The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-04-14
GERMAN PRISON CAMPS,
Defence Of the Administration
Charged with 1nhumauity,

~ !" r'DIJOW OF lHE SCN-Str. line
despatch quoting In part the report Of
the Government committee on the treat
ment In Germany Of British prisoners
OF war reveals conditions which, II true.
are shocking. But for many reasons
Judgment should be suspended until
something is heard from Germany in
reply to these charges Meantime, how
ever, certain Of them can be refuted or
at least explained from data available
in this country.
Ambassador Gerard visited Wittenber9
early In November, 1915. and examined
the camp thoroughly. He forwarded a
report TO Ambassador Page. who laid II
before the proper authorities. In the
latter part OF November the London
papers published What purported 10 be
the gist of the Gerard report. The
phrase even more unfavorable than I
had been led TO expect occurred In these
articles. According to a statement pub
lished IN the semi-official North German
Gazette the Prussian War Ministry,
which had c~ogni1ance of the Gerard re-
port, was surprised at the phraseology
In which II appeared in the English
papers. To defend itself Il took UP the
various charges, some Of which are iden-
teal with those raised In the British
Government committee report.
In regard to clothing the German
aIIllllStTdtluu SIdIeu InAV. Ill AOOIvIOn no
clothing It's own forces. II was faced with
the problem OF clothing i,5O0,0 900 pris-
oners. and that In meeting this enorrnou,
demand delays were hound to occur.
Later. however. every prisoner had q
warm coat. Before the supply was COM
plete prisoners in the camp had TO rive
up their coats for such Of their comrades
as were working outside the camp, since
! those men were much more expoaed TO
slA ., "a. a. - ah-
one Of the evils which the German
governor had 10 deal with al wi..enbers
was gambling. Although. Rames Of
chance and betting were strictly for.
hidden. men would play. and numerous
cases have been reported where men
having no money Ra,nbIe6 away their
clothing. The German war administra-
| ton fel, that II would he most in fudi.
! clous 10 repIace garments lost IN this
fashion.
In regard IN tho question ~ food ,he
war adninIs,r,t ion said tina, the feeding
OF the prisou.rs OF war In Germany had
been scientifically designed and no. AIDE.
uuatply mot all the tests. Thu food ann.
plv was ample. vas not in a
p~osi,ion to take into confederation or
In satisfy snecial tastes and orefndicss
in foods such as the british p~ri,oner, Of
war seem 10 have Certain Of the Rrit-
lsh prisoners told Ambassador Gerard
tina. they were living altogether on food
sent 10 Them from home. ON the other
hand the ambassador himself amir
the SCUM served IN the prisoners. said
tha, i, seemed 10 him to he very GOOD.
AND renorted that most OF the prisoners
sn,,rd I, IN be ca
The statement that savage dog. were
.mn,oved IN ,errorIze Tho prisoner. In
,slso according 10 the German War
Ministry Polio, dogs were used for
guard duty M Wittenherr These dogs
,re ,rajned for notice duty and do not
1,tark unless prisoners atari 10 run
,v,v III, dogs natro, with the guard
II rrisouer when ordered 10 halt.
.t,r,cd IN ruu away The dog would seize
nm This ,s s,Id 10 have renes,edly
n,ru,.od when pr,soners were caught
~y,yhlng
~ ,or,rds III. sanitary conditions the
Fac, ,h,, , ,vnhus enidemic could start
no,,,d .o.w ,o shou, tha, they we're nm
-, sr,rtorv Here II should however.
,o Unconditional ,b., On. Germans we're
,,,, 70 :, h,rd ,as,, In Tho hes,nn,pe az
,hn u,r In erec,inp camns sufficient In