Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-03-03
Life of Prisoners Serene in
Camps of Own Building.
Food Good.
GOVERNMENT SUPPLIES
LUMBER, HUNS Do WORK
Workers Paid on Basis Laid Down
by Rules of Hague
Tribunal.

tBy Frederick c. Howe. United States Commits
sioaer of immigration at New York.
1t has been nearly sixty years since
1he United States has held any pris-
oners on American soil. And the pris-
oners of the civil war were our own
people split asunder by the strife over
slavery. Already there are approx
mately $500 German prisoners in the
United States. They are not captives
IN battle. They have never seen the
trenches. but a portion of them were
active participants in the war as Of
1cers and seamen on the German sea
raider Prinz Eitel Friedrich. which
sentured into Hampton roads for coal
and supplies in July, 1914. But the
great majority of our prisoners of war
are officers and sailors, the stewards
and employees of the German merchant
vessels which were seized by our gov
eminent Immediately on the declara-
tien of war and men who are held
as suspects who have been arrested
in various parts of the country
There were twenty-nine merchant
ships. which had been in the harbor
Of New York since September. 1914
They had on board about LOO Ger
mans, who were taken from the ships
and interned at Ellis Island. There
were other German ships at Boston,
Porto Rico. Panama. while more than
fifty Germans Were brought across
the Pacific to New YORK from tie
harbor of Kiaouchou, captured by the
Japanese. Since the outbreak OF the
war too. German and Austrian sub
3ects, from bankers to stevedores, have
been arrested as alien enemies ana
placed in temporary detention at Vari,
States awaiting final action by the
government.
We were new in war methods-un-
prepared for prisoners of war. And
American prisoners, 1.-The United States
determined that German prisoners held
here should be treated on the assump-
tion of the President that this was
war not against the German people,
but against the rulers of Prussia
Here on Peaceful Errand.
Moreover, the great majority of these
Brisoners were here on a peaceful er-
rand; they had come in their ships, OF
which the greatest of all was the va
terland, now the Leviathan, and were
remained by their ships for nearly
three years But they were trained
men. Many or all of them were reserv-
lists, Identified with the fatherland-
Inc great majority OF THESE pTtSOiicfS
were held for six months at the Ellis
Island immigration station in New
York and on an island in Boston har-
Dor under the Jurisdiction of the United
States immigration authorities The
officers and sailors of the PrinZ Eitel
friedrich were first taken to Philadel-
phia and then to Fort Oglethorpe. Ga
Under the provisions of The Hague
tribunal, agreed to by all the powers,
prisoners of war have certain rights.
rf,ov ha 70 a
anything that will contribute to the
military activities of the government.
They are to have means of communica-
ton with their friends. If they do any
Industrial work, they are to be paid on
the same schedule of wages as that
paid to officers and soldiers of the same
grade in the army. The prisoner OF
war is helpless He cannot protect
himself: and while The Hague tribunal
accomplished little for the prevention
Of war, it has made provision for the
protection of prisoners of war. and Sec
rotary of Labor Wilson. when confront
ed with the maintenance and care OF
1000 German subjects placed under his
care. many of whom had wives in this
country, decided that the United States
should set standard of prison admin
fstration in harmony with the disinter-
Ested and nonpunitive war aims OF
America and so humane that our hu-
manity would serve as a means of pro-
lection to American soldiers who might
become prisoners of war in German
camps, for the neutral nation of Swift
Eerland is the representative of Ger.
many in this matter.
To Protect United States Boys.
She is also the representative of the
Emitted States in the protection OF
American soldiers who may become
prisoners in Germany. and the knowl-
edge of our treatment of German in
termed men is communicated to the i'm
periaI German government, just as the
treatment of American prisoners by
Germany is communicated to the United
States government.
Hot Springs, in the mountains Of
North Carolina, was selected as an in
ternment camp for the interned sea
men 1t lies far from the sea ant
nestles in the midst of mountain ranges
IN western North Carolina For years
hswas a medicinal resort patronized by
southern people. 1t is almost surround
ed by the French Broad river 1t pos
sesses great hotel, capable of accom-.
modating 400 or 500 people, and oper
spaces for the building Of barracks.
Other war prisoners are informed al
Fort Mcpherson and Fort Oglethorpe
Ga, where cantonments have beer
erected similar to those occupied by
troops. These camps were built by the
Germans under direction of American
officers and are surrounded by stock
AIDES. Prisoners are supplied will
CiOtn1nS anu are ducQudtcly pfOtcStCe
from inelement weather.
Relays of officers and seamen were
Transported from New York and Bos-
ton to Hot Springs during the summer
and early fall months of 1917, anG
from out the crews of the ships all
kinds of mechanicians and artisans
were selected. There were electri
clans and plumbers. Skilled carpen
tiers necessary to keep a ship in condi
ton were found. There were engi
!, peers, waters, cooks and ordinary Ia
borers, for a seagoing ship is a COM
munity in itself
Huns Build Own Camp.
1t is self contained. 1t has to b.
ready for every emergency. And tn,
German prisoners were set to worI
Building their own camp. 1t might b,
. camp for a few months; it might b.
Tor years. The government supplied
The lumber. The men supplied the la
Dor, and in a few weeks time there
arose as IL by magic a cantonmen
camp for $500 men, which was speed
ny filed from New York, Boston an
ether immigration stations.
The officers were separated from thu