The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1917-11-13
United States Negotiating
with Germany for Humane
Treatment of Prisoners
SENDS PICTURES OF
CAMPS ON THIS SIDE
Shows That We Feed and Shelter Our
Captives Well-All Paid the Same
as Our Own Soldiers and Sailors-We
Have 1854 War Prisoners.


WASHINGTON, Nov. L. - The |
United States has opened negotiations
with Germany for an agreement to
govern the treatment of prisoners Of
war taken by either nation. This is
being done with the hope Of obtaining
the best possible conditions for Amer
leans captured on the battle front. and
to show Germany how we'll German
prisoners in the United states are be
ing treated.
Already, through the Red cross 1t
Geneva, the United States has begun
forwarding food and other neecssaries
! to Americans held I'M Germany, ii
whom there are now more than 100. 1t
is realized that as the American
troops increase in numbers on the bat
tie front more prisoners are bound 20
find their way to the German prison
camps. \ nation pinche,I for food
for itself probably will feed its pri,-
oneIs last. To Tighten the confinement
OF Americans who viii have to under
20 the hardships of prison camps will
at the same time alleviate the suffer
ing Of families at home, who naturally
will Ice distressed at account Of Ger
man brutality and undertaking OF
prisoners.
Il German military prisoners Of war in
the United States. besides receiving
every necessity and comfort, have the
pay and privileges Of their rank in
the United States Army and Navy.
They are housed in model sanitary
camps, and recently one Of the pris-
cncrs, sending a letter to his pro-
spective wife in Germany, wrote that
the pay he would accumulate during
his Imprisonment would not only per
init him 10 retire from the navy. bnt
would set them up in 4 little business
as well.
Photographs showing the comfort
able surroundings Of interned Germans
III this country have been forwarded to
i, Germany by the war department
| through the state department and 4
neutral agent. They are intended 10
| show that interued Germans are well
| treated by the United States and Ia
| reveal the expectation OF the United
| states that similar consideration vii
/ Ice shown to American soldiers ant
i sailors who may be captured by Ter
4 many.
Il Two classes of German prisoners art
II detained in this country One is com
Il posed Of German sailors taken into
II custody when the United States in
II termed various vessels at the beginning
II Of the war. The other class consti
H tutes enemy aliens, civilians who have
II been arrested and are now being de
II tanned under governmental rogula
II tions for various reasons. The princi
II pal detention camp is at Fort Me
II Phcrson, Georgia. where approximately
II $50 prisoners are held in custody O
II the war department. At Fort Ogle
II thorpe, Georgia, there are l65 cnem,
II aliens, who are not strictly speaking
III prisoners Of war. At Fort Douglas
II Utah, there are 5l7 prisoners of wa
II and so interncd aliens.
II Small detachmentS OF other inferno,
II aliens arc now temporarily quartere,
II at army posts throughout the country
Y but their number is relatively small
II In addition the department of labo
II has in custody several hundred Ger
H mans, members of the crews OF VA
II rious merchant ships. This group i
II divided between the immigration sta
II tion at Ellis Island and a dctentio
II camp at Hot Springs, \. G.
II Altogether there are | ,364 actual pri>
II oners Of war IN custody Of the war d,
= partment, and about leo informed Ell
: envy aliens held at the request Of til
|. department of Justice. OF this humble
|: about three score are on Taboga l.
u land. Panama. II is estimated tina
|: Germany is now holding 100 sailor
|: taken from American SHIPS BIZ con
|: mere" raiders aud other German YES
|: sells, besides the first prisoners take
/: from General Pcrshing's forces
/: \ representative of the Swiss /,
/: cation, the wartime diplomatic rcpr,