The Birmingham age-herald., 1918-03-21
MEN, WOMEN
 AND THINGS

Ever since Ambassador Gerard pub lished his book exposing Germany, showing the perfidy of men in high life, ] I have wanted, not that I disbelieved him, but for the sake of getting the viewpoint of some other intelligent and trained observer, different sidelight on what was going on in German prison camps. I was happy to find in heavy English publication just what I was seeking.
 Feeling that only a few will have an opportunity to see the article, or seeing 1t would care to wade through it, am going to try and pick out some things Tn it which I hope will be instructive 1 fatuated with everything pro-German that the kultur held up as a model on which to rule the world is pinchbeck, and that the. quicker we realize that it | is not true gold, the better 1t will be for civilization and humanity
 | I count 1t a real treasure to have
  tralian who knows Germany and Ger man thought as intimately as a Ger man, for after some years as a lecturer at the University of Koningsberg he was called to a similar post at the Uni versity of Berlin, a position which he retained until the outbreak of the war in 1914, having had the title of professor conferred on him in 1908 (bear in mind they doa not give out such titles as freely as we do in America. It means something to have such rank in such a university in Germany.
 Now Professor Delmer, before the war and for three years after 1t, during the time he remained in Germany, most Of the time as prisoner, was in touch with not merely the professors, but many men in high places. and had Fof the ruling class as well as the pro- letariat, as he was intimate with some of the great socialist leaders. He tells how Prof. Herman Grimm, the son of one of those two brothers who wrote the Fairy Tales,'' was the only German with whom he ever really formed a friendship. It Is interesting to know that it was Professor Grimm's ambition to make Emerson known to Germany, and that he had formed a plan to trans late Emerson's works into German in collaboration with Professor Delmer. cite this to show that the man from whom I gather the information I am going to give was somebody, even in Germany.
 l had read much about Ruhleben, the camp for British prisoners. I confess that in reading about it and the hor- TOTS of the life lived by those interned, l thought the Correspondents were over doing it to please the public back at home. Now, here Is the testimony of man who tried to be fair. Hear him: From November 6, 1914, until March 10, 1915, I was interned in that horrible place of cold. eternal twilight, hunger and Prussian bullying which the Ger man newspapers call the idylically English camp of Ruhleben.' Arrested by a belted and revolvered policeman with a Fallstaffian army of nonde- scripts picked up here and there, a queer continental crew, that went by sent to the camp.
 Here is his tale upon arrival: And in Ruhleben itself, what hurly-burly! What curiosity as to where we were to live, and what rush for the few sta bles where camp beds with mattresses were provided, and what laughter, curses and disgust when many found that they had to sleep in horseboxes (stalls) with merely a litter of loose straw on the concrete, or in crowded lofts on dirty, evil smelling sacks of straw that had already been used. Next morning some had tales to tell Of mice them in the night, but those in the horseboxes had the best of it. The names of the departed steeds still stood on the iron sliding doors, Heather Bell, Montezuma, Water Witch and the rest of them. each box guaranteed.' men joked. to hold one horse or six Eng lshmen.' Please remember the man subjected to this treatment was a pro- lessor in the University of Berlin, and had scores of friends in high life.
 Some men brought in had been s1lb- jected to all sorts of insults and in- dignities. A Glasgow man, aged 53, highly respected in the part of Ger many where he had lived as a kind hearted employer, and benefactor of the poor. was thrust, as kind of a Prussian joke. into baggage car where trunks and boxes were jeeringly piled around him until only his head and shoulders were free. Tn this plight he had to travel from Strassburg to Halle, where they released him bruised and fsinting after a journey of many hours. During the long night says Profess sor Delmer, i've heard his constant moan, they'll never let me out: they'll never let me out His mind grew de- ranged and in less than three weeks he died"
 One of the most pitiful cases" said Professor .Delmer, was that of John Bowditch" I compress his statement. He was just able to give his wife's name and address, as he was nearly dead