The Green Forest tribune., 1917-11-02
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 H.a.5J. .13S IF u.H3
THEY ARE THE GERMAN SAILORS TAKEN FROM WAR VESSELS
 IN AMERICAN PORTS.
KEPT IN EXPERIMENT CAMPS
They Are All We'll Treated and Well Fed, and Are Denied Virtually Moth ing Except Their Liberty and lntoxi- eating Liquors.
Rv EDwARp B. CLARK.

eating Liquors.
 By EDWARD 3. CLARK.
 Washingtun.-Is it not possible that great many of the American people Will be surprised to learn that the United States already has in charge q considerable number of German pris- oHers of war?
 Il is to be tallen for granted that ev- erybody in the country knows there are great p1auy alien German civili- ans who are undergoing internment in various camps in the United States. But informed civilians and interned 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 10 have the news spread of the exact location of the camps where the civilians are interned, 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- oratton of detail
 The prisoners of war which the Uni ted States has in it's 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 it became necessary of course 10 put these men into camps where they could be cared for and well guarded to pre- vent their doing mischief in their own way to the land of their captors. It must be remembered that these sail ors, for such they are, are on the same footing as if they were soldiers taken on the field of battle.
 They Are We'll Treated.
 It 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 it's 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 eantonted.
 It is possible that some time in the future this country may have q huge number of prisoners of war in its keep, nc. of course no one can fell about This because in the first place you must catch your prisoners and in the seeond place decision must be made as to whether they shall be iuterned abroad or in this country. But if 5ucle Sam eyer aoa4 have any great 1umber under his charge on this side If the wafer it can be taken for grant d that they will bp well fed. Une9e Sam and John BaII are good 2aal alike in this matter of "fulI feediag.n
 Loyalty Kjlls Part.7an2hip.
 Ever since Washington was estab- !fsAed as tAe capital oG the United States there have been currents and cross currents of political. economic md legislative opinion, and there al- ways has been a fire of cFftici sm from one party or another directed at this or that policy nf the administration. The fire at times has been heavy and lever has ii died away altogether.
 Today, however, in thts city. and through the country as wal. there is manifest good deal Of a change There are, of course, still criticisms of policies and sharp criticisms of the administration in many places, but by comparison with former times the critical sea" is comparatively quiet Let it be noticed, however, that the word comparatively is used.
 What is it that has produced tbe changer It is the simple fact that we are at war and that the president of the United States is commander in chief of the army and navy. It fs a sort of curious thing, perhaps, but in way the American people, as Wash ington views if, have voluntarily en- listed in the army and the navy, which means simply that they feel, or most of them feel, that they are bound to a loyalty to the man who as civilian head of the armed forces must by his oath try to defend the colors. IL is probably this feeling of the American people, Washington thinks, that keeps them in large part from their lively practice in peace time of criticizing those things which they do not like and being sometimes q little back ward in praising those things which they do like. In q sense partisan spirit subdues itself in war time.
 Stand by the Commander.
 This condition of things, of course. is likely to change at any moment, but if the lessons of other countries and of their own country in previous war times goes to prove anything, 1t will change materially only when gross errors of administration force the peo- nlp tD demand tbat ,,,o4I,