South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-03-03
icy FREDERIC C. HOWE. L. :. COMMISSIONER
or IMMIGRATION Al NEW YORK.

q. l. =.
OF IMMIGRATION At NEW YORK
I; has been nearly years since the United States
has held any prisoners American soil And the
prisoners of the Civil war were our own people split
asunder by the strife slavery. Already there
approximately $500 German prisoners in the United
states. They not captves i'm battle They have
the trenches, but portion of them
active participants in the officers and
On the German raider Prnz EiteI Friedrich which
ventured into Hampton Roads for coal and supplies
july 1914 But the great majority of prisoners
OF war are officers and sailors the stewards and en-
pIoyes of the German merchant vessels which
seized 10y our government Immediately the declar-
alton of and men who are held suspects who
have been arrested IN various parts of the country.
There % merchant ships which had been in the
Harbor New York since September, 1914. They had
or board about LOO Germans who were taken from
the ships and informed at Ellis island There
other German ships at Boston, Porto Rico. Panama,
while so Germans brought the Pacific
go New York from the harbor of Kiaouchou captured
boy the Japanese Since the outbreak of'the war,
and Austrian subjects from bankers steve
i'm temporary detention various places throughout
the United States awaiting final action by the
NEW ~ WAR METHODS
We were new in war methods-unprepared for pris-
oners Of war. And whatever the treatment of Ger
many American prisoners. the United States deter
mined that German prisoners held here should be
treated on assumption the president that this
was "a war against the German people but against
the Prussia.
Moreover the great majority of these prisoners were
here ON "a peaceful Grand they II their
ships. which the greatest Of all the Vaterand
now the Lev.athan, and marooned American
years. But they trained men. Many all of
tlcm were reservists. identified the fatherland
The great majority of these prisoners were held for
six months the Els island immigration station
New York and island in Boston harbor under
jurisdiction of the United States immigration
thorities The officers and sailors of the Prinz Eite
Friedrich first taken TO Philadelphia and then to
Fort Oglethorpe Ga.
Under the provisions of the Hague tribunal. agreed
20 10y al the powers. prisoners have certain
rights. They may not be compelled to work at any
thing that viii contr-ate TO the military activities OF
the government. They 90 have OF
rlunicatiou with their friends they any
trial work, they TO be paid the schedule
as that paid officers soldiers of the grade
in army. He can not protect himself; and while
the Hague tribunal accomplished little pre-
Nention war, it has made provision for the proeO
ton Of prisoners 81 and Secy of Labor Wilson.
,bor confronted with the maintenance and care OF
. 600 German subjects placed under his many OF
whom had wives in this country decided that the
United States should standard OF prison admin
is.ration harmony with the disinterested and
punitive aims of America and so humane that our
humanity would serve means OF protection 10
American soldiers who might become prisoners OF war
German camps Tor the neutral nation OF S"lu@er-
land is the representative of Germany this matter
she is also representative OF the United States in
the protection OF American soldiers VINO may become
prisoners Germany and the knowledge Of our treat
rnent German informed men is communicated to the
imperial German government Just as the treatment
~ American prisoners by Germany is communicated
the United states geySrnmS en- ,,osrS
Hot SPRINGS iu tie mountains OF North Carolina.
VS. selected as a nternment camp for the informed
seamen Ii lies from the sea and nestes in the midst
az mountain ranges western North Carolina. For
,ears IL was medicinal patrouized 10y south
cru people. Il is almost surrounded by the French
broad river II possesses great hotel caIable OF ac
,onlrnodating 500 people and open spaces for
the building OF barracks
other war prisoners intetned nc sort McPher-
SON and Fort Oglethorpe Ga. where cantonmonts have
been erected similar 20 those occupied by troops.
These culps were built hy Germans under drec
zion Of American officers and surrounded by stock
sdes Prisoners supplied with clothing and are
adequately protected fross Indictment weather
RELAYS OF officers and seamen transported
from New York and Boston 90 Hot Springs during the