The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-10-22

should receive passes enahling thr!n ~
wight the camps under the conditions
above stated.
This agreement was ratified by the
British and German governments. hnd
thereafter for a long time we worked
under Its provisions. and in most qucs-
lions dealt direct with the war depart
ment.
OF course, before this meeting ! had
managed 10 get permission to visit tho
camps Of Ruhlchcn and poebcritZ near
Berlin. Mr.. MIchaclsnn. our consul at
Cologne and Mr.. Jackson and Others Mt
the embassy had been permitted 10 visit
certain camps.
But Immediately preceding the meet
ing on the fourth Of March. and while
matters were still being discussed. we
we're compelled to certain extent 10
suspend our visits.
In the first days Of the war II was
undoubtedly and unfortunately true that
prisoners of war taken by the Germans.
both at the time OF their capture and
in transit to the prison camps. were
often badly treated by the soldiers
guards or the civil population.
The instances were too numerous: the
evidence too overwhelming. In The prison
camps lnpNSfINtSt OWING " lIl' ll'NN'lh'
system Of military government in Ger
many, the treatment OF the prisoners
varied greatly. AS have stated. think.
In another place. Germany is divided
into army corps districts. Over each or
these districts. In time Of war. is rep
rcscntativc corps commander VINO IS
clothed with absolute power III that ais
trct. his orders Supersedins those al
all civilian officials. These corps CONF
mandcrs do not report to the war de-
par,ment, but are I'm measure indrrend-
ent and very jealous Of their rights.
DISTRACTED by the Jealous Military.
For instance. to show the uNtlcullS
Of dealing with these corps command
ers, after my arrangements concerning
the inspection Of prisoners Of war had
been ratified by both the Imperial and
British governments. | went 10 Halle
to inspect the place Of detention for Of
fcers there. Halle is some hours from
Berlin, and when I had driven out 10
the camp i WAS met by the commander
who told me that might visit the camp.
but that I could not speak 10 the pris-
oners out OF hearing. ! told hini that
our arrangement was otherwise. bui'
as he remained firm, ] returned 10 Ser
lin.
complained 10 the foreign office.
would be arranged and SO | again. some
DAYS later. returned to Halle. My eH-
nerirncc on the second trip was cxnclly
the same as the FIRST. I spoke tn Won
Jaguw, who explained the situation |"
me, and advised me /" visit the hrst
corps commander at MaEcdhurg and try
TO arrange the matter with hun. dld
so, and was finally permitted 1" Nlsit
this camp and talk Ia tho OFFICERS OUT
OF earshut.
This camp Of Halle was continued
during the war, although not at all Il
fit place for the detention OF Officers
who were lodged in the old factory build
ings surrounded by sort OF courtyard
covered with cinders. This building
was situated In the industrial part or
the town Of Halle. There was no OPP
nnrtunity for recreation or games, al
though several enterprising officers nad
tried to arrange q place where lhrE
could knock tennis ball against the
wall
Cult Of Frightfulness Applied to war
Prisoners In Germany.
II was the policy of the Germans 10
nut some prisoners OF each nation IN
, camp, This was probably so that no
! claim could be made that the prisoners
from one nation among the Allies were
treated better or worse than the prison
ers from another nation.
In the beginning Of tho war tho Ger
. mans were surprised by the great num-
her Of prisoners taken. and had ln;tG" no
adequate preparations for their rrr"n-
ton. Clothing and blankets were Woe
fully wanting: so that | Immediately
bought what I could in the way or un-
derclothes and blankets at the large de-
partmrnt stores OF Berlin and tho whole
sslerS and sent these 10 the camps
where the British prisoners were com
fined. l also sent to The Dochcrtz
cemn articles such as sticks. for wound
cd men who were recovering and
crulchcs and even ~SEs and other nour-
fishing delcacicS for the sick.
At first the prisoners were not COM
pellcd to work to any great extent, but
at the time | left Germany the two mil
lion prisoners of war were materially
assisting the carrying on OF the agri-
culture and industries Of the empire.
The League OF Mercy OF New York
! having Photographed me in l9l4 asking
In what way funds could best be used
in the war. | suggested in answer n IT
funds for the prisoners OF war wrrr
| urgently needed. Many newspapers
; pnkrd fun at N" for this suggestion.
rnnns did not treat their prisoners prop
erly that they should hc made to!
! John r. Motifs Work In war Prisons.
OF course. unless this particular edi-
tor had sailed UP the Spr"" in canoe
and hnmbardcd the royal palace. | know
of no other way Of .oni;ing' tho Cor
mans to do anything. The Id"n. however.
Of doing some work fnr tho prisoners
/ Of war was taken up 10y tho Young
! Mems Christian Association. Dr. John
r. Mott was III the head of this work
and wac most ably and drvotcdly AS
sisted by tho Re-. Archibald G. Harte.
shall give an account Of their splendid
/ work in a chapter devoted I" tho char
liable work OF the war.
At only one town in Gcrs my was any
| Interest In the fate Of III, prisoners of
war eviuced. This WAS. am glad to
SAY. in the quaint university town oil
Guttingcn. / visited this camp with Mr..
Hartr. in April Of 1918. to attond tho
opening Of the first Young Mems Chris
| tian Association camp building in Ger
! many, The camp WAS commanded by
! Colonel Rogen. an officer strict in his
discipline. but. rs all tho prisoners nd
mittcd. Just In his dealings with them.
| There wcre, rs | recall. about seven
! Thousand prisoners In this camp. Ruus-
| sian, French Belgian and English.
A Model University Prison Camp.
| II Is n pity that the methods of Colo
/ mel Bogcn and his arrangements for
! camp buildings. etc. were not copied in
other camps In Germany. Here. a. I
have said. the civil population took some
! interest In the fate Of tho unfortunate
, prisoners within their gates. led In this
! by several professors in the university.
+ The most active OF these professors was
+; Prof. STANCE, who. working with a