East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1916-01-19
~ wTT-RT-R S. FORREST.

BY WILBUR S. FORREST
Omitted Press staff Correspondent
LONDON. Jan, 2.-(By Maip-I
Alexander Palace. England's largest
single interrment camp for civilian
prisoners Of war, corresponding To-
Germany's Publeben. near Berlin, is
the fascinatlngly interesting British
military city l was permitted to visit
today. No other press representatives
were there; and this is the first 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
Roles from Pittsburg and Detroit, cap
tured on their way home to fight;
well known European musical artists
tnterned while performing in Eng
land: Germans and Austrians taken
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
thirty years residence, make a uni
que and remarkable oolony-for the
duration Of the war.
There is no social distinction in the
three battalions Of a thousand men
each. Military discipline prevails. 1t
effects the English-German aristo-
crat and the lowliest Pittsburgh steel
,vaen NJ ~
soldiers guards the palace which in
peace time served as a London 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, post
offices, football and Swedish drill,
laundries, mammoth spotless kitch-
ems. stores and shops, commodious
bath rooms and dozens of other things
inside the barbed wire enclosing this
| multitude.
They are making the best of ii
and it is my duty to let them enjoy
| life to the limit of military possi-
bilities," remarked Colonel Frood
Walker. a British regular army veter-
an of twenty years in the Orient, who
is the commandant.
The commandments words voice the
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 command
ant turns over his office to prisoners
who have complaints. He hears the
stories and does what he can. The
] man with a crouch tells his troubles
to the captain of his mess. If it is
meritorious, the complaint is passed
to the alien commander who governs
J a hundred men He takes it up with
the battalion commander, another
alien who governs a thousand men
Then the complainant may appear II
person before the veteran command
ant. who never "strafes" the enemy
Twice weekly the commandan
personally inspects every one OF the
3 200 beds housed under the grea
roofs Of the palace. These beds arr
neat and clean, with four blanket!
and a soft mattress for each.
There are eight cooks for ever!
= thousand prisoners. The food is pre-
pared and taken to the three grea
mess rooms, each Of which can com
pare in floor space to the main lobb.
Of New York's Grand Central station
Here is the food allowance, per ma
per day: 1-2 pounds Of white bread
1-2 pound Of meat; 1-2 pound OF po
tatoes. two ounces of peas, lentil'
beans or rice; two ounces Of sugar
IL ounce Of tea or two ounces Of cof
fee: one ounce of margarine or tw
ounces Of cheese. timed milk, salt an
pepper. There is afternoon tea wit
bread and butter.
Each battalion has large cantee
where a prisoner may augment hi
, food supply. The wealthier inferno
, freely patronize the canteens, but tn