Mountain Home Republican. [volume] (Mountain Home, Idaho) 1915-1946, 1917-12-22
United States Sends Photo
graphs to Germany, Show
ina Treatment in Camps.
AID OUR MEN IN GERMANY
Negotiations Entered Into to Secure
Best Conditions for Americans Cap
tpred on the Battle Front--When
Germans Are Held.

Washington.-Th United States has
opened negotiations with Germany for
an agreement to govern the treatment
Of prisoners of war taken by either ma
ton. This is being done with the hope
of securing the best possible conditions
for Americans taken prisoner on the
battle front, and to show Germany how
we'll German prisoners In the United
States are being treated.
Already, through the Red Cross at
Geneva, the United States has begun
forwarding food and other necessaries
to Americans held in Germany, OF
whom there are now more than one
hundred.
German military prisoners of war In
the United States, besides receiving ey.
cry necessity and comfort, have the
pay and privileges of their rank in the
United States army and navy. They
are housed in model sanitary camps
and recently one of the prisoners send
Ing letter to his prospective wife In
Germany wrote that the pay he would
accumulate during his Imprisonment
would not only permit him to retire
from the navy, but would set them up
In little business as well,
Photographs showing the comfort
able surroundings of interned Germans
in this country have been forwarded
TO Germany by the war department
through the state department and q
neutral agent. They are intended to
show that interned Germans are well
treated by the United States and to re-
veal the expectation Of the United
States that similar consideration will
be shown American soldiers and sail
ors who may be captured by Germany.
Two classes Of German prisoners are
detained in this country. One Is COM
prised of German sailors taken into
custody when the United States In
termed various vessels at the beginning
of the war; The other class Is com.
prised of enemy aliens, civilians who
have been arrested and are now being
detained under governmental regula-
lions for various reasons.
The principal detention camp is at
Fort Mcpherson, Ga, where approx.
mateiy $50 war prisoners are held In
custody of the war department. AT
Fort Oglethorpe, Ga, there are 1865 en-
envy aliens who are not, strictly speak.
ing, prisoners of war;
At Fort Douglas, Utah. there are SIT
prisoners of war and 50 interned
aliens.
Altogether, there are 1864 actual
prisoners of war In custody Of the
war department, and about 400 in
termed enemy aliens held at the re-
quest of the department of justice.
OF this number, about three score are
located at Taboga Island, Panama. II
is estimated that Germany Is now hold.
ing 100 sailors taken from American
ships by commerce raiders and other
German vessels, besides the first pris-
oners taken from General Pershing's
forces.
The detained Germans, wherever To-
Gated In the United States, are consid.
erately treated and are not given oner-
Gus tasks. The duties assigned are
strictly In accord with international
law.
Reading and recreation facilities are
provided, and the photographs collect
ed from the several detention camps
show German prisoners going through
outdoor gymnastic exercises and stag
ing amateur plays on improvised stages
In the recreation rooms.