Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-03-03
by Will. IRWIN.

United States through tie Committee on
Public Information.
by WILL. IRWIN.
n searching investigation OF condi-
lions among the German prisoners In
France is manIfcstly Impossible for
ono who hopes 10 10 anything else
during the period OF the war The
100000 or more Germans and Austria ms
held prisoners BY the French are scat
tered all over the country, from the
lines to the Midi. Also. they are ar
ranged. to great extent IN small
Eroupa. sometimes of only five or ten
men. For civilians transportation is
| difficult. and especially In winter AS
matter OF fact. searching investi-
CATION would take a man furnished
with an automobile. with unlimited
petrol. and with II special passes, from
SIX months to a year. Such conditions
are fulfilled for tho investigators Of
the Swiss embassy. who look after the
prisoners on behalf OF Germany: and
the work keeps two or three men con.
tinually busy
Unable. for laci: OF time. to make an
investigation of this kind. have
'Shosen tho next best course. Provided
with blankc; order from tho French
Ministry OF War-au order virtually
permitting me 20 visit any camp at
any time have looked into five Of
the larger camps in three main dis
tricis and into several OF The smaller
ones In every case hut one mad.
these visits without previous warning
OF my coming. Ia order Ia soc The
prisons. not wnau ;hoy. w"r. arranged
for visitors. but il tHcir o-d.1ar, -cu-
tine. The Information which 1 CD
tanned by these yAt:s supplement;
with my chance observation. on rris-
oners and Their 10. p4i,tcd -. three
years ana half 90 residence on and
on. ia war-t!n. France. Ani may
as well STATE in beginning my gen
eral conclusion that ,hc Germans and
Austrians held prisoner by :lr F-cnrh
are treated as w"ll as might be OK
pectcd under The circumstances.
HANDLING or PRISONERS
HOIst<ED Our TO SYSTEM
The handling and using Of prisoners
I'm France have bean work ed gu, 10 a
system which. after Inevitable bitches
in the beginning, seems to be running
smoothly While ;here is constant.
aaE-by-da% dripping OF prisoners OF
desertcrs across The line. the greater
part or the Germans held captive in
In France arc taken. in io,s OF from
of the great attacks. AS soon a. they
gre beyond the zone Of shell fire thew
ERE concentrated In temporary camps
hear the front, where thcy are cleaned
Up In order to prevent infection or the
spread OF Nermin AZ soon as possible
hereafter they arc sent back by trcop
rain 10 the headquarters Of several
Prison districts. situated. for the most
>art. In Central France. Since worl;
the order OF the day for prisoners
ina since. moreover. their services arc
cry useful in the present labor short
sGe. thesa moves arc made with n view.
20 the need for workinEmen. Arrived
tho central camp of the district
hey remain until the authorities have
xamfned them, learned what trades
hey followed in civilian life. and as
igned them according to their abil-
lies and to the needs of France or
curse. among SO many captives there
re great number who have followed
fancy or luxury" trades. Under
resent conditions 1t is manifestly i'm
ossible to use them in their old lines
employment. For example. a print
r, who has. OF course always set on,v
'erman type. is of no uac to the in
ustries OF France: neither. in the
resent state OF things. is goldsmith
UGH man. If OF sound physique, Is
sually given some form of common
ibor. though he may be assigned 10
trade analogous to his own; the
oldsmith, whom have cited as an
xampie. may be used as n mechanic.
wing to his skill with tools
ELECT MEN FOR TRADES
FOLLOWED BEFORE WAR
The number Of trades found among
10000 prisoners. most OF them con-
'ripted from civilian life at the he
inning of the war. is. of course, al
ost Infinite The mechanics among
lem arc in great demand Both as n
Hilary measure and to maintain
usiness, tho railroads OF France must
kept running. Owing TO the de-
and for skilled labor In munition
orks, the railroad shops are constant
short of expert mechanics TO make
pairs. The men among the German
isoners who followed mechanical
AIDES In peace time have for the
'eater par; been turned over TO the
silroads, where they work in tho
iopS beside n:s'ive workmen and I'M
pr French TO encn. Next greates,.
.rhaps, Is tin demand for carpantcrs.
,ey put III those temporary tamp..
ell kind OF war uses winch d..
Ee face OF France just now. Shoe
Akers arI tailors, turned up In the
'neral eonbnS out OF tie prisoners.
0 set to repairing clothes and boots.
tn for thei: fellow prisoners and for
q French soldiers. AS Ear "a con-
stent WITH order. safety and disci-
inc. the clerical work Of the camps
done by prisoners. This gives en-
oymcnt in the vocations which they
low best, to certain number OF
.rks and accountants captured in the
moral haul. Bakers are let out to
80 continual ON Tnnth Pace =