Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-01-16

thorouBniy appreciated the comfort IN
which they were living in Switzerland.
but still they longed tos see Blighty once
again. Nrhis will perhaps explain some
Of the sentiments expressed in the fol-
lowing article. quoted from an August
number Of the b. I. NJ:
'1nterned prisoners of war are
species OF animals usually found in a
neutral country. The word 'interned'
comes from the Latin lno meaning fed
and 'ternus, meaning up. They are
used in the winter for moving large
quantities Of snow from one place to
another. and in the summer for doing
the same thing with rocks and gravel.
They are amusing creatures to watch.
bees. These communities or establish
ments, as they are scientifically called,
are presided over by what is known as
a chief Of establishment, something sim
liar to the queen bce.' Unlike the latter,
the chief OF establishment does not lay
the eggs which produce the other pris-
oners Of war. These are hatched out in
the mud of France and elsewhere, usu-
ally in hollow of the ground called a
shell hole. ,
PLAY IN THE RAIN
"rhe chief vices of the interned pris-
oner of war are playing football, cricket.
hockey etc. They are so depraved that
at times they will indulge in these vices
In the pouring rain. The only way they
can be tempted to desist is by the offer
of meal. They spend their spare
time in having operations and attempting
to get leave.
There are different species of in
termed prisoners of war. There are the
Scotch. English, Irish. Australian and
Canadian. The latter Have not red
skins. as some people suppose.
There is also another species called
officers. who spend most Of their time
seeing that the others are wearing their
II is necessary.
The interned prisoners OF war are
sometimes soldiers. They arrange them
selves in long rows to present 4 for
midable appearance on certain feast
days They are very religious and be-
lieve that some day they will go to a
country where they have homes, friends
and relations"
We soon learned tn the rumor that
certain number OF Engllshmen were
to be repatriated had been confirmed
At conference held at The Hague. an
agreement had been reached between the
British and German Governments :. for
the exchange of interned prisoners in
Switzerland on virtually the same terms
as had been arranged for the exchange
of French and German prisoners. We
were told that at the conference the
Dutch were always seated at the table
first, then from a door on one side came
in the Germ ms. and from a, door on the
other side the English. No intercourse
save on business. took place. At the
closing meeting the chief of the Germans
got UP and said they could not go with
out thanking England warmly for tho
way their prisoners had been treated
and admitted that no other country had
done the like. Our people bowed back
acknowledgment and thanks, but could
not return the compliment
This agreement applied to the follow
ing classes Of interned men. the general
principle followed being that the sick
and wounded whose re-establishment to
health was not likely to take place
within one year. and whose Wit ility had
uulliHisHeu Dy auout oV per. ceHt' NOuiu
be repatriated:
First. All those who had lost one
limb. at least hand or a foot.
= Second. All suffering from grave in
firmity. which was not likely to disap-
pear within one year, with or without
operative treatment: for instance. conf
p!ete or partial ankylosis or paralysis
diminishing by about three-quarters the
use of q shoulder. elbow. wrist. leg. knee
or foot. -.,
Third. Mutilation OF the face mouth
wounds. head wounds. causing epilepsy.
Fourth. Cases of wounds to the yer-
tebral column, throat, abdomen, etc.
Fifth. tuberculosis. where a cure in
Switzerland was not likely to be useful.
Sixth. Diseases affecting respiration.
the heart, digestion, grave neurasthenia,
Seventh. Blindness.
Eighth. Deafness of certain degree.
Ninth. Mental cases.
Tenth. Malarial cases (serlous).
Eleventh. Diabetes.
Twelfth. Tuberculosis (cured).
Thirteenth. Loss sof an eye, If other
eye were also affected.
The two governments agreed not to
allow men thus exchanged to fight or
work on the lines of communication
| INTENSE EXCITEMENT
The doctors in charge at Murren car
ried out a thorough examination OF every
man and selected a certain number as
eligible to appear before the final cora.
mission which was composed Of three
Swiss doctors. ....5 r.... ..
The excitement was intense when. on
August IS. the commission commenced
work in Murren. The officers were ex.
amned first. One by one they went
into an upstairs room in the Palace
Hotel. while their wives and sisters sat
breathlessly on the stairs awaiting their
exit and the fateful news. There were
not many disappointments. IT was very
hard for officers to get out of Germany,
and they were all In Il more or less seri-
GUS condition. Five only. out OF twenty,
were compelled to resign themselves to
remain in Switzerland. The rest Of us
dashed to the postoffice and cabled home
the glad tidings, .|
We heard that only 400 Germans had
been passed for repatriation on account
of the fact that they knew when they
were well OF. and refused TO present
themselves to the commission. Alto
gether. $50 Of the British interned pris-
oners had been accepted.
Before leaving for home the German
officers had banquet--probably their
last for some time to come-at which
they drank a large quantity OF the best
wine obtainable. We were told on good
authority that instead of being jovial
this affair was one of the gloomiest ever
held in Berne