Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-01-07
ASSOCIATED Press Correspondence.


first occupants, an Hanoverian regiment.
came welcomed as guard Of honor for
King George l., the fortunes of war have
made the present occupiers the enforced
guests of the British government. An
other striking instance of the whirligig
of history was the discovery by the
German prisoners, while excavating
roads for an addition TO their camp. CT
the bones of French prisoners who died
in the barracks during the NapoIeonic
wars.
over 5000 German prisoners now occu-
by the camp, and additional nuts are be-
ing built for more. The old barracks are
inadequate to house all OF the prisoners
and streets OF huts extending over both
slopes OF a little valley form a small
town for their accommodation. The
whole camp is surrounded by wooden
and wire fence inside OF which barb wire
entanglements form a barrier dominated
by sentry boxes from which a squad OF
guards armed with rifles overlook every
possible avenue of escape. These sen
tries are the only visible evidence of hui
man restraint for except few commits
stoned officers assisted by four sergeants
and small squad of Red Cross order,ies
Their is not a single British soldier inside
the compound.
For the first time since German war
prisoners have been brought to England
unofficial neutrals were allowed to inspect
one Of their camps and an Associated
Press correspondent was personally con-
Quoted over the place by the command
M q L1,-II M
not only allowed him to see everything
in the place but permitted him 70 talk
freely in private with the prisoners.
The visit was made under the worst
possible weather conditions, a heavy cold
rain having flooded the lowlands near
Dorchester. The camp, located on slop-
ing hillsides, escaped the actual floods,
but the mud of the unpaved streets was
deep and sticky. The prisoners. paid two
pence an hour for such work. We're busy
digging paved drainage bitches which
VIII soon make progress about the place
much more comfortable. Several Of the
huts We're leaking, but the occupants,
wh0 do not care to be separated from
their units, preferred to await their re-
pair rather than move into other huts IN
the new portion Of the camp.
Many of the prisoners occupy the old
artillery barracks a long row of brick
BUILDINGS with stables on the Ground
foor ana quarters for the men above
The stables. well warmed ov sheet iron
stoves. form primitive but comfortable
quarters, while the rooms above, each
equipped with from two 20 four hunks,
are the prize quarters of the camp. The
other quarters are in long rows Of tenn
rorary wooden huts. each housing about
% men. All are warmed with sheet iron
stoves. ard in estimating the comfort OF
the camp this feature stands out in the
viewpoint of the neutral observer. who
finds the prisoners huts consdera bly,
more comfortable than the average
grate-heatcd London house.
In the old barracks arc well equipped
tailor and boot shops, where the prison.
ers Of those trades repair the uniforms
ard footwear Of their comrades. These
workmen are paid six si,illings weekly.
Many Of the prisoners arrive with their
uniforms ami boots in wretched ccndi-
ton, and the taiors and bootrakers are
kent very busy These workers were the
most contented looking of all the nris-
workers, who are also paid for their
work. The only unpaid work in the camp
is the actual care Of their own quarters
by the prisoners
Each row of huts has a well eauipped
kitchen where the daily ration is cooked
Ihis consists Of one-half pound of beef
or mutton. potatoes, seasonable green
vegetables, white bread and SCUM. The
meat is of good quality and is well
cooked by the ski,lful German chefs
Coffee is provided in enormous quaint
ties, and Judging from cup enjoved bv
the CORRESPONDENT. is better preparel
than the beverage retailed under that
name in any but the best restaurants in
London.
Bath houses and laundries are almost
as literally sprinkled over the camp as
kitchens The baths are well cotioned
with showers and foot baths for which
an unlimited quantity of hot water is
constantly supplied
Besides the regular prison hosnitaI
there is dressing station where patients
WHO 40 not require actual hospital treat
nlent go for the dressing of old wounds
anu injuries and massage treatment Tho
cots IN the hospital were occupied nv u
patients, some suffering from na,,d,as
lncldent 10 the cold. wet weather and
others who We're victims o. gas noiso,-
ing.
In the old handbalf court Of tho a.
racks the prisoners, who desire to ,,,,,.
'he nest use of their leisure time at+ard
unique school. The place has haan
Fooled over and the conventional scboo,
masters desk is placed on a nIa.-or,,
ABOVE rows of benches occupied all da,
py classes studying an extensive curr,c.
ulum.
me corps messes together and has
very comfortable quarters. In the center
u the mess hall hanging from the cell.
ihs is the following motto in Carn.,
we Germans fear nothing on earth a.
cept GOD This is also the spirft of
iofhoer OF notices scattered aho,t +ba
various nuts. The officers in char,a -
the camp reported that the problem, ~
a.scipiine gives them little trouh,o
mere are, Of course. minor mira e,ions
u the rules, but these are USUALLY correo+
eo D. the German Chief Sergeant Maio,
ana MS assistants. There have bee, on,,
nVe attempts to escape from the cann
and, with the exception of a thre.+a,sd
hutiny when for few minutes the pris-
oners refused to respond to the uarada
cail. there has been nothing to suppa,,
serious trouble.
>Ihe postoffice of the camp is the bus;ax.
and most popular institution of the n1ac.