Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-01-12
XXIv


inspection of our surroundings. The
town is situated on q small plateau
more than mile above sea level--and
overlooks n preclpice which drops about
5000 feet TO the valley below. ON the
other side of the valley tower UP the
triple peaks of the Eiger. Monk and
Jungfrau. from which Mt frequent inter-
walls huge avalanches come laundering
down to carry away large stretches of
forest on the lower slopes of the noun
tain. Behind the town the Almund-
lubel--a hill well known to all the in
termed at Murren-rises to the height of
12.Oo0 feet: and behind this is the
Schilthorn and other peaks favored by
the less adventurous mountain climbers.
Murren Is literally II one-horse town.
The horse is used to help the soldiers
drag coal and baggage from the sta
ton TO the hotel. There Ia only one
level road. a few hundreds yards long.
and along this are found half a dozen
little shops. which, before the war,
catered to the immediate needs of the
English tourists who filed the hotels.
Most of these shops had been shut for
the two years between the declaration
of war and tho arrival of the first
british interned at Murren.
CHARTERED AT HOTELS
All the officers and some OF the men
were auartered in the Palace Hotel.
the rest. Of the men being distributed
among seven other hotels. We were ali,
treated as guests: our board-six francs
(s1.20) for the officers and four francs
$50 cents) for the men, together with
a small sum for heat--was paid directly
to the management by the British Gov
crnment The hotelkeepers were glad
TO get guests even at this low rate. as
they were thus able TO keep their estab-
lshment running and accommodate the
few civilian visitors who came to Muir
ren; n considerable number of officers
and some of the men had their fam
lilies permanently visiting them.
The medical services were in the
charge of Captain Llopart, who was
aided by several doctors. appointed from
the French part of Switzerland. who
did six weeks tour of duty in Murrcn.
I Each man was examined en- arrival and
/ his treatment prescribed. Those who
needed operations were sent TO various
hospitals in the large towns of Switzer-
land. where their expenses were paid
/ by the British Government; those who
were to have massage and mechanical
| treatment received it at Murren, in a
room equipped for this purpose.
4 Swiss combatant ctiicer held the
] DOSlllOu Oh uN laNt, gnu
was responsible for the discipline of the
camp. He held Office every morning and
administered punishment for breaches OF
/ discipline. being advised In this by a
British officer appointed as his adjutant
The senior British officer was directly
/ in command OF all the interned al
! Murren. He organized the camp OF
the old established principles of the
British army. We were fortunate In
having as S. B. o. Lieutenant Colone
! l.. L.. Neish, of the Gordon Highlanders
J He took n keen interest in everything
that went on, and, with the help OF
very able assistants. succeeded in Great
ing a system which cared for the moral
spiritual and physical welfare Of the
men.
Orderly officers were appointed weekly
to inspect the hotels, rectlfy any minol
complaints, and insist on order ant
cleanliness.
In each hotel the senior y. C, o
was known as the Chief of Establish
ment. and did duties similar TO those
of a company sergeant major.
A school was organized under an army
schoClmaster sent out from England
and, after examination, the successful
men were given their army certificates
Numerous workshops were opened. no
but also as means of instructing un
trained men in trades they could follow
after the war. There was carpenter
shop, a shoemaliers shop, tailor's shop
etc,
Later on a printing shop was started
under the direction of Lieutenant Hubbs
A press and type were bought and th'
men were taught typesetting and print
ing A magazine called the "B. !. M.
British Jnterned Murren-was pub
lished every fortnight and served t.
amuse the men, as well as to ESTABLISH
n permanent record of doings in Muir
rem.
Perhaps the most attractive form o
instruction was given by the school
motor mechanism, under Lheutenall
Wallis A chassis was donated by
, Swiss automobile firm. and on 1t the pu
J pills learned TO be expert motor mechan
les. The school was later moved t
. Veyey, where instruction in driving coul
) be given. Most of the graduates of thi
/ school obtained positions as chauffeur
: sand mechanics during their stay
Switzerland.
The British Red Cross. with headquai
, ters at Berne, usually supplied the nece:
/. sary capital to start any new Nentur
but in most cases the money was 500
! paid back out of the profits.
= Everything possible was done to Ell
= tertain the men and make their Il
4 more pleasant A rink was built for IL
, use of those whose condition allowe
( them to skate, and on it many earn
4 walls and competitions of various sort
5 were held. A hockey team was orga,
lied from among the fifty Canadian
and, although all the players were criI
nled in some way. they succeeded in d,
feating almost every Swiss team the
J played,
BOBBING AND SKIING
There was a bob-run three kilometeI
long (about two mles), which. afte
some work, was cleared and put
working order. y funiculaire ran u
= the Almundhubel and carried the NOR
!. energetic and healthy members of II
community to the top Of the run, whic
: wound around a little valley and I'll
e ished conveniently close TO the lowe
$ station of the funiculaire.
e Skiing was another very popular forl
}, of amusement. l was very much a
e tracted by this fascinating sport, an
n when strong enough, bought a pair {
! skis and proceeded to learn. My fir
attempt at real run netted me
3 strained knee and ankle and two cracl
I ed ribs, but fortunately no damage
; my arm. After several days In bed
began again, with much more success.
soon after my arrival in Switzerlar
y 1 received a cable from home asking II