The Democratic banner. (Mt. Vernon, Ohio) 1898-192?, 1916-02-29
TELLS OF Ills TERM
IN A PRISON CAMP
German Had Successful BuSi-
ness When War Began.
LIBERATED THROUGH ENVOY

/
Rushed From His Place Of Business,
Where He Employed 15o Men, to De-
tention Camp Without Any Notice.
Everything Is Lost, Although He Had
Been In England For Twenty Years.
Henry Cohn, who has just been set
free through efforts of the British am
bassador after fifteen months in
British concentration camp was re-
united to some of his relatives in New
York. including u brother whom he
had not seen for ten years The broth
er is George Cohn, who is in business
at Louisville, Ky. The latter with the
aid of influential Americans obtained
the release of his brother through Am
bassador Cecil Spring Rice.
Henry Cohn was thirty-nine years
old when he was arrested In his Office
In Cardiff, Wales, because of his Ger
man ancestry. A photograph taken
few weeks previously showed him in
perfect health. Now he is hollow cheek
ed and he seemed to have aged ten
years In the interval. his relatives de-
clared.
ITS worry that gets q man In the
concentration camp" said he in ex-
PLANTATION of his changed appearance
He had no complaint to make of the
physical conditions that affected him
while he was a civilian prisoner. He
said he supposed the British govern
ment acted as best it could under the
circumstances and in coping with the
unexpected situations it had to meet.
Henry Cohn was seventeen years old
when he left his home at Hamburg,
Germany. and went to Wales, where
he had since lived. He established a
Photographic manufacturing business
In Cardiff, where he had $50 employees
and 30 other employees in two shops
and studio His sister acted as his
houseReeper. His story of what oc-
cured to him after the commencement
of the war is interesting chiefly be-
cause 1t portrays the general eXpe-
rience of all aliens there.
Sister Had to Leave Country.
Because of his standing in the com
munity English friends had obtained
for him permit, one of eleven special
orders allotted among 1900 aliens un.
der the ban, granting him permission
to remain in charge of his business.
This continued until Oct. %, when he
was placed under arrest, taken to Il
cell without being allowed to go home
even for an hour or to arrange his
business affairs and next day wac sent
with many others to Hartforth camp.
near Manchester. according to his
story.
His sister was permitted to continue
the business six months, when she was
ordered to leave the country within
twenty-four hours. She went back to
Hamburg, where her mother, now sew
enty-eight years old, is living. Cohn
says he never has been able to find
what became of his business or of the
furnishings of his home, nor did he re-
ceive penny from any of his property
from that time.
The ability Of Cohn caused his fel-
low inmates of the camp to appoint
him their general secretary. in which
capacity he Represented the 1000 pris-
oners in dealing with the commandant
Through his efforts, aided financially
by DIR. X. Il. Markell. an English phi
lnIthropist, and Secretary Hibberd OF
the International Y. Nj. G. A. at New
York. paints and drawing materials
were obtained for the artists in the
camp, tools were provided for the me-
chanlcs, workshops established, and
soon the prisoners were making useful
articles and art objects that were sold
and the proceeds applied to the use of
prisoners without funds.
"Those among the prisoners who had
friends able to help them from outside
or had money In bank from which they
were permitted to draw about $40
monthly, were able to provide better
far for themselves and to help others
said Cohn. '"Ths was the limit of the
amount prisoner was permitted to
draw from his bank account at one
time. He could also draw $50 for the
use of his wife and family, What be-
came OF the wives and families of the
} men who had no means other than
their earnings up to the time of their
arrest was one of the things that tor
tured the inmates.
Details His Prison Rations.
'"rhe regular fare consisted of a cup
of coffee or tea for breakfast. with u
three-quarter loaf of bread and one
ounce of oleomargarine, the latter two
supply for the entire day; rice or
beans or peas, three to four ounces of
meat for the noon meal and cup of
coffee at night, all cooked by ourselves.
This was sufficient for some. but not
enough for the average workingman.
what hope to do here before max
ing any plans for my own future is get
some help for the thousands of men
/ confined In the British camps who are
!. guiltless Of any crime but that of hav-
] ing relatives who were natives OF an
enemy country by making arrange