New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-08-06
Germany's Prison Camps.

Germany's Prison Camps.
Though experience had clearly demon
strated the futility of reprisals, there are
still few Engishmen who seem to think
that the sufferings of British prisoners in
Germany might be alleviated were the
British government to initiate the German
example. But they are a minority, and
though it is generally conceded that it
would be allowable to regulate the rations
in the prison camps by the German stand
ard, few believe that such step would in
sure any improvement in the treatment of
.Gernanys victims.
A more promising proposal, backed by
some influential people, is to endeavor 10
secure the exchange of the civilian prison
ers without too much counting of heads.
Germany has only about 1000, while Eng
land has nearly 10000, but there are many
who would be glad to give back all the
Germans if they could rescue their own
countrymen. "The Spectators sugges
ton is "to tell the Germans that if our
civilian prisoners were all returned we
would send them back as many Of their
nationals over and above the four thou
sand as could be induced, without positive
coercion, to return to their native land"
1t will doubtless be impossible to do
much for the unfortunate soldiers at Ger
nany's mercy, but civilians at least might
be relieved, and the plan proposed by "The
Spectator" is the more likely to gain gen
cral approval since it is clear that former
protests against German inhumanity have
had little or no effect The conditions at
Ruhleben as described in a recent report
by our Ambassador at Berlin are shock
ing. Il is, as Mr.. Gerard says, "intoler
able" that men SHOULD be herded six to-
gether in horses STALL" but the state of
affairs in the hay lofts was even worse.
To quote from his letter to Mr.. Page in
London:
For example, in Barrack No. one
half section Of the loft is at the centre
about ten feet from the floor from the
highest point, and the loft slopes
downward, so that at the sides it is
only four and half feet above the
floor: the floor of this part of the loft
is about ten metres twenty by twelve
metres eighty. The beds are so close
together that they touch In this con-
fined space sixty-four men live"
Add to this that there is but one small
window, that the heating arrangements are
insufficient, that the men have no place
to dry their clothes, though Obliged to an
swer rollcalls outside, often in the rain, >"
and that many necessities such as soap are
not provided, and the misery of these IN
fortunate victims Of German savagery can
be imagined. This brutality is evidently
calculated for as Mr.. Gerard says "the
Imperial authorities, after nearly two
years Of war, have certainly had ample
time to provide accommodation for the
prisoners"
In some camps the men have no COM
plants to make, and are evidently on good
terms with their keepers, who do their best
with the poor material at their disposal to
make conditions tolerable. But the non
commissioned officers are at great liberty
TO do as they please in many places. One
of the American Investigators was asked
to inquire into the case of a sick man who
had been struck with the butt of a rife.
By way of explanation, the following no
tice, signed by the commandant at Witten-
berg, was pointed out to him:
"Notce is hereby given, that on re-
fusal to work, the guard have been di-
rected in the future, if occasion arises,
to make use of their weapons"
An Unteroffzer's humanity is shown in
the concluding sentence of the following
notice posted in one Of the working camps:
"The guards are especially enjoined
TO energetically keep the prisoners at
work. Should the attitude of the pris-
oner demand the use of the weapon
this should be employed without re-
gard to consequences. In the first
place, the bayonet only is to be en-
ployed.
With such conditions as these in mind, is
it wonderful that people are willing TO en-
terrain almost any conditions of exchange
if they can only get their helpless country