The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1917-11-03
UNCLE SAM HAS
PRISONERS OF WAR
THEY ARE THE GERMAN SAILORS
TAKEN FROM WAR VESSELS
IN AMERICAN PORTS.
KEPT IN lNTERNMENT CAMPS
They Are All Well Treated and Well
Fed, and Are Denied Virtually Moth
Ing Except Their Liberty and lntoxi-
eating Liquors
BY EDWARD g. CLARK.

Westinghouse it not possible thai
q great many of the American people
| will be surprised TO learn that the
United States already has in charge
considerable number of German pris
| Oners of war?
1t is to be taken for granted that ev-
erybOdy in the country knows there
are great many alien German civil
ans who are undergoing internment in
various camps in the United States.
But informed civilians and informed
prisoners Of war are on the very basis
of war conditions two entirely different
propositions. One probably would not
be allowed to tell Just where the pris-
oners of war are under confinement,
nor is it likely that the government
would care to have the news spread
or the exact location of the camps
where the civilians are informed, but
the facts of the internment of both
classes Of Germans have been given to
the public in sOme form or other from
day to day though never with any elab-
grafton Of detail.
The prisoners of war which the Uni
ted States has in its keeping are those
who were taken from German men-Of-
war which put into our harbors prior
to the entry Of this country into the
great conflict. When war was declared
between this country and Germany Il
became necessary of course to put
these men into camps where they could
De cared for and well guarded to pre-
vent their doing mischief in their own
way to the land Of their captors. II
must be remembered that these sail
Ors. FOR such they are. are on the same
roofing as II they were soldiers taken
on the field Of battle.
They Are Well Treated.
1t is possible. without going into de-
tails as to how many of these prisoners
there are, or as to where they are, to
say word or two about their condi-
ton and their treatment. The. United
States is particularly kindly to Its In
termed charges whether they be SIM
ply civilian alien enemies, or men who
have been taken from the ranks Of the
armed services. Virtually the only
thing which is denied these prisoners
Is their liberty, although of course.
only certain kinds of reading matter
and no intoxicating liquors are permit
ted them; but beyond this they live
well and seemingly are contented.
1t Is possible that some time In the
future this country may have huge
humber of prisoners of war in its keep |
ing. Of course no one can tell about |
This because In the first place Won
must catch your prisoners and in the |
second place decision must be made as |
20 whether they shall be informed |
abroad or In this country. But 10 |
Uncle Sam ever does have any great |
number under his charge on this side |
u the water it can be taken for grant
"d that they will be well fed. Uncle /
Sam and John Bull are good csaI
alike in this matter of full feeding"
Loyalty Kills Partisanship.
Ever since Washington was estab-
ished as the capital of the United
states there have been currents and
ross currents of political, economic
md legislative opinion and there nj
ways has been fire of criticism from
me party or another directed at this
'r that policy Of the administration.
The fire at times has been heavy and
lever has 1t died away altogether.
Today. however, I'm this CITY. and
though the country as well, there Is
manifest a good deal of change.
mere are. of course. still criticisms of
'oilcles and sharp criticisms of the
administration in many places. but
" comparison with former times tho
critical sea" is comparatively ouie,
1st II be noticed, however, that the
word comparatively is used.
what Is 1t that has produced the
mango! 1t is the simple fact that we
re at war and that the president OF
he United States Is commander in
hief Of the army and navy. 1t is a
ort OF curious thing. perhaps. but IN
way the American people, as Wash ,
ngton views ii, have voluntarily en- ,
sted In the army and the navy. which ,
means simply that they feel, or most ,
them feel. that they>are bound 70 , ,
oyalty to the man who as civilian ,
ead OF the armed forces must by his /,
attn try to defend the colors. II is ,
robably this feeling Of the American ,
eople, Washington thinks, that keeps
hem In large part from their lively
ractice In peace time of criticIzinp
hose things which they do not like
nd being sometimes little hack.
ara In praising those things which I.
ney DO like. In sense partisan |,
pirit subdues itself in war time
Stand by the Commander
This condition of things, Of courso ,
likely to change at any moment. but :
the lessons of other countries and
their own country in previous war :
mes goes to prove anything II viii .
mango materially only when gross
rrors or administration force the peo-
le to demand that changes of meth.
snail be made. Even In sucb