The Washington times., 1917-10-22

were always sent by me both to
Washington and to London. and hand
ed to the Berlin foreign office.
ReprisaIs over U-BOat Prisoners.
While Winston Churchill was at
the head OF the British admiralty II
was stated that the German subma-
rine prisoners would not be treated
as ordinary prisoners OF war, but
would be put in a place by themselves
on the ground that they were pirates
and murderers and not entitled to the
treatment accorded In general to pris-
oners OF war.
Great Indignation was excited by
this in Germany: the German govern
ment Immediately seized thirty-seven
officers, picking those whom they sup
posed were related to the most prom
inent families in England, and placed
them In solitary confinement A few
were confined in this way in Cologne,
but the majority were put in the or
dinary tails OF Magdeburg and Burg
As soon as I heard OF this, accom-
panied by Charles II. Russell, jr., of
my stan, / went to Magdeburg. using
my ordinary pass for the visiting of
prisoners. The German authorities
told me afterward, II they had known
/ was going to make this visit, that
they would not have permitted IL. but
on this occasion the corps commander
system worked for me. ACCOMPANIED
by an adJutant-in peace times a local
lawyer-from the corps commanders
office in Magdeburg and other officers,
l visited these British officers in their
cells in the common jail at MaEde-.
burg. They were In absolutely solI-
tary confinement, each in a small cell
about seven feet long and four feet
wide. Some cells were a little larger,
and the prisoners were allowed only
one hours exercise a day in the court
yard of the prison. The food given
them was not bad, but the close con-
inement was very trying. especially
to Lieutenant GoEchen, son OF the
former ambassador to Germany. who
had been wounded and In the hospital
at Douai. Among them / found an
old acquaintance, Capt Robin Grey,
who had been often in New York.
The German authorities agreed to
correct several minor matters of
which the officers complained and
then we went to the neighborIng
town OF Burg. where other officers
were confined in the same manner
ordiary jail. After visiting these
prisoners and obtaining for them
from the authorities some modihca-
tions OF the rules which had been
established, we visited the regular
officers camp at Burg.
OftIeer.' Prison Camp Mt Burg.
1t was at that time what should
call a bad camp, crowded and with no
space for recreation. Later condi-
tions were improved and more ground
allowed TO the prisoners for games
and recreation. At the time of my
first visit ! found that the com
mander, a polite but peppery officer,
was in civil life a Judge OF the su-
preme court at Leipzig. the highest
court in the empire. AS had been, a
Judge in the State OF New York we
and adjourned for lunch
with his staff to the hotel In Burg.
After Churchill left the British ad-
miralty his successor reversed his
ruling, and the submarine prisoners
were placed in the ordinary cOnfine
ment OF prisoners OF war. When the
Germans were assured OF this, the
officers who had been in
reprIsal placed In solitary confine-
!nent, were sent back to ordinary
camps. In fact. in most cases I man
aged to get the Germans to send them
to what were called good" camps.
Release Of Lieutenant Goschen.
Lieutenant Goschen, however. be-
came quite Ill and was taken to the
hospital in MagdeburE. At the time
OF his capture the Germans had told