Webster City freeman. [volume] (Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa) 1884-1946, 1917-08-21
No Trouble Has Occurred, and None 10
Expected-Are Well Fed At 4 Cost of
50 Cents Day Per Man 70 the
observation-disclosures From informed
Liners Prepare the Food.

war began.
Surrounding the property IS four
foot wire fence, patrolled by khaki clad
men armed with pistols and ,badged as
"watchmen." Fence and guards are
chiefly to keep out curious Americans,
not to keep In the Germans. II any
German thinks Of escaping. which prob
ably none Of them does, the unwisdom
Of such course is suggested by long,
lean mountaineer hunters, who pause
at the fence to stare with impassive
faces at the foreigners.
A month ago the Germans were TAX
en- to Hot Springs from Ellis island and
other immigrant stations. They are
officially designated as detained immi-
grants" aliens who had not chosen to
take up residence in this country prior
to hostilities with Germany and are not
now eligible to do so. Six hundred
more are going as soon as quarters
now building are completed.
No Trouble 10 Expected.
"What will you do If they make
troubley" was asked of the director Of
internment, Alfred Hampton.
"Why answer that until there Is trou-
ble?" he countered.
There has been no trouble. The Ger
mans obey the few rules imposed on
them. They answer roll call at Q a. m.
daily and take part in a fire drill. Then
they are practically free, within the
grounds, until taps sound at IL p. m.
They are practically on the honor sys-
tenn and are allowed to make rules
for their own guidance through a num-
Der Of committees. They work when
they work and play when they play,
idling but little. A massive, broad
shouldered coal passer who was seen
looking for four leafed clover was
as attentive to his task as If he were
seeking lost diamond. The chief off,
GERS have organized classes. and daily
instruction is given to petty officers
and common seamen In mathematics,
navigation and languages.
I'm three years all these men will
have the technical education necessary
to command ship" said Mr.. Hamp-
ton.
Squads run through military setting
up exercises daily. Some Of the men
work for the government, including
fifty ship carpenters being engaged In
the construction of the new barracks.
and others are employed as day labor
ers. The pay ranges from $50 to $50
month. A number of the men work In
the seven acre tract, where fine crop
OF vegetables is growing, and others
find diversion In their own little gar
den plots. Agriculture appeals to most
Of the interned men, but not many of
them know all there is to know about
plants Most of them are from the
seaboard and have had little experience
in the fields. One captain has little
plot, outlined with white stones. in
which he is cultivating beans and corn.
A large and prosperous jimson weed
which the poor man thinks is some
American vegetable sprang up from a
former planting.
Il did not notice that thing until It
was half grown" explained an official,
"and now haven't the heart to tell
the captain 1t Is rank weed"
Build a Miniature Village.
By the riverside the officers have
built a village Of miniature rustic
houses. using tree limbs and roots.
stones, odds and ends of material
found on the hotel grounds. One house
has panels Of old mating. There are
seats and tables, but no stems.
The prisoners are allowed to receive
newspapers and other reading matter
and, subject to the station censorship.
to write and receive letters. About
thirty members Of German officers
families have come to the village of
Hot Springs, and these the officers are
privileged to receive for an hour each
Sunday. They can see them as often
as they wish. the families coming to
the fence but no conversation is allow
ell except during the Sunday hour.
Few visitors are allowed to inspect the
station. and they are not permitted to
speak to the Germans except by way
CT salutation in passing. The Germans
90 moi salute the americans III charge.
although they generally speak In salu.
tation. The watchmen are not suppos.
Cd to talk with them.
But the rules don't say we mustn't
listen to them talk" said guard off
duty. ut wouldn't be any use to tell
these folks anything anyway said he.
because they wouldn't believe you.
They say the Americans have never
repaired the ship engines they dam
aged. They say It can't be done out
side Of Germany"