Mohave County miner., 1917-01-06
CLERGYMAN VISITS WAR PRISONERS
 HELD BY GERMANY

admitted to Germany during the war, has just returned to England and given out a remarkable story which has been given prominence in the B,itsh newspapers. Bishop Bury emphasized the courtesy of the Ger man military authorities, who were anxious that he should see the i'm provements at the Ruhleben camp for British prisoners at which the clergy man spent a whole week. Bishop bury's visit to Germany also formed the subject of his sermon before his crowded congregation.
 "My visit was great surprise to the men," said ,the bishop, "as l am the only Englishman that has been admitted to Germany during the war. at once explained to them that I came after an invitation from the Ger man authorities and with the full sanction of my own government as bishop of northern Europe.
 q remained at the camp except for visit to the war office at Berlin, where the administration connected with prisoners gave me an official re- ception, and for one day when l visit ed the officers camp at Blanken- berghe. I was shown the whole life of the camp, and had my meals with the men in their lofts and horse boxes, and in spare moments received special messages for friends in Eng land.
 q inspected the camp at Ruhleben from end to end, and addressed the men nightly. I held four services on Sunday. I witnessed an exhibition football match, play at the theatre, attended special concerts and, in fact, participated in all phases of camp life.
 "In all my varied experience I have never seen better organized bit of community life. The prisoners ad- ministered their own affairs entirely, and the German guard and the official censor seemed to be there just to full fill requirements.
 Among the $500 prisoners there is no crime and the moral standard is much higher than is usual in a 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 ex- pense of the British government.
 q may add that all letters from the men may be relied upon as accurate, as practically everyone with whom I came in contact said they found it so difficult to pursuade relations at home that they were not keeping something back. The camp censor-a German offcer-is an absolutely fair and straight man, in full sympathy with the prisoners. Although he could have done so had he wished, he never once attended a meeting at which I spoke, and I was allowed to bring away every note I made and every paper given to me.
 
 "In fact, I was never once inter fered with in the slightest degree from full and uninterrupted connection with the men from start to finish. On the last night of my stay I obtained per mission for the prisoners to sing God Save the King and this was repeated when I addressed the whole camp in the open air. I shall never. forget the scene of indescribable enthusiasm"
 Bishop Bury's conclusion was that under these conditions and the non interference of the German authori- ties, life at Ruhleben was not only tol- erable but character building as an ex- perience.