The Chattanooga news. [volume] (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 1891-1939, 1919-06-21
WOmen's Prison Barracks at Post
Inspected for First Time by Civilian
News Reporter Allowed Forbidden Socade Special
Order From Col. Penrose.

the girl reporters eagerness when at
last granted permission to enter into
heretofore forbidden grounds Thurs
day. BY courtesy OF Col. C. W.cPen-
rose. the commandant- at the United
States war prison barracks. per-
NIT was granted the reporter to visit
the woman's department. When It
was signed Thursday morning 1t was
the first one of its kind granted by
the commander up to that time, since
the establishment of the barracks,
giving the privilege to private citi-
zen to go into this part of Uncle
Sans prison at the camp. While
1t is true that, upon special invita-
ton of Col. Penrose. several Of Chat
tanoogas representative business
men were taken through the main
stockade on Tuesday of this week,
they did not go through the one con-
tanning the German women prisoners.
The only outsiders who have been
admitted to the womans department
besides those employed there have
been government inspectors from
Washington.
When the girl reporter drove up
and stopped in front of the large gate
at the entrance to the stockade, a
prison guard advanced with a ques-
ton mark on his countenance. How
ever. the reporter felt at ease with
the little white slip of paper in her
hand bearing the, signature of "Col.
C. w. Penrose." After examining the
pass the guard gave an order to one
of his assistants and it was then
transferred by telephone to Mrs
Mary p. Morgan, the executive officer
in charge of the barracks. This was
~ ~ r11nrtna hV
the ringing of a bell in the top OF
the watch tower located at the en-
trance, and this was interpreted by
the visitor as a signal for the guard
to unlock the first gate.
The woman's stockade Is located
directly east OF the large one con-
fining the men, and while 1t is not
a great distance away, the two are
far enough apart SO that the pris-
oners in one of the stockades cannot
recognize those In the other. 1t has
around 1t three rows of barbed wire
fencing, and a watch tower is at
each corner of the outside fence. The
recreational field is located just out
side the first gate and this is closed
at 6 O'clock and no prisoner Is per-
mitted to pass this gate after this
hour. During the time the gate lead
ing into the recreational grounds is
kept open the prisoners are not per-
mitted to go within thirty feet of the
second fence. The entire prison bar
racks have been cleared of all trees
and shrubbery both on the inside and
for a considerable distance on the
outside. for fear that it might have
been of some aid to prisoners making
an effort to escape. Mrs. Morgan
states, however, that none of the
has made any effort to obtain free
dom.
Commodious Quarters.
AS the barracks for the women
were erected before the signing OF
| the armistice, quarters for a large
number were erected There are five
or six barracks buildings, each OF
| which can accommodate sixty pris-
oners. However, there is only very
small number of women prisoners in
side the barracks now, probably not
| more than twenty, and only one Of
| these buildings is in use.
In truth, the prison camp was
| found to be not such a bad place
| after all. There was nothing insight
| ly about Uncle Sans stockade anc
| the visit revealed nothing but the
! very best conditions. The genera
surroundings were as attractive as
| possible for a place of this kind. anc
| the keynote of all was sanitation
| However, the wonderful system car
ried out throughout the camp only
went to prove that Col. Penrose, the
| commander of the camp, as we'll as
| Mrs. Morgan, have both had two Of
the most important jobs in America
since the war.
There are no members of the elite
| class of German women prisoners a.
| the camp as there are men, ant
| therefore they all fare on an equa
| planel They have no club nor sep
| arate mess, but all eat in one big
| dining room, the prisoners on one
side and the female officers in charge
| on the other. While most of theii
dishes are strictly American, Mrs
Morgan stated that once in aWhllt
a German dish is prepared. The cooF
| Is an American woman. wife or one
of the soldiers stationed at the camp
| and she has for her assistant one Of
| the German women prisoners. Mrs
| Morgan stated that the prisoners
| have practically the same menu as
| the ordinary soldier in the army. az
they have the same allowance fol
| their meals.
l Ihe women Ill &c nave bhS S"'''
meats and vegetables as the prisoners
! as n rule to avoid any unnecessary
| cooking. However the rest of their food
| such as salads, deserts and drinks
| vary. The prisoners are served IN
| cafeteria style and are seated at one
long table on stools; the officers IN
| charge have their meals served on the
| table and are supplied with chairs.
| The chinaware used is the regular kind
furnished by the quartermaster's de-
partment of the United States army,
Mrs. Morgan has her office in the ad-
| ministrative building and from this OF
| flee she sees to it that the program is
carried on daily at the barracks like
clockWork Mrs. Morgan is from Mad
ison Wisconsin, and was the woman
member of the Wisconsin state coun-
Gil of defense, having received her ap-
| pointment from the governor. She came
here for the purpose OF taxing
charge of the women's stockade at the
camp and planned and selected all OF
the equipment and furnishings of the
buildings While all of it is of the very
simplest kind, Mrs. Morgan has made
an effort to make the surroundings at
tractive. There is not an expensive
piece of furniture of any kind through
out the entire barracks. however.
The prisoners quarters are small
rooms about eight by eight feet. They
are equipped with a regular army cot
and small table used for dresser.
over which is hung a mirror. Shelves
are built onto the wall. These are
used by the prisoners for their cloth
ing; no draperies or curtains are pro-
.vided for these shelves. If the pris-
oners care to have these they must
purchase them at their own expense.
Heavy brown curtains are used at the
windows, taking the place of shades.
and are furnished by the prison camp
authorities. Mrs. NJ. f. Handman, of
Chattanooga, is one of the attendants
at the barracks. 1t Is her duty to see
that all orders, rules and regulation
are carried out Her services have
been very valuable.
Inmates Busy.