The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1917-08-16
GERMANS SENT
TO hot SPRINGS,
ENJOY GROUNDS
u. S. Gives Aliens Comfort
able Quarters During Ten
ure of the War.

Prisoners from an enemy land may
be ill.treated in some countries, but
mans interned at Hot Springs, N. c.,
thirty.eight miles west of Asheville. IN
the heart Of the Blue Ridge, live In
comfort and eat their fill at q hotel
which the United States has leased.
The building Ia set IN hundred acres
OF shaded lawn. The alien guests are
crews OF German merchant ships held
In American ports when the European
war BEGAN.
Surrounding the property is a four.
foot wire fence, patrolled by khaki-clad
men armed with pistols and badged as
"watchmen." Fence and guards are
chiefly to keep out curious Americans,
not to keep In the Germans. II any
German thinks of escaping--which
probably none Of them do--the un-
wisdom OF such a course 10 suggested
by long, lean mountaineer hunters, who
pause at the fence to stare with I'm
passive faces at the foreigners.
Leave Ellis island.
A month ago the Germans were
taken to Hot Springs from Ellis Island
and other immigrant stations. They
are officially designated ~ detained
Immigrants" aliens who had not
chosen to take up residence In this
country prior to hostilities with Ger
many and are not now eligible to do
50. Six hundred more are coming as
soon as quarters now building are COM
pleted.
What will you do If they make
trouble?" was asked Of the Director Of
Interment, Alfred Hampton.
why answer that until there Is
trounle?" he countered.
There has been no trouble. The
Germans obey the few rules imposed
on them. They answer roll call at 8
4. m. daily. and take part in fire drill.
Then they are practically free, within
the grounds, until taps sound at IL p.
m.
Honor System Prevails.
They are practically on the honor
system" and are allowed to make rules
for their own guidance through num-
Der Of committees. They work when
they work. and play when they play.
idling but little. A massive broad
shouldered coal passer, who was seen
looking for q four.leafed clover. was
as attentive to his task as II he were
seeking a lost diamond. The chief
officers have organized classes. and
daily instruction 10 given to petty Of
ficers and common seamen in mathe-
mates. navigation, and languages.
In three years all these men will
have the technical education necessary
to command a ship" said Mr.. Hatnp-
ton.
Squads run through military setting
up exercises daily. Some IF the men
work for the Government, including
fifty ship carpenters being engaged in
the construction Of the new barracks,
and others are employed as day labor
ers. The pay ranges from $40 to $50
a month. A number of the men work
in the seven-acre tract. where fine
crop OF vegetables is growing. and
others find diversion In their own little
garden plots. Agriculture appeals to
most OF the interned men, but not
many of them know all there is to
know about plants. Most of them are
Ifrom the seaboard and have had little
experience in the fields. One Captain
has little plot outlined with white
stones, in which he is cultivating
beans and corn. A large and prosper.
Gus jimpson weed which the poor man
thinks is some American vegetable
sprung up from q former planting.
Proves . Rank Weed.
Il did not notice that thing until it
was half grown" explained an official.
and now l haven't the heart to tell
the Captain It Is rank weed"
BY the riverside the officers have
built q village Of miniature rustic
houses using tree limbs and roots.
stones, odds and ends Of material
found on the hotel grounds. One house
has panels Of old mating There are
seats and tables. but no stems. The
Germans know that stems can serve
only as ornaments In bone dry North
Carolina. A small church with a
steeple 10 nearing completion.
The prisoners are allowed to receive
newspapers and other reading matter,
and, subject to the station censorship,
to write and receive letters About
thirty members Of Germans officers
families have come to the village of
Hot Springs. and these the officers
are privileged to receive for an hour
each Sunday. They can see them as
often as they wish. the families com.
ing to the fence, but no conversation is
allowed except during the Sunday
hour. Few visitors are allowed to
inspect the station. and they are not
permitted to speak to the Germans ex-
cept by way OF salutation In passing.
The Germans do not salute the Ameri.
cans in charge. although they general
ly speak in salutation. The watchmen
are not supposed to talk with them.
Cannot Understand.
But the rules don't say we mustn't
listen to them talk" said guard off
duty. 1T wouldn't be any use to tell
these folks anything, anyway" said