign Of Discontent Among Men.
out, ON Contrary, They Furnish
FIXTURE OF WcIl-ConJltioncd Set.
Living Life of Ease and Elegance.

III. Ptf. CENTRAL FRANCE. De
cs'nb"r 4.-Gcrman onicc-s living In
historic chateau on the banks OF
INC romantic loire. much rs they would
iiVo III some castle on the i,hinc. soHie
or thcm with their wives and babies.
u 1th icrlnIn OrdcrlicS. German cooks.
iermHn menus. German war maps,
German orchestras. German games.
German drills-thchc were some OF The
things aak!nS IL apparent to-day that
France WAS living w TO the complete
letter ana spirit OF It's international
obligation q: looking after German
prisoners OF MAR.
The visit to this German officers
camp vas uni" lIy the Associated
l'rcss through tho courtesy of the Min
istry OF Foreign Affairs, with two
French army officers assigned from the
Ninistry OF War to assist In showing
and explaining all the "details OF the
care given 10 German officers
The ancient castle OF Roche ArncaGd
is th" temporary home or hundred
or more OF these German officers, gath
cred in from TN" hattlc OF Cham aSnc
and from all along the lighting line.
and even from the remote Gcrinan is
lands Of the South Pacinc. which have
been taken by French landing par
tics The castle dominates sweep %,
thirty miles or valleys. Mills and low
ranges Of the I3lue Ridge.
Entering tho court Of the castle waa
like passing into some vast German
cstablishinent with German officers in
smart uniforms standing In knots or
stepping sharply across the court and
tho circle Of, surrounding Windows
crowded with smiling and good
natured faces Of many other German
officers. ~ the gate stood = broad
shouldcr"d Saxon officer Nth an ar
lists aSel and canvas before him, or
which h. was laying on the color Of
'hesc dominating tints OF the Loire
Valley and rrDunt1ins.
photographs 81 all the Imprisoned
officers occupied the whole side of
wall in the r"Ccption-room as one en-
tered the place. Each Photograph bore
the name and regiment OF the officer.
The ua'nts were typicaily German
Major Schneider. Major Won Erdt Cap
talu Refs. CAPTAIN kasi They were
nrc-l"oking big framed men. each in
fun uniform, with cap Iauntil! pushed
back AMI ~ TIA. foot Of the photo
graphs were two which stood out from
among these nShteTs--two faces Of
Young German women. and beside them
two tiny babies war babies. born on
French soil OF German parents
No SIGN or piSIoNrENT
AMONG GERMAN OFFICERS
The foil assotnhlagc of German Of
ilF''ls ~ IS t',n Tor INC ilrst 'lfNC .lS
tho par,y entered tn. gardens Of tho
old chateau, for tn" officers seemed
to- have taste which drew thorn into
ths,c beautiful! gHrdcns finished IN
cNuuis!tc French taste, with flowers
nnl foliage At every hard. and look
Ing on into vistns Of tho Loire. There
vas not sign of discomfort about
thcm, on tho contrary they weru -
picture OF wcli-coadtioncd set OF
men, living lifc az ease and oven
elegance Thor uniforms were apick-
ard-.odn; they were well turned ont
and we'll tailored. rhoir coats fitting
faultlcssly and their trousers tightly
over their big legs; they were well
shaved. Well fed we'll conditioned as
though they lad recently stepped out
Of some military club on the Wilhelm
s,rassc
There was a slight air Of suspicion
about tho Germans as the French Of.
hccra entered with the party They
raised their heads proudly and strutt.d
a"ay IN pairs and groups, until soon
Ri OF them were lost in the maze of
shrubhery. But While thoy were H.
sight no ono Of them failed 10 come
10 attention ana give d.rcrcut!nl mill
tory salute TO the French officers IS
crrtirg the party. The latter too wee
most careful not to permit the visi-
'ors 10 intrude upon the privacy Of Tho
German prisoners 10y asking them per
sonal questions taking pictures OF
them or treating them as though thcv
were an exhibit. II was this the Ger
man officers seemed TO fear. but the
scrupulous care OF the French officers
overcamc any such fears
stone wall. fvo feet hign. topped
BY four strands OF barbcd wire a floor
apart. c!rcled the outer edge OF the
castle gardens.
That is the only restraint" said tho
officer. There are no bars or bolts
Tor the officers arc on their parole
Of honor. and these strands Of wire
are little more than u formaIity''
CUSTOMARY ANOCATIONS
IN LIVING QUARTERS
In the living quarters of the castle
tile German officers we're seen going
through their customary aVocations
The rooms were large and light, az
may be expected in a castle OF this