El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-04-18
ARMY PRISON
REFORMS MEN
Many Return From Alca-
traz Island to Honorable
Service or Careers.

San Francisco, Calf, April 800
a tiny island. actually a large rock
2 with a circumference Of Just a mile
and quarter in the center OF san
I Francisco bay. The United States
iarmy has 40 military prisoners. prac-
ticaHy all Of whom have been SEN
Itenced since war was declared with
Germany. Former soldiers. sentenced
by military courts for serious crimes
iare here. There are boys who volun-
u teered early in the war and then did
= not get to fight because they violated
the rules and regulations Of an army.
Every class Of civilian life also has
\ its representative here, according to
\ the prisons books.
Officially the prison area is called
the Pacific branch United States dis
I ciplinary barracks. Alcatraz Island"
+ To it are sent soldiers from western
stations and posts after convictions
under military law.
/ Theoretically, q sojourn on the
island Is supposed through discipline
I and lessons taught there, to fit the
Z prisoners for return to civil or mill
tary life Each month a dozen or more
are returned to the army TO make
good" Since the island prison was
established, few years ago, nearly
zoo men have been restored to their
FORMER place IN the army. In the
world war these former prisoners gave
good account Of themselves. It was
not uncommon for reports Of bravery
and extreme sacrifice on the part Of
former prisoners to trickle back TO
the big rock"
over the doors Of the administration
building and streaming across the en- ]
tire face of the building are the words l
OF Pope: Hope springs eternal in the I
human breast The administration /
offices front the prison proper.
When a soldier arrives at the island I
under sentence he must don the prison I
garb Of brown with hat OF the same /
color. The clothes are not Of military I
cut and the hat is like a Tam O-Shan- i
ter BY good behavior and attention /
70 prison duties, officers in charge OF
the barracks may decide he again can
be OF use 10 the army and. II the pris-
oner expresses a desire, he is started /
on the road for return to the army e
clean man.
Many snake Good
The prisoner then becomes a dis
clple-' He is given a uniform Of an
old issue with its turned down collar.
He wears a brassard to denote his i'm
proved station From a m he re-
ceives army drill. with a battalion OF
his fellows. In the afternoon he works
at different duties.
When a few months elapse he IS sent
from the island TO some unit Of the
army.
All the men do not elect to remain
with the army Through the west. and
particularly in san Francisco. there
are many former prisoners on parole
from the rock" engaged in various
lines OF business who report once a
month 10 the commandant.
The big rock" rises almost sheer
from the bay waters. The parade
ground had 10 be hewn from the rock.
Above the parade ground similar hew-
ne was done for the prison buildings
3arracks for officers and the soldiers
stationed as guards and administra-
0rs rise from near the bay and al
most are mortised into the rocks.
ONE
Because OF the profusion OF flowers
yer the island and festooned about
IS rock walls the big rock" by its
Ulcers IS called our jewel" Skirt
lg the island runs rallied walk. sup
Orted by and hung out from the
0cks- The walls above and below the
-alk are mass Of flowers, which
eemingly grow out from the rocks
o get the flowers to grow prisoners
-Ould drill a pocket in the rocks
1rowing a few handfuls Of earth and
liant the seed
Escape from the island IS nearly i'm
ossible- Attempts made to swim the
sw hundred yards TO the mainland
ave failed Several men have been
rowned in the effort. A few have
scaped by RATS made OF drift wood
owever. At night powerful search
ght plays about the island from a
Clubhouse on the island Broad rays
re swept continuously around the
3se OF the rock