Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-07-09
PREPARING DETENTION
CAMP FOR PRISONERS
State Council Of Defense Receives
Grim Reminder That Country
Is Really at War.
EMPLOYMENT FOR PRISONERS
The Hague Convention Provides for
Their Pay at Rate of Same Grade
i'm United States Army and for
Other Privileges.

Their Pay at Rate Of Same Grade
in United States Army and for
Other Privileges.
| The Council OF Defense received on
Saturday another graphic reminder of
the fact that war really is upon the
country In grim reality. 1t was a com
munication from Washington dealing
with plans of the government for
handling prisoners Of war.
The States. chiefly through their
councils Of defense. will be asked to
cooperate as the governments plans
develop. Inside wire fences at three
| war prison barracks. the War De-
! partment has even now a considerable
number OF German prisoners. and, since
its business Is to be ready ahead of
| time is completing plans for handling
any number of thousands that the flu
| ture may bring.
Work and pay for prisoners. their
care and food. censoring OF their mail.
| guarding them. and a dozen other parts
| OF the whole problem have been gone
over and are now near final solu-
! ton that an outline OF the organization
and plans can be given.
| All war prisoners. whether military
or naval, will ultimately be placed in
| the custody Of the War Department.
and the Acknowledgement OF the army
! will have general control through five
| principal bureaus.
/. A bureau of administration charg-
, ed with the composition and personnel
Of the guards. the pay rations. cloth
| ing, and transportation OF them
| 2. a bureau Of employment in cha rye
| OF the labor Of prisoners. both within
their places Of internment and on Fed
eral. State and private projects without
| the prisons.
3. A bureau of religious and educa-
! tional welfare, to which bureau all
matters connected with religion, cdu-
cation. recreation. and the dealing with
Red Cross and benevolent assistance
! will be conducted.
| 4. a bureau of inquiry charged with
the custody of the records OF war
prisoners. and through which infor-
nation concerning the prisoners will
! be transmitted to the enemy's govern
mont and to the National Red Cross
Society. This bureau is also charged
with the forwarding OF mail. money or
ders. and packages sent from the pri-
soners' home country for delivery to
individual prisoners.
s. bureau OF repatriation, charged
with the final restoration OF prisoners
to their home country at the conclu-
sion OF hostilities.
THREE PRISON BARRACKS
ALREADY ESTABLISHED
The places Of detention are known
as war prison barracks. and at present
three such barracks have been estab-
lished, located at Fort Mcpherson. Ga:
Fort OElethorpe, Ga. and Fort Douglas.
Utah. Each barracks is commando BY
colonel Of the regular army. assisted
by q staff OF officers similar to that of
a commanding officer OF an army post
or camp.
Tho raj In toro tDt,
war prisoners are held were made the
| subject of special article of the
fourth Hague convention In addition
to this, the United States is bound by
certain provisions Of the Geneva con-
vention.
Officers who may be made prisoners
are allowed, under the provisions OF
the Hague convention. the pay OF off,
GERS of the corresponding grade in
the army of the captors government
and such is the present practice in the
United States.
The enlisted men who arc made pri-
soners are given the same medical at
tcntion. pay. clothing and quarters as
are allowed the United States soldiers.
Tic quarters authorized for war prison
ers are similar to and constructed in
accordance with the specifications gov
erninG the construction of cantonments
| used by the army of the United States.
! War prisoners arc not confined In the
sense of being placed in jails or prison,
or penal institutions. but rs II is neces-
sary to limit their freedom of move
| ment. the cantonments IN which theS
are confi1ed are surrounded by a wire
fence. Within the limits of this fence
prisoners are given liberty OF action.
ENJOY LIBERTY IN
EXERCISE OF RELIGION
The Hague convention requires that
war prisoners shall enjoy complete lib
| erty in the exercise OF their religion.
To provide for this. there is a chaplain
of the regular army on the staff Of
the commandment of each war prison
barracks, who has general supervision
| of the religious matters connected with
| the prison and services are authorized
for all prisoners so desiring where
churches OF special denominations are
| located in the vicinity Of the place Of
internment representative Of the
| international committee of the Young
| Mems Christian Association Is also ac-
credited to each war prison barracks
and. in conjunction with the barracks
chaplain. assists in the athletic and
social affairs Of the prisoners. In the
| event of the death of war prisoner,
| the same honors and respects are shown
! as in case OF the death of an Individual
| of corresponding rank In the United
! states Army.
The educational welfare Of the pris-
oners Is under the immediate control
of the barracks chaplain, who is charg-
ed with the organization of courses
of instruction elected by tho nris-
oners and who Is aided in tho work
| by the prisoners themselves. Later.
vocational training will DO introduced
In each barracks to provide for pris-
| oners who are without any trade or
| vocation, the qualified prisoners being
used as instructors for the others.
ENTITLED To SEND
MAIL WITHOUT POSTAGE
Prisoners are entitled to send mail
matter through international malls
wiN,out postage Mall matter for do
nestle destination is subject to post
| ago. as is also all incoming mail, both