New Britain herald., 1916-01-17
GERMAN OFFICERS'
 PRISON IN ENGLAND
British Premit Unofficial NeutralS
 to Visit the Camp

Correspondence of The Associated PressD
 London, Dec. 31.-Next to Don
 nington Hall, HolypOrt is the most inn
 portant German officers prison in
 England and for the first time the
 authorities have permitted unofficial
 neutrals to visit the camp
 Most of the prisoners have their
 quarters in the large building of the
 Holyport army preparatory school
 but with an increase in their numbers it has been necessary to supplement
 this with temporary wooden struc-
 lures built in the school yard The chief school building was erected by Charles II a residence for his favorite Nell Gwynne. It has been re- stored for school purposes an1.
 while architecturally ugly in appear
 ance. forms a comfortable, roomy
 building for it's present use.
 Occupies Three Acres.
 The temporary huts are built close about the main building and the whole group, which does not occupy more than three acres, is surrounded by a fence in the form of barbWire entanglements. The commandant of the prison with his assistants are quartered in a large brick residence at the gateway of the school grounds, which probably served as lodge when the place was used as a coun- try home. The company of soldiers guarding the prisoners occupy the stables and laundries of the school. These quarters are in the rear of the barbwire enclosure, which is entirely devoted to the quarters of the impris- oned officers and their orderlies.
 hn ny-fyr nf respondents arrived to inspect the camp the prisoners were preparing to leave the house for the eighteen acre athletic field. Twice weekly the pris- oners are compelled to seek this field where they take whatever form of eX- ercise they desire Every day tho l prisoners have the privilege of using !, the field for two and one-half hours, but the half hour period twice week ly is compulsory. Tn the summer the l tennis courts were in almost constant 1 use. but this form of sport at which the Germans were particularly keen, has now ceased on account of the weather. Football and hockey are now played with the officers prison orderles taking a lively interest in the first named game at which they have become quite adept.
 Kept Under Guard.
 A few minutes before the arrival of the recreation hour an armed patrol is stationed about the wire fence which encloses the field. The officers then stroll from the house in groups the main gate of the prison and down a lane between a row of sentries to the field. Later their or derlies appear under escort of an armed guard. The groups that reach l the field remain intact, and according to the British officers in charge this same grouping takes place within the prison. Differences of rank and So- cial position are sharply accentuated and only broken down in the event of a general celebration of some sort Among the prisoners are a number of navy officers and cleavage the army and navy is particularly apparent in the relations of the officers.
 The visit to the camp was made on a wintry afternoon when the vivid and picturesque uniforms of the off, cers gave touch of color to the dis nal surroundings. The presence among the officers of so many bril- liant garrison uniforms is accounted for by the fact that whenever German reserve officer was seized from a ship enroute to Germany, he was permitted to send home for his uniform. The officers actually cap- tured in action wear the usual Ger man field grey uniform while the naval officers, most of whom were captured at the battle off the Talk land islands, wear blue uniforms, which differ little in appearance from those of their captors.
 Conducted Through Quarters.
 While the officers were in the recreation ground the visitors were conducted through their quarters. The bathing department is well equipped with bathtubs from the school, which while hardly mans size are plentifully supplied with hot wa ter. During the summer the officers had the use of the school swimming tank, but as there is no means of heat Ing the water, the winter has com- pelled them to give up this pleasure.
 The ground floor of the house con- ;ains several large rooms used as smoking and lounging rooms by the officers, but these are seldom oc- cupied, as the prisoners seem to pre- Ter the small sitting rooms, which :hey have partitioned off from their pSdIOOIlS DN lue Use Ol SCT6elS. l ne second and third floors are given up 70 bedrooms in which from one to six officers sleep. Besides the open srate heaped with coal each room has one or more coal oil stoves and with every window closed these rooms seemed stifiing to the visitors who lad become accustomed to the made lIuate heating of English houses. The bedrooms are furnished with every comfortable cots, each of which is covered with clean bedspread. some of the naval prisoners have equipped their rooms like the state 'ooms of a warship with one bunk lbove another. Most of the rooms tre ornamented with attractive prints many of which are the handicraft of t,he lodgers. Some of the prisoners nave improved the dull wall pape? oy using their bright colored bed