South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-03-03


They aEord fact. about the same accommodations
the bunk houses put for our American soldiers
during their training period. Indeed. the German
prisoner has rather this arrangement for
while boys stationed OF the coolest
parts France or the Germans live farther
south where the climate IS mider. In only one item
comparison unfavOrable to the prison camps Al
present the demand for sawed lumber is greater
than the supply France has the forests. but the
labor, the machinery, the transportation facilities
So tn the German prison camps the authorities
economical by using floors or packed dirt.
in the bunk houses the cots one for each man are
side by side the wall with ample space
between. In one camp which inspected these hunks
stood in two tiers above the other; this
30 be the exception. Each bed has made or
gunny sacks and packed with straw which is
neweJ from time time. heavy army blankets
and a pillow" In every case ] found bed, mattress,
and blankets hygencaly clean The work of clean
ing is done by prisoners. who furnished this
purpose with plenty OF soap and disinfectants made
inspection during the latter part December and
the first part Of January when France sri7ped
the spell Of cold weather Years.
The country lacks heatn facilities for meeting such
emergency and coal is short. time durns
period was 1 so warm as in tFEse prison bunn
houses; for each had big blazing with coal
fire. The toilet accommodations the as
nished for the rest camps of the French soldiers they
are good enough 10 prevent disease. Each of these
larger camps has series OF hot shower baths. Every
prisoner is required to battle
usually battle oftenerf he wishes. II, gangs employee
in unloading coal at OF the seaport camps
qured 10 battle every evening after their
work. and an extra half hour granted them for this
purpose.
EACH CAMP HAS DIsPENsARY-
Zach camp has dspensary in charge of a prisoner
fEom the sanitary service and provided with the serv
health of the prisoners has been excellent the
whole; and in the camps which visited they had
heard of epidemic ] M way OF
Ing this statement neither have / the slightest
TO doubt it. In one camp of 700 prisoners 1 found
in. the hospital section the dispensary: N
other accommodating about thousand men. the hos
pitaI held patient suffering
\ third hospital in camp of 1900, had two of
acute rheumatism one of ncpient blood poisoning not
serious and we'll under control. and diarrhea.
At fourth camp which also held about prison
ers, found ID men waiting for the doctor sick
cali hour. That a day after the weather
turned from wet autumn chill icy cold Europe
such change OF weather is likely to bring on an at
tack OF diarrhea, especially Of people
unaccustomed to the climate All these
suffering from this complaint The beds of the hos
Dital without occupants.
The two larger camps which l visited-holding a.
the time some 1900 prisoners eaoh-were the respec-
tive receiving centers for prisoners
men are likely TO be kept In idleness for some time
while the jobs appropriate to Their skin educa
ton are found. Because of this. the American Y. NJ.
T. ~ IN the days of our neutrality. chose these camps
among others the site of halls.
are long wooden buildings like the rest furnished
with ciairs ana benches few pictures library and
a small stage for shows and concerts Enough musical
instruments to furnish orchestra for each Of thee
Two camps nave been sent through from Germany n
prisoners packages; and either the original American
of the enterprise their swiss successors
nave gwen pianos. In these nuts the non-wOrkinS
prisoners-such the sanitary men. to be
mentioned observation-disclosures study all day Work
and supper usually finished by half past six i'm
evening. the lights OUT does not blow
until half past eight During that time the huts are
crowded. air quivers with music and CONVEX
sation. The other large camps districts
such institution, men must take their rec
reaton hour seated on their beds in the ,unkhouses
There is rule in these military prison camps as
there is in criminal prisons against conversation
or. in the period outside Of working hours. against
music and other orderly recreatons.
LIBRARIES ARE ALSO PROVIDED.
Each of these large central has a library
German books, provided partly from prisoners pack
ages sent through from Germany and partly through
the charity of the Swiss authorities When there is a
recreation hut. prisoners may read the on the
spot When there is no such hut they may take Them
out from ordinary circulating library. One
library which looked contained 1.5O volumes.
in charge of German prisoner-in peace times
teacher at Munich. However. the greater number OF
prisoners outside great camps
in gangs of from five to perhaps hundred
of their work. Provision has been made in most dis
ets Tor getting BOOKS - these men French terrific
rial soldier travels through the district like a
mail carrier, delivering and collecting books and tax
ing the orders for week
The housing OF these working gangs is matter
apart from the ARRANGEMENTS of the great camps.
harvest and blowing season have said before they
sent out in small companies assist the peasants
with their work according the French
dustry II Is necessary, here TO mention that French
life is organized like ours. Few French
live the land which they till: isolated
farmhouse the exception rather than the rule The
farmers dwell in small villages going forth from them
fields When of prisoners s scheduled
10 arrive the local authorizes of the vilIage-usuay
the marie. elected municipal chief. held respon-
sible-prOvde quarters. Sometimes a part OF a public
building. as "A schcohouse is aside for this pu>-
pose and sometimes a house. As / did
make my INVESTIGATION harvest time. say.
hrst-hand how good these quarters may De
ever. if they ever uncean inadequate the
remedies itself. for that gang at least since
after a the prisoners and their guard
on To- another district In the dead of last winter
many Of the prisoners who had worked at agriculture:
labor during the summer and autumn ~ere put WOO.
choppns Most of the French forests nave permanent
camps where the Noodchoppers nave Ned during their
winters work from time immemoral The prisoners
exactly the quarters which the French civilian
aborers used in time OF peace These camps have al