The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-10-22

prtsoned in Germany. and whose hus-
! band | had visited In 4 prison. came
! forward 10 thank me- \ Japanese man
WAS waiting in thGhosel office In beTne
when l arrived there for similar pur-
pose. and early the next morning the
Japanese Minister called and left
! beautiful clock for Mrs. Gerard as An
! expression OF his gratitude for tho at
; tcntion shown To his countrymen.
1t was really pleasure. TO be able
10 do something for these polite AMI
charming people.
First visit to German Prison Camp.
On August 20 paid my first visit TO
a German prison camp. This was 10 the
camp a, Doeberitz. situated about eight
miles west Of Berlin. sort or military
! camp with permanent barracks. some
{ OF these barracks were used for Tie
confinement OF such British civilians AS
the Germans had arrested In the lirSt
days Of the war. Only q few British
were among the prisoners there. to-
I Rether with number OF Russian ana
French ! was allowed 10 converse Tree
Is with the prisoners. and found that
hey had no complaints.
As the war went on. however. num-
her OF British prisoners Of war were
made by the Germans during the course
northern France. Then officers and pri-
| Yates began to come into Germany.
and were distributed in various camps.
Finally, in the autumn OF 1914. the Brit
lsh Government decided on interninH
great number or Germans In England.
and the German Government lmmcdlaee-
Is, and as repr!Sal. intcrned Gil the
! British civilian men who. up TO th1S
time. had enjoyed comparative freedom
! In Berlin and other cities OF tho En-
pirc.
The british civilians were shut up IN
q race track about Ave miles from mo
center OF Berlin called Ruhleocn. mus
race track III pence times was used FOR
contests OF trottirg horsee and on IL
vera tho usual grand stands and brick
| stable buildings containing box stalls
with hay lofts above. where tho race
horses were KEEP.
| On August 20 I paid my FIRST visit
| to the police presidency In herhn'
where political prisoners. when arrested
were confined. y small number OF Eng
fish prisoners subject TO special lnFes-
,lgation were there informed. inns prs
on. which l often subsequently F'sl'e"'
was clean and we'll kept. and l never
had any particular complaints from the
prisoners conNaed there--eAcept. or
course as the war progressed. concern
Ing the !nadeQuacy OF the food
Special Caro- for British Prisoner.
| had organized 4 special department
| Immediately on the breaking out OF inc
war to care for the interests or ths
British. At first Mr.. Boylston Heal.
lawyer Of Boston. assisted ny liFlhE'|n
Pyne. Of New York. was at the hcAd OF
this department OF which later inc
/ Hon. John b. Jackson. formerly our
| ho Rn1 States Greece
and Cuba took charge. He volunteered
to give his assistance at the commence
ment Of the war, and / was glad OF MS
help, especially as he had been. twelve
years secretary In the Berlin embassy
therefore. he was we'll acquainted. not
ONLY with German. hut with German
official life and customs. Mr.. Jackson
was most ably assisted by Charles H.
Russell. Jr.. OF New York. and LithIo"
Osborn. OF course. others in the en-
hassy had much to do with this depart
mcnt
The first prtvatcs prisoners OF war.
came 70 the camp Of Doeberitz near
Berlin. Early in the war Mr.. Grow
our first secretary. and Consul General
Law visited the camp for officers al
Torrau Tho question of the lnspoc-
I ton Of prisoners Of tho camps and the
rights OF Ambassadors charged with
the interests Of hostile powers WAS
quito In the clouds. So many reports
came to Germany about the bad treat
mont in England Of German prisoners or
war that finally arranged to have MT
Jackson visit England and report
u This WIS arranged by my colleague,
our Ambassador To England. and in the
nrst winter Mr.. Jackson made his trip
| 10 England. His report of conditions
there did much TO allay the German be-
lief MS to the iu-treatmnnt OF their SUD
i.cts who were prisoners In England
and helped me greatly in bringing about
better conditions in Germany. After
vainly cndeavorinG To get tho German
J Government 70 agree to some uchnl'e
rlan for the inspection Of tho prisoners;
:. after my notes TO the Foreign OFFICE
had remained unanswered for long
ncriod Of time. and after sending per-
son,1 letter to Won Jagow. calling his
attention 10 the fact that the delay
vas iniuring German prisoners in other
countries, I finally called on Chancellor
yon Rethnann-HollwcE and told hin
that nv notes concerning prisoners were
sent nv the Foreign office Ia the milf
tary authorities. and that while I could
talk with officials OF the Foreign OF
ficc 7 never came into contact with the
people who really passed upon the notes
sent by mo and who made the decisions
as Ia the treatment OF prisoners ~ war
and inspection Of their camps I begged
the Chancellor to break down diplo-
matte precedent and allow me TO speak
with the military authorities who de-
ridcd these questions. And ! said. III
7 cannot get an answer to my PROPOSE
tIon about prisoners. I will take Il chair
md sit In front OF your palace In the
street until receive an answer"
The result, was meeting N my
office.
/ An Agreement In Twenty Minutes.
discussed tho question involved with
two representatives from the Foreign
office. two from the General Staff. two
from the War Department and Count
schwerIn. who commanded tho civilian
camr at the Ruhlebcn rae" truck. In
twenty minutes WI managed To reach
an agreement. which I then and there
drew up: the substance OF which was.
that as between England and Germany,
the American Ambassador and his rep
| resentativcs in Germany and the Amer"
lean Ambassador and his representa-
| tives in England should have the rlSht
TO visit tho prison camps on giving rca-
sonabe notice. which was 10 hr "a
hours where possible. and should have
tho right to converse with the prisoners
within sight. but out OF hearing nf thu
camp officials An endcavor should he
made to adjust matters complained OF
with the camp authorities before
bringing them 20 the notice nf higher
authorities. Ten representa- lives should
-