The Harrison times., 1917-02-24

American embassies in these countries
keep watch over the welfare of the
prisoners in the permanent camps of
the different countries, but on occasion
they travelled to the different fighting
fronts there to observe the treatment
which was accorded prisoners, newly
taken IN battle, while they were on
their guarded way to the temporary
internment camps at the rear of the
lines.
Who Will Care for Them?
Today all is changed. Diplomatic re-
latiOnS between the United States and
Germany have been broken and the
United States must give over its alleyl-
ating work of seeing to it that humane
treatment is given to the prisoners
within the territories of the warning
countries. The United States repre-
sentatives could not interfere but they
could make reports upon conditions
and the knowledge that these reports
were to be made in many instances
has made the lot of the prisoners easier
to bear.
1t is believed in Washington that sew
eral of the neutral governments are
likely to follow the lead of the United
States in severing diplomatic relations
with Germany If this shall be the
case what is to be the fate of the pris-
oners?
1t is perfectly conceivable that with
I'm few days or few weeks there
may be no neutral country still having
diplomatic relations with Germany
which has the force, the equipment and
the temperament to do for the prison
ers of war what kindly AmericaniSm
has done for them.
1t is the intention of all countries to
be kindly to prisoners of war, but meth
DDS are different and on occasion the
equation of the individual enters into
the matter and unless there be con-
slant vigil abuses may prevail.
Must be frlenuly WIN All
The oversight of the prisoners in
nearly all the warning countries must
be given into the hands of some neu-
tral nation which still has diplomatic
relations with Germany. The thing
works both ways. A country may be
in full diplomatic intercourse with the
allies and yet not with Germany, or in
full accord with Germany but not with
the allies. The embassy which has
charge of the prisoners must be in
friendly diplomatic relations with all
the warning countries.
Germany may turn over the care OF
her prisoners TO a nation which is in
diplomatic intercourse with her today
but which may not be tomorrow. There
NAV be a succession Of breakings away
from diplomatic ties within short
time. 1t will be difficult for the war
riag countries to arrange permanently
for the care of the lives and the health
of their prisoners In hand.
Conditions IN washington.
Washington in war scare time
is perhaps the most humanity interest
ing place on this continent. The
fact that attempts are made to
ssppress excitement in White House,
state department, capitol and on the
streets makes the situation even the
more pulslng.
There is nothing like tenseness to
accentuate the evident gravity and
tragedy Of things. On the day that the
German note came declaring that sub
marine warfare would go on after q
manner Of conduct decided upon by
the extremists of the naval warfare
propagandIsts Of the empire, the whole
aspect of things in the capital of the
nation changed. There had been ar
evident relaxation Of feeling and M
evident uplifting Of the spirits of mer
who believed that peace was Ot hand
This condition came following the
presidents address TO the senate
Then in the passing Of minute condi
lions changed, and while an attempt
was made TO maintain calmness ex
element and apprehension were "A
evident as the sun.
Congress responds quickly TO the con
ditons attending supposed natlonn
crisis. When the president was rend
Ing his peace notes or addressing th'
senate on subjects akin TO peace, mem
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