Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1917-01-21
BISHOP |NSPECTS THE
PRISONERS IN CAMP
Germans Gave Him Courteous
Treatment and a Free Rein
in Proceedings.

| Correspondence OF The Associated Pref.
LONDON, Dec. 20.-The IN Rnv
Herbert Bury bishop of the Anglican
chuTch FOR northern Europe. the first
ana "hlN tngliShmdn that has been
admitted to Germany during the war
mas Just returned to England and
gwen out remarkable story. which
mas p'cn given prominence in the
!IUIfh newspapers. Bishop Bury en-
phaSlled the courtesy Of the German
hilltaty authorities, who were anx-
lous that he should see the improve
hthts al the kuhlcbCn camp for Brit
'sh prisoners, at which the clergyman
spent a whole week. Bishop Burv's
VISIT u Germany also formed the sub
Jccl OF his sermon before his crowded
congregation
MY visit was n great surprise to
me men, said the bishop, "as | am
the only Englishman that has been
ADMITTED to Germany during the war
! AZ once explained to them that
came after an invitation from the Ger.
man authorities and with the ful
sanction of my own government az
hlShop OF northern Europe.
remained al the camp, except roI
a VISIT TO the war office nt Berlin
Wheie the administration connected
win prisoners gave me an official re-
ception and for one day when / Wis
ited the officers camp AT Blanken-
bcighe. ! was shown the whole life
OF Inc camp and had my meals with
the men in their lofts and horse boxes
ana IN spare moments received spe-
c!al messages for friends in England
Inspected Prison Camp.
u inspected the camp at Ruhleben
from end TO end and addressed the
men nightly. | held four services on
sunday. | witnessed an exhibition
Football match, a play AZ the theater.
attended special concerts and. in fact.
participated in all phases Of camp
life.
In all my varied experience | have
never seen u better organized bit of
community life. The prisoners ad-
mlnistered their own affairs entirely.
and the German guard and the official
censor scmcd to be there Just to full
fiji requirements.
Among the $500 prisoners there
iS no crime ana the moral standard is
much higher than is usual in com
munity of such dimensions. All kinds
of Civilizing, humanizing and spiritual
influences are at work. As for food.
the men practically live upon their
parcels from home. Everything that
goes to the life of the camp in the way
of materials has been sent out from
England or provided at the expense OF
the British government.
Sang British Anthem.
81 may add that all letters from the
men may be relied upon as accurate.
as practically everyone with whom
came in contact said they found it sol
Difficult to persuade relations at home
that they We're not keeping something
back. The camp censOr--a German
officers an absolutely fair and
straight man, In full sympathy with
the prisoners. AlthO he could have
done so had he wished, he.nevcr once
attended a meeting at which spoke,
and | was allowed to bring away
every note made and every paper
given to me.
In fact, I was never once inter
fered with in the slightest degree from
fun and uninterrupted connection
with the men from start TO finish On
the last night of my stay ] obtained
permission from the prisoners to sing
God Save the King and this was re-
pcated when | addressed the whole
camp in the open air. | shall never
forget the scene Of indescribable en- |
thusiasm.
Bishop Bury's conclusion was that |
under these conditions and the non /
of the German author |
tiles. life at Ruhleben was not only |
tolerahle, but character-bullding as an
experience. /