Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-01-23
|CEAsELESs GUARD KEPT
OYER GERMAN PRISONERS
Nearly 200, Army and Navy Officers
and Enlisted Men. in Camp
s mt Ifolyport.
SCHOOL BUILDINGS ARE USED
differences OF Rank and Social Posi-
tion Sharply Accentuatcd-Ever
- thing Possible Done by English for
% Comfort and Welfare OF Captives.

land and for the first time the au-
y thorities have permitted unofficial neu
istrals 10 visit the camp.
5s Most Of the prisoners have their
quarters in the large building OF the
Holyport army preparatory school, but
with an increase in their numbers II
has been necessary to supplement this
with temporary wooden structures built
in the school yard. The chief school
building was erected by Charles IL. ms
residence Tor his favorite. Nell
Gwynne. /, has been restored for
school purposes. and. while architect
urany ugly in appearance, forms
comfortable roomy building for its
present use.
81 The temporary huts arc built close
about the main building, and the whole
group. which does not occupy more
than three acres, is surrounded by
fence IN the form of barb wire en-
.tanglements. The comnandant OF the
prison and his assistants are quartercd
In large brick residence Al the gate
way OF the school grounds, which
! probably served as n lodge when the
place used as q country home.
| The company Of soldiers guarding the
prisoners occupy the stables and
laundrIes OF the school. These quar-
tiers are in the rear OF the barb wire
. Enclosure, which is entirely devoted to
&the quarters OF the imprisoned officers
sand their ordcrlies.
V When the party OF neutral correspon
dents arrived TO inspec; the camp, the
Y,rfS v1Ip
house for Tho eighteen acre athletic
[, .field Twice weekly the prisoners are
compelled TO seek this field, where they
take whatever form of exercise they
desire Every day the prisoners have
| the privilege of using the field for two
and one-half hours. but the half hour
period twice weekly is compulsory In
the summer the tennis courts were In
{ealmost constant use. but this form Of
sport, at which the Germans were par
I ticularly keen. has now ceased on &C
count OF the weather. Football and
hockey are now played. with tho Of
ficers' prison orderlics taking lively
interest In tho nrst-named game, at
which they have become quite adept.
DIFFERENCES OF RANK
SHARPLY ACCENTUATED
few minutes before the arrival OF
the recreation hour an armed patrol
Is stationed about the wire fence which
incloses the field. The officers then
stroll from the house in groups through
the mai gate of the prison and down
a lane between row Of scntries 10 the
field Later their ordcrlies appear un-
der escort of armed guard The
groups that reach the field remain in
tact and, according TO the British Of
ficers in charge, this same grouping
la riS
enccs Of rank and social position are
sharply accentua,ed, and only broken
down in the event OF a general cclc-
bration of some sort. Among the
prisoners arc n number OF navy officers.
and cleavage between the army and
inavy is particularly apparent III the
trclations OF the officers.
The visit TO the camp WAS made on
wintry afternoon when the vivid and
picturesque uniforms OF the officers
gave touch OF color 10 the dismal sur
roundings The presence among the
officers OF so many brilliant garrison
suniforms Is accounted for 10y the fact
athat whenever n German reserve officer
was seized from IA ship en- route 10
Germany. lie was permitted to send
home for his uniform. The officers
actually captured In action wear the
Bsusual German field gray uniform, while
the naval officers, most of whom We're
captured at the battle off ;hc Falkland
Islands. wear blue uniforms witch dif
FER litt,o in appearance from those Of
their captors.
While the officers wore in the recrc-
Sation ground the visitors were con-
sductcd through thoir quarters. Tho
bathing department is we'll equipped
with bath tube from the school, which.
supplied with hot water. During the
summer the officers had tho use Of the
I school swimming tauk. hut ms there ~
Sno means OF heating inc water. tho
iwin,cr hns compelled them 10 give III,
8this pleasure
4SEyERAL LARGE ROOMS
8E FON SMOKING AND LOr>GrSG
The ground floor 81 the house con
Idtains several large rooms used as
Ismoking and lounslne rooms hy the Of
Qncers, but these are seldom occupied
las the prisoners Sem to prefer the
1smaH sitting rooms. which they have
4partitioned Off from their bedrooms hv
$gths use OF screens Thc second and
Ethird floors arc given up Ia bedrooms
HIN which from on. TO six officers sleep
5fBcsides tine open CRATE heaped with
Scoal. each room has one or more coal
tSoii stoves. and, with every window
EScloscd. these rooms seemed stirling to
1.-THE visitors who had become accus-
Etomcd To the inadequate heating OF
EfGnglish houses The bedrooms are fur
4 Mished with very comfortable cots each
Ekof which is covered with a clean bed.
spread. Some OF the naval prisoners
have equipped their rooms like tho
istaterooms Of q warship with ono bunk
5ahove another. Most ot the roorns arc
soTnamented with attractive prints
many Of which are the hnnd!craf, o.
1.-THE dodgers. Some OF tho prisoners
have improved the dull wall papcr w
Eusing their briEht-colored bedspread,
Las tapestry wall covering Among tho
prints are many pictures OF German
EHnatlonal figures, the most popular be
ESfng Emperor william, Field Marshai
aSvon Hindenberg and Admiral vot Spec.
9comrnander OF the German fee, AT tho
StFalkland Islands engagement.
ly,