New-York tribune., 1920-01-24
Prisoners Made
Ruhleben Camp
Bit of England
Story of Remarkable Change
~ i'll S'Plague Spot Given
by Prisoners Who We're
Confined in Germany
Food Greatest Complaint
Fairness of Some Captors
Contrasted With Cruelty
'-, of Other Teuton Officers
New York Tribune

LONDON. Jan. 8.-At the time Of the
Ruhleben Exhibition Mr.. Joseph Pow
ell. captain of the camp, was pressed
40 write q book dealing with the his
>cry of that place of internment, says
The Lonodn Telegraph" Francis
Gribble was then contemplating the
publication of his personal recollec
tions of the camp in the early days
when the great colonizing effort was
still in its infancy. Each was well
qualified to undertake such a task, and
1t was arranged that the two projected
books, instead of competing with each
other, should be fused in a single mar
rative, more complete than either au
thor could have written separately.
The result is most fascinating
work, for it shows how, to use the au-
thor's words, "a number of English
men, raked in from German cities,
dumped in swamp, and housed in
stables, set to work to found British
colony and build British city within
few miles of the enemy's capita" j"
It is a fine record of the pluck and
spirit of many men in many different
spheres of effort, bound by common
determination to rise superior to all
the trials and difficulties by which
they were beset
Ugly Side to Picture
1t is an ugly picture that the camp
presents when the first prisoners were
sent there. Here is one portion of it:
Washing facilities We're scandously in
sufficient. The 365 men in Barrack X
and the case was typcal-wcre ex-
pected to share two taps and fifteen
earthenware bowls. and to parade, wash
and dressd at 6:3O a. m The distri-
button of the articles ordinarily deemed
necessary to decent living was on the
same mean scale.
There was given to every man a
coarse towel Of tire texture of an En-
gilsh dichcloth, q tin bowl to hold his
food-and absolutely nothing else; no
+ knife, no spoon or soap. There was
canteen at which thesse articles, and
certain others, could be purchased. but
the men without money-and there
were great many in that state---were
left to wash without soap, to eat with
their fingers, and to drink by putting
their mouths to the tap. The order
eXempting sick men from internment
had been more honored in the breach
. than the observance.
"Sutferers from tuberculosis, bron-
schitis. cancer. rheumatism, and various
unpleasant skin diseases were pitiless-
I y mixed with the rest; and so were the
half-witted and the crpples There
were several men who went about the
camp on crutches, and there were some
fwho could not walk. but had to get
Z their friends to carry them whenever
s they left their dormitory for any pur-
i pose whatsoever"
& Prisoners Demanded Rights
: Early in November, 1914, the prison
GERS were Informed that each barrack
sWould be required to elect an inter
srreter to represent them in their rea-
5tions with the authorities. This was
Sdone, and the men thus chosen, real
sizlng that union was strength, pro-
seeded TO form themselves into com
smittee That was the beginning Of the
administrative services which were to
nave such farreaching results. At the
every first meeting it was arranged to
sappoint captain and vice captain and
sto apply for permission for certain
%prlvlleges. Within few days q police
Iorce was enrolled, a farsighted policy
S delloerately directed to getting the
swork of administration out of the
glands OF the German non commissioned
F.ofilccrs and into the hands Of the pris-
soners Themselves"
y certain amount OF criticism was,
4 o"ever, soon leveled against the
gme'hoc OF the election Of captains and
pother matters. and, as a result. a So
*taiied camp committee came into be-
ing. 1t was at first asecret committee
swhose meetings had to be conducted
s:wlth great precaution. The AUDITORS
sgiVe humorous picture of one such
smectlng. where "the members used tc
.smeet, like gang of conspirators, in q
~corner of one Of the lofts, illuminating
.their proceedings and keeping theil
sminutes by the light of single tallow
scandle stuck in bottle. The picture
(Which the reader must be asked to con.
s.ure up IS that of q grave group of col
HieGe dons, justices of the peace, Ham
sourg merchants and officers of the mer
scantile marine, transacting mysteriou.
Ibuslness in the semi-da rkness, ant
Ethen suddenly 'dowsirg hte glim' be
Gcause the sailor boy who kept cave
sfor them had reported that corpora
awascoming up the stairs" An anal
ssgamation of this committee and tn,
scaptains paved the way for the re
gforms which followed.
{ Gerard's Visit Helped
+ Mr. Gerard's visit and the results fol
Glowing thereon are briefly referred to
E:and there Is an interesting chapter de
svotcd to pro-Germans among the pris
Eoners, their separation from the othe
EprfSOners, and relegaIlOn to Separat
Ebarracks, an dtne attempt to enlist ther
fsin tho German army For the first tim
s've get some frank and impartial note
con the personnel Of the military admin
s5stra':on-C Count Schwerin, Lcu.enan
fGieieh, Lieutenant Coloael van Reich
acrbach, Baron Won Taubc, Baron VOL
ttMutzeahecncr. the Prince Of Thurn an,
kf2xil, k,tlmeister Won Brocken, Rudi
TgeT and Benthin. Praise is generousl,
gwen where praise s due, and fall tsb
.rte ia pad - Scawerins soNcitudc TO
GINS prisoners. whom he spoke OF as hi
echi:dren. to Won TGVl for his passes Il
xthe Casino ics.aHrant and permits t;
Hdrink beer, ana 20 Won Mutzcnbccher
sthc censor, who is described as both ;
ssgeH.leman and osportsman. Ono OF tn.
T5la;t.-'s remarks al the close Of a hotl,
secon .es-ed football match endeared hin
ITO ell WHO heard IT, "When | see how
syou play football" he SAID Il quite un
.aerstand hor Il wa that we failed Il
: bea, tho 'eonte:npt!tbic little army"
= An .nte-set!nY chapter n the story
I,is ;hat which deals with the finance,
dof he camp relief fund cantecn.
.caos.sl account The total turnove,
.1wos 100000. The military authorities
Scxactcd Il commission Of 7Iz per cent
Eon all purchases for the canteen, And
4tooh profits on vine sold in the cam0
gThis money. II appears, should, accord
<ing 70 War Office order, have been
4expcnded for the benefit Of indigen,