Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1916-01-15
FIRST PRESS MAN
TO VISIT PRISON
Why Pittsburghers and Detroiters
Like TO be British Pris-
oners.
Ry wILBuR s. FORREST

United Press Stan Correspondent
LONDON. Jan ,. (By mail Alex.
andra Palace. Englaud's largest single
internment camp for civilian prison
ors of war corresponding to Ger
many's Ruhleben. near Berlin. is the
fascinatingly interesting British mill
tary city | was permitted to visit 70.
day. No other press representatives
were there; and this is the zrst time
press man has been permitted to
enter this camp.
More than 5000 enemy aliens, rich
and poor from all parts of the world.
are living at Alexandra Palace. north
London. Hundreds of Croats and
Poles from Pittsburgh and Detroit,
captured on their way home to fight;
well known European musical artists,
interned while performing in Eng.
from ships in the Atlantic and the
North Sea and Austro-German direc.
tors of big British firms. together
with alien inhabitants of England,
some of tIsrty years residence. make
a unique and remarkable colony-for
the duration of the war.
There is no social distinction in
the three battalions of thousand
men each. Military discipline pre-.
walls. It effects the English.German
aristocrat and the lowliest Pittsburgh
teel worker alike. A company of
British soldiers guards the palace
which in peace time served as Lon.
don Coney Island or White City
There are benevolent societies. di.
rectors' meetings, institutes OF paint.
ing, drawing, sculpture; theatre
! that would do credit to Broadway,
workshops for dozens of trades, a fully
equipped hospital; schools. postoflices
/ football and Swedish drill: laundries,
mammoth spotless kitchens, stores
and shops, commodious bath rooms
and dozens of other things inside the
barbed wire enclosing this multitude
They are making the best of it and
1t is my duty to let them enjoy life
to the limit of military possibilities"
remarked Colonel Frood Walker, a
British regular army veteran of TWEEN
ty years in the Orient, who is the com
mandant
"a IL
British attitude toward prisoners of
war, both military and civilian. 1t
considers the human side OF those
forced to live behind wire entangle
ments Once a week the eommandant
turns over his office to prisoners who
have complaints He hears the stor-
les and does what he can. The man
with crouch tells his troubles to the
captain of his mess II it is meritor-
ious, the complaint is passed to the
alien commander who governs hun.
dred men. He takes it up with the
battalion commander, another alien
who governs a thousand men. Then
the complainant may appear in per.
son before the veteran .commandant.
who never "strafes" the enemy
Twice weekly the commandment in
spects every one Of the 1000 beds
housed under the great roofs Of the
palace. These beds are neat and
clear, with four blankets and soft
mattress for each.
There are eight cooks for every
thousand prisoners. The food is pre-
pared and taken to the three great
mess rooms. each of which can com.
pare in floor space tc the main lobby
of New York's Grand Central station.
Here is the food allowance, per man
per day: 11a pounds of white bread;
| W pound Of meat; 1s pound of pota-
toes, two ounces of peas, lentils, beans
or rice; two ounces of sugar; "
lounce of tea or two ounces OF coffee:
{one ounce Of margarine or two ounces
Iof cheese, timed milk, salt and pep
per. There is afternoon tea with
4 Dfeda ana butter.
| Each battalion has a large canteen
where a prisoner may augment his
food supply. The weather. internees
freely patronize the canteens, but the
ordinary fare is better than the aver
age Pittsburgh steel worker ever had
in his life. These Pittsburghers aren't
anxious for the war to close. They're
satisfied
The American embassy, Godfather
Of all enemy aliens In the British
Isles, works hand in hand with a spe-
cial committee OF the Weather intern
ed men to care for the special wants
| OF the poor. The women and children
on the outside are the principal bene-
iieiaries Of this joint benevolent so
ciety More than 5000 cases have
hqpn attended, n afuca Ga1fou,bo.