The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1944-05-22
Observations
German Prisoners
of War Strive to
Avoid Waste
BY Helen Essary

mspd OF the war prisoner camp at
Fort Lee. explained to me during
my visit TO Fort Lee that every war
prisoner receives 10 cents a day
scrip which he may save or spend
al the canteen. Every prisoner. If
he is a private Il did not visit Off
Ger camps is paid for his work at
the community's prevailing rate.
or this wage he Feeei& es- so cents
day in scrip and credit. The rest
OF his pay goes to the government.
All OF the work Of the prison camps
is done by the prisoners them
selves.
wish ! had a prisoner or two TO
run my kitchen. They are such eco
nomicsl fellows that out Of - GOO
pounds OF food or 1000 meals they
prepared for their own mess al
Fort Lee during a period OF two
weeks there was a wastage OF only
% pounds. mostly liquid.
We never see a bone except
when II goes into the kitchen in
raw meat. Colonel Molson laughed.
After its meat has been eaten,
they boil the bones for soup or
grind il up for something. But 1t
never comes back in one piece.
Some of the prisoners have put on
nine pounds since they came. Their
average age About ~ The range
. is from IS years 10 about so.
Certainly there is little trou-
BILE here and there, the command
ing officer admitted. But We work
through the camp spokesman on
national pride. Right now we're us.
ing the guard house as a carpeu.
ter shop. No. We have never had a
successful escape. You couldn't
drive some OF those fellows out"
When | vas taken back 10 the
camp 10 see it al night-from the
outside remembered what Colo
mel Nelson had said about the
chance OF prisoner escaping.
Strong lights glared at the trough
between the double line OF protec.
tive wiring that surrounds the stock
ade
On the watch towers. guards
stood a. attention, rapid fire guns in
hand. From inside the camp came
the music OF German voices sing
ing national anthems-their own
national anthems.
Then suddenly behind us in the
darkness there was the frightening
sound OF gravel being violently
ground. A sharp wrench OF brakes.
An Army truck came 10 a hard
stop. Four guards. carbines in hand.
jumped out and rushed at US, shout
ing: Halt. What are you doing
here? Oh, sorry, beg pardon
The guards saw the uniforms of my
guides. We have to be careful"
A little disturbed. we started
back 10 the main camp, when sharp
ly there came another order.
Halt" A man hurried out OF
small house. What do you want?
Who are you?' IL was Colonel Moi.
san the commanding officer. 4
oh. Please excuse me- he apol-
ogized But We can't afford to take
chance. Not one single chance"
We drove off. terrifyingly aware
~ tAlE Adl LHdL IT, utiluu lIt
apparent order and calm.
The war prisoner camps are self
controlled-up TO a certain point.
Prisoners are divided into battal.
ions. First. there is the company
commander selected by the United
States officer in charge Of the war
camp. The company commanders
report 10 the control officers. The
control officers report 10 the United
States officer in charge.
Camp Pickett's P.W. guard house
is empty like the guard house at
Fort Lee
We've got our own way o. stop.
ping trouble before i gets too
strong and We have to lock them
up" said Major Gleason. For in
stance, on Hitler's birthday a few
prisoners struck because they
couldn't have a day off to celebrate
They could. however, have some
sort Of observance after their days
work. This did not satisfy some Of
them. So in this camp they struck.
Il told their camp spokesman.
the major continued. so you want
holiday, do you? That's all right
with me. Well take a holiday in
the kitchen. too. You boys can
make out with bread and water till
you get your celebrating over"
There wasn't any strike after
that order"
Both Major Gleason Of Port Pick
Oft and Colonel Moisan OF Fort Lee
were proud that most OF the boys
kept well. Now and then they had a
nasty gunshot wound. got on the
other side. that wouldn't heal
How was IL possible to explain
the quirk in human nature that
drives a man TO blow up an enemy
on battlefield and nurse him care
fully in a prison hospital" ! asked
this OF Major Gleason
ITS this way" he said you