Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-01-03
HOUSING ENEMY ALIENS
They Have a Good Place to Live and Congenial Work.

SIIINGnnN

WASHINGTON. January 2.-Tho
United States government is now hold
ing nearly 1000 prisoners OF war. Most
of them are officers and seamcn from
informed enemy ships; some are unwci-
come German subjects who failed to
leave with Won Bcrnstorn. and still
others are more or less suspicious in
dividuals arrested ny the Department
OF Justice. But. whatever they arc.
they have to be fed, clothed aud housed
by tho government.
This does not sound like much OF a
problem In these days when almos;
every country in the world is accom-
modating prisoners OF war. but you can
take 1t from the Department Of Labor
that II was. In some way the job of
caring for enemy aliens was handed. to
the Bureau of Immigration OF this de-
partincnt. without, however. any appro-
priation or suggestions as to how II
was to he done. The govcrnment itself
had not prepared for such an cmcrg-
ency. Its own prisons were full. There
was. in fact, no appropriate place for
the enemy aliens to go.
Action Quickly Tnisen.
Nevertheless, certain officials Of the
Bureau OF Immigration remained at
their desks all night on April 4. wait
ing for the verdict OF Congress At
3:lf a. n. they received the news that
"ar on Germany had been declared
Exactly one minute later. 4 message
reading. Proceed instantly Wilson"
was telegraphed to every United States
port. Less than an hour later immiEra-
ton officials had boarded every enemy
snip. removing tho crew and placing
them in tho nearest available prison
quarters.
Having done this much. tho bureau
wondered IL
Congress was too prcoccupicd with
other war prob!ema to feel any great
concern or sympathy over the welfare
oil German prisoners. Tho prison quar-
tcrs chosen by the immigration officials
were in most cases tho immigration
stations. SiSty-four men were i'm
prisoncd in the New Orleans imm.Era-
ton station-a modern well-couippnd
building. but hardly permanent prison
accommodation: scvcnty-one officers
and 40 scamcn were detained in the
Philadelphia station at Gloucester City.
y. j.: cighty-six officers and iel sea
men were held In tho immigration sta
ton OF Boston. $50 informed aliens at
San Francisco. and 200 officers and men
at Ellis Island.
None OF these accommodations was
suitable. In New Orleans the men Ia Il
70 be removed on account OF climatic
conditions. The station at Gloucester
was entirely inadequate to the s.tua-
ton. In Boston the United States pub
TIC health officials very courtcouslv
handed over their quarantine station n
Gallups Island for the accommodation
OIL the prisoners, and they have since
nccn removed there. Additional build
inss nave been constructed by the
Aliens themselves. under the direction
oil the Immigration officials, suppI!cs
nave been bought, and tho place has
oceh turned into an excellent prison
canteumcnt, with section OF the Y.
~ :. A. In army huts furnishing enter
tainment for the alicns
Aliens IT Eli. Is,uns.
AZ Ellis Island no remedy presented
Itself In the absence of Federal an
preparation, 50 there the alicuy .tavcd
IN spite or much congestion and incon
vcniHncc. In The meantime. however
iho bureau OF Immigration was work
ing on plans for a permanent and sui; :
able location for them. ~ iirs, tho
government reservation at Pisgah For
est seemed to answer the problem. it's
location and climate bcir: good. it's
need for roads conspicuous And il was
planned tn let the aliens build the
roads. Eut tho forest contained no
buildings capable of housing the aliens
Immediately. so the bureau had to looi;
elsewhere.
location at kanusa Lake near
iiendersonTillc. y. g. aiSo seemed 10
offer IDEAL conditions. but This also
had 10 be rclinquishcd on account OF
come naw in the titac TO the property.
Al last however. the Mountain Park