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THE BETTER GERMANY
IN WAR TIME
_Being some Facts towards Fellowship._
BY
HAROLD PICTON.
THE NATIONAL LABOUR PRESS, LIMITED,
MANCHESTER AND LONDON.
TO THE
BRITISH AND THE GERMAN PEOPLES
AND
IN MEMORY OF
MY MOTHER
WHO KNEW AND LOVED
THEM BOTH.
"Forsooth, brothers, fellowship is heaven, and lack of
fellowship is Hell."--_A Dream of John Ball._
"Either we are all citizens of the same city and war between us,
a civil war, a monstrous iniquity to be forgotten, as soon as it
may bring in peace; or else there is no city and no home for man
in the universe, but only an everlasting conflict between
creatures that have nothing in common and no place where they
can together be at rest."--_Times Literary Supplement_, Nov. 11,
1915.
"He had to be extremely careful, said Lord Newton at Knutsford
last Saturday, because if he made any statement which did not
accuse the Germans of brutality he was denounced by many people
as pro-German."--_Common Sense_, April 20, 1918.
"Des faits de ce genre méritent dêtre mis en evidence. Il
faudrait, dans ce déchaînement d'horreurs et de haines, insister
sur les quelques traits capables d'adoucir les âmes."--_La
Guerre vue d'une Ambulance_ par L'Abbé FÉLIX KLEIN.
"Hate as a policy is either inadequate to deal with the crimes
(real and invented) of our enemies, or, if adequate, so recoils
on the hater that he himself becomes ruined as a moral
agent."--G. JARVIS SMITH, M.C. (late Chaplain at the Western
Front). _Nation_, Nov. 2, 1918.
"The belief at home that the individual enemy is an incurable
barbarian is simply wrong...."--Second-Lieut. A. R. WILLIAMS,
killed in action August, 1917.
"I will go on fighting as long as it is necessary to get a
decision in this war.... But I will not hate Germans to the
order of any bloody politician; and the first thing I shall do
after I am free will be to go to Germany and create all the ties
I can with German life."--J. H. KEELING (B.E.F., December,
1915).
CONTENTS
CHAPTER. PAGE.
FOREWORD xi.
I. MILITARY PRISONERS 1
II. CIVILIAN PRISONERS 75
III. PRISONERS IN PREVIOUS WARS 123
IV. REPRISALS OF GOOD 132
V. WHAT THE GERMAN MAY BE 149
APPENDIX 255
FOREWORD[1]
One kind of German has been too often described, and not infrequently
invented. I propose here to describe the other German. At a military
hospital a lady visitor said to the wounded soldiers: "We've had lots of
books and tales of horror; why don't some of you fellows prepare a book
of the good deeds of the enemy?" There was a slight pause. "Ah," said
one of the soldiers, "that would be a golden book." Very imperfectly,
and in spite of all the barriers raised by war passions, I have tried to
collect some of the materials already to hand for such a book.
In any quarrel it is difficult to recognise that there is good in one's
opponent. Yet in order that any strife may be wisely settled, this
recognition is plainly necessary. Mere enmity, without recognition of
good, belongs to primitive barbarism. It was against the foolish
unpracticality of this older barbarism (not surely only against its
wickedness) that Christ protested in the words, "But I say unto you,
love your enemies." He saw around him the folly and unenlightenment of
the perpetual feud. I have collected the testimonies that are in the
following pages because such facts seem to me to need wider
recognition, if we are ever to gain an outlook upon a fairer and a truer
world.
If my desire for peace has anywhere shown itself unduly, or in a way
irritating to others, I ask forgiveness. Whenever peace is made, the
world will need a peace built on all the facts of human nature. I have
tried to give here some of those which war passions inevitably obscure.
That is the whole of my task.
HAROLD PICTON.
_September, 1918._
FOOTNOTES:
[Footnote 1: With the exception of a few minor insertions the
whole of this book was compiled, and the preface written, before
Peace came. It seemed, however, that it might only be harmful if
published then. I, therefore, kept the book back, but, as the
wording expressed my feeling as I wrote, I have left it
unchanged.]
The Better Germany in War Time
I.
MILITARY PRISONERS.
The cases of bad treatment of prisoners in Germany have been made known
very widely. No one, I imagine, can wish to defend bad treatment of
prisoners anywhere (even of criminal prisoners), and such a horrible
state of things as that of Wittenberg during the typhus epidemic is a
disgrace to human nature.
But Mr. Lithgow Osborne says: "My whole impression of the camp
authorities at Wittenberg was utterly unlike that which I have received
in every other camp I have visited in Germany." (Miscel. 16, 1916, p.
6). I propose to give some account of these other camps. I shall not
exclude adverse criticism, but as the public have heard little but such
criticism, I do not think it will be unfair to deal in these pages more
fully with the favourable reports.
LETTERS FROM OFFICERS AND OTHERS.
The following letter from a British Officer appeared in the _Times_ of
December 30, 1914. It may well serve as an introduction and a caution:
I do not doubt Private O'Sullivan's wonderful experience as a
prisoner, but his is, I am sure, only an isolated case, and not
at all the usual treatment to which British prisoners are
subjected. I can speak from experience, as I, too, was a
prisoner (wounded), but afterwards released, as the building in
which I was, along with several German wounded, was captured by
the British. During the time I was with the Germans they treated
me with every consideration. Food was scarce, owing to the fact
that the roads were so well shelled by our artillery that their
transport could not come up; but they shared their food with me.
They also dressed my wound with the greatest care, and in every
way made me as comfortable as possible. Being able to speak a
little German, I talked to the other wounded, and found that
their papers also published dreadful tales of our treatment of
prisoners, which I am glad to say I was able to refute.
I am, Sir, yours faithfully,
A BRITISH OFFICER.
December 27.
I would especially call the attention of fair-minded men to the last
sentences.
Here is a letter written by Second-Lieut. F. Phillips Pearce (aged 18)
of the 2nd Essex Regiment, from Crefeld on October 27, and printed in
the _Times_ of November 19, 1914:
We are treated very well indeed here. We have good beds and
fires in the rooms, three good meals a day, and a French soldier
for a servant, and this morning I had a splendid hot bath. We
have roll call twice a day, at 8 a.m. and 9.45 p.m., and lights
out at 10.45, and we have a large courtyard to walk about in. We
have a canteen here where we can buy clothes and anything we
want. Prison fare is very good--new rolls and coffee and fresh
butter. Not bad! I had a very decent guard when I was coming up
on the train; he got me food, and when one man tried to get in
to attack me he threw him off the train. I am afraid I am out of
the firing line until the war ends (worse luck). I am in no
danger of being shot unless I try to bolt, which I shan't do. I
shot the man who was carrying their colours, and he wanted to
have me shot, but luckily nobody seemed to agree with him. The
next time I saw him he had been bandaged up--he was shot through
the shoulder--and he dashed up and shook me by the hand and
shouted, "Mein Freund, mein Freund."
On November 25 other letters appeared in the _Times_. One was from a
cavalry subaltern in a German fortress:
You ask about money; they provide lights and firing and all the
men's food. The officers get 16s. a week and buy their own.
Quite sufficient, as it is cheap. I have learnt German fairly
quickly and do interpreter now in the shop for the men, though,
I am afraid, _tant mal que bien_. One of the officials here
used to be a professor, and is very kind trying to teach us.
Thanks for the warm underclothes, and most awfully for the
footballs. We have quite good matches.... It is better not to
try to send any public news of any kind from England; people
having been stupid trying to smuggle letters in cakes and
things, and it only makes trouble for everyone.
A Captain writes:
For dinner at 1 p.m. we are given soup, meat and vegetables....
Supper takes place at 7 o'clock and consists of tea, sausages or
meat and potatoes.... We receive £5 a month as pay, of which 1s.
6d. is deducted for food each day. We have a canteen here at
which we can buy everything we want, ... so there is no need to
send me anything at all, except perhaps those small 7d. editions
of novels.
An English lady wrote early in 1915 from Munich:
I must tell you I had permission to visit a wounded English
officer, a cousin, and I think it would reassure many people at
home to know how warmly he speaks of the great kindness that has
been shown him now for five months, as well as the skill and
attention of the doctors.--(_Times_, March 17, 1915.)
Here, too, is a letter from Lieut.-Observer J. E. P. Harvey, an officer
of the Bedfordshire Yeomanry, and attached to the Royal Flying Corps:
I met one of the pilots of the German machines that had attacked
us. He could speak English well and we shook hands after a most
thrilling fight. I had brought down his machine with my
machine-gun, and he had to land quite close to where I landed.
He had a bullet through his radiator and petrol tank, but
neither he nor his observer was touched. I met two German
officers that knew several people that I knew, and they were
most awfully kind to me. They gave me a very good dinner of
champagne and oysters, etc., and I was treated like an honoured
guest. I then came by train the next day to Mainz, where I was
confined in a room by myself for two days. I have now been moved
into a general room with eight other English officers, where we
sleep and eat. We are treated very well, and play hockey and
tennis in the prison yard.--(_News of the World_, February 27,
1916.)
Miss Colenso gives the following account, which appeared in the _Daily
News_ of June 28, 1918:
A minister friend of mine told me the story of a young Scottish
boy of his acquaintance, now a military prisoner in Germany--I
forget for the moment in which camp. This boy received a letter
from home one day telling of his mother's serious illness and
the doctor's verdict that she could only live a few weeks. The
German Commandant, finding the boy in great distress, asked him
what was the matter, and on learning the cause of his grief,
said: "Would you like to go home to your mother?" The boy sprang
up, exclaiming indignantly, "How can you mock me when you know
it is impossible?" "But you shall go, my boy," said the
commandant. "I will pay your return fare on condition that you
give me your word of honour to come back here." The boy went
home to Scotland and remained by his mother's side for about
three weeks till her death, when, true to his word, he returned
to Germany.
The writer of "Under the Clock" considers that "well-attested" stories
of this kind should be given publicity. It is even more necessary to
examine the "attestation" of the other kinds of stories, for all the
bias is against the enemy, and demand is apt to create supply.
MERSEBURG, DOEBERITZ.
I pass on now to a report made by a United States Official. The American
Consul writes from Leipzig under date of November 16, 1914: "On Saturday
afternoon, the 14th instant, I visited the military concentration camp
near Merseburg, where some 10,000 prisoners of war are interned. The
object of my visit was to investigate the claim of a French prisoner
that he is an American subject. The result of my observations regarding
the welfare and humane treatment of the prisoners at large was a
surprise to me.... Separated by nationality, these prisoners are housed
in wooden buildings, well built, ventilated and heated.... They sleep
upon straw mattresses in well-warmed quarters, and, as far as I could
judge, are as well or better housed than labourers upon public works in
the United States. The prisoners are fed three times a day. Breakfast
consists of coffee and bread. Dinner consists of vegetable and meat,
soup and bread, and for supper they are given bread and coffee. I was
informed that many of the prisoners have some money, and that they are
allowed to buy whatever else they may wish to eat. If I may judge from
the mounds of empty beer bottles at hand, there is evidence in support
of this statement. The prisoners appeared to be in good health and
cheerful, many of them engaging in games and other pastimes."
The diet described must be frightfully monotonous. Feeding has
throughout been one of the German difficulties. "Germany claims to hold
433,000 prisoners of war," wrote an anonymous American journalist
(probably in November, 1914); "the housing and feeding of so great a
number must be a tremendous strain upon resources drained by the
necessities of war." The numbers must now exceed two million. The Press
article referred to [Misc. No. 7 (1915)] is severe on the misery of camp
life, and the verminousness of the men (they were of mixed nationality)
in the camp at Döberitz which he visited. (See, however, the further
official reports quoted below at p. 9). But the writer does not confine
his condemnation to one side. "One hears of battles in which no quarter
is granted. There are stories of one side or the other refusing an
armistice to permit the other to gather its wounded. Each side is
desperately determined to win, and neither is counting the cost. So men
must rust in prison camps until the struggle is over." The monotony in
this case seems to have been varied by fights between the prisoners of
different nationality, each set considering that the others had not done
their part in the war. We need not be contemptuous about that. The
monotony of the prisoners' life must tend to produce the maximum degree
of mutual friction. There is absolutely no privacy for the prisoner of
war. To be forced to remain, day and night, for months and years in
idleness, with a crowd of others, not of one's own choice is, I believe,
one of the psychological factors which make internment (especially to
many civilians) decidedly worse than imprisonment in a criminal prison.
CORRESPONDENCE AND PACKAGES.
My next document illustrates the fact that each side makes similar
complaints about the other. Telegram received by American Embassy,
London, December 23, 1914, 22nd from Berlin Embassy:
"Foreign Office reports receiving many complaints that money and
packages sent German military and civilian prisoners in enemy
countries from Germany do not reach addresses. Please secure
information for Department to forward German Foreign Office
whether money and other postal matter will be delivered to such
prisoners promptly and intact.--BRYAN, Washington."
There is no doubt that many letters and parcels have _not_ reached
German prisoners in England. Lord Robert Cecil has fully allowed this.
(_Times_ report. March 11, 1915.) In spite of this, I have no doubt that
the British authorities have done their best to expedite delivery. I
would suggest that this is probably the case on the other side, too. We
shall indeed later come upon some definite statements in support of this
view. One frequent cause of the non-arrival of parcels in Germany has
been convincingly described by Mr. Ian Malcolm, M.P. (_Daily Mail_,
November 8, 1916, and Reprint):
I did not approach this subject quite "new to the game." I had
already visited general post offices in England, Switzerland and
elsewhere, and had seen thousands, literally thousands, of food
parcels intended for our prisoners of war in Germany falling to
bits and incapable of being forwarded for want of skilled
packing. The sight was enough to make angels weep. To think that
so much self-sacrifice had been exercised in humble homes to
save up bits of dripping, crusts of bread, broken cigarettes,
and what not, in order that these should reach son or brother or
sweetheart in Germany, yet packed so badly albeit by loving
hands, that in the first rough and tumble of the post the paper
burst, the string came undone, and the contents of a dozen
parcels fell in an inextricable jumble upon the floor.
There will unfortunately, too, be those in every land who will take
opportunities for mean thefts. We have all had experience of that during
this war, and the following cutting from the _Daily News_ of October 5,
1915, may be given in illustration:
In a letter of thanks to the secretary of the committee of the
Elswick and Scotswood workmen, formed for the purpose of sending
comforts to the troops, Sir Ian Hamilton says:
I am extremely touched by the extraordinary generosity and
kindness of the Elswick and Scotswood workmen. I will take
great care to let our soldiers know to whom they are
indebted for this most handsome contribution. Pray heaven
the parcels will escape thieves and scoundrels who waylaid
some of the gifts, and will arrive in good condition.
If there are, alas, not a few men who will steal from their comrades,
there are not likely to be fewer who will steal from their enemies.
Speaking generally, however, the delivery of parcels on both sides soon
became commendably regular. The care shown on the German side is warmly
praised by Captain Gilbert Nobbs, who remained quite able to appreciate
good deeds even after enduring terrible hardships and hearing worse
stories from others. The bad deeds of war, soldiers are able to judge
better than civilians. In his book "Englishman, Kamerad," Captain Nobbs
writes:
I was very much impressed with the fair and systematic handling
of our parcels, letters and money; even letters and postcards
which arrived for me after I had been sent back to England, were
re-addressed and sent back. A remittance of five pounds which
arrived for me after I had left was even returned to me in
England, instead of being applied to the pressing need of the
German War Loan.--(_Daily News_, January 25, 1918.)
An acquaintance of my own, a lecturer in a technical school, spoke to me
to the same effect. He told me, as an illustration, of a parcel sent to
him which had become quite shattered in transit (p.p. 7). The Germans
transferred the contents to a sack, and, as he said, the temptation to
pilfer the sorely-needed foodstuffs must have been great. My informant
also spoke of the very thorough inoculation against disease.
ALTDAMM.
On December 31, 1914, Mr. Damm reported to Mr. Gerard on the Camp at
Altdamm near Stettin. The general arrangement, he remarks, is the same
as that of the camp at Stargard on which he had reported previously.
"It appears to me that every effort is being made to treat the prisoners
of war as humanely as possible in the two camps I visited. Dry and warm
shelter is provided, the food is simple and perhaps monotonous, but of
good material and well prepared, sanitary arrangements are good, and the
health of the men is carefully looked after."
RUMOURS V. INSPECTION.
But the general inspection of all camps had not yet been agreed to by
the German Government, and on February 23, 1915, Sir Edward Grey wrote
to Mr. Page (the American Ambassador in London) complaining that no
definite replies to his questions were forthcoming. "His Majesty's
Government," he continues, "have only unofficial information and rumours
on the subject to guide them, which they trust do not accurately
represent the facts." The "unofficial information and rumours" had,
however, attained wide publicity, and obtained still more later.
The German authorities agreed on March 17, 1915, to general inspection
of detention camps and consideration of complaints. The reports now to
be cited were made after this date. [Misc. 11 (1915)]. I propose to give
examples of almost all the earlier reports, for it was in the earlier
stages of the war that there was most difficulty everywhere in providing
accommodation for prisoners. We ought not to forget that the earliest
reports on our own camps which the British Government have published
begin with February, 1916.[2]
DOEBERITZ.
On March 31 Mr. Jackson reported on the camp at Döberitz, a large camp
with between three and four thousand British prisoners. "So far as I
could ascertain, British soldiers are called upon to do only their share
in fatigue work.... So far as I could ascertain, after inquiry of a
number of men, nothing was known as to the stopping of either incoming
or outgoing correspondence.... The camp at Döberitz is in a healthy
location, and the barracks are new and of a permanent character.... They
are at least as good as those used by the Germans at present in the same
neighbourhood. As was to be expected a number of men had individual
grievances, but there were no general complaints, except with regard to
the German character of the food--_and those were the exact counterparts
of complaints made to me by German prisoners in England_." I have
italicised the last clause as it will surely, to a fair-minded man, seem
a somewhat important one.
Mr. Lithgow Osborne visited the camp at the same time. He says:
Until two weeks ago the Russians and English were, in cases,
housed together--a source of complaint to the latter, more
especially on account of vermin. The races have now been
separated. The men all stated that they had the two blankets and
the other requisites provided in the German rules, and I heard
but one complaint about overcrowding. Most of the English and
French receive clothes from home. All the prisoners who do not,
are furnished from the camp supply; the men stated that this was
carried out according to the rules.
No complaints whatever were made regarding the Commandant, the
non-commissioned officers, or the general government of the
camp. The food was the source of the few real complaints that
could be heard, although at least half of the men spoken to
admitted that it was quite as good as could possibly be
expected.
The impression of the whole was excellent, and one received the
idea that everything that could reasonably be expected was done
for the men by the authorities in charge.
THREE POOR CAMPS.
Mr. Jackson's reports on Burg bei Magdeburg, Magdeburg and Halle a/d
Saale are the most unfavourable. They were all small officers' camps,
Burg containing 75, Magdeburg 30, Halle 50 British officers. There were
a few orderlies at each camp.
The chief points are inadequate ventilation, inadequate service for
officers and, in the first two, the fact that living rooms were used
for all purposes, there being no special mess or recreation rooms. There
seemed, however, to be no discrimination against the British.
GOETTINGEN.
Mr. Page himself reports on Göttingen, where there were about 6,000
prisoners. "The Camp Commandant, Colonel Bogen, has done everything
possible to make this a model camp, and he has accomplished a great
work. The only complaint is as to the food, the quantity of which, of
course, is not under the control of the Commandant, as he is limited to
an expenditure of only 60 pfennigs (about 7d.) per day per man.
"Everything was in the most beautiful order. There was a very fine steam
laundry and drying room, bath rooms, with hot and cold showers, and the
closets, etc., are in a very good condition and scientifically built.
There is running water and electricity in the camp. A French barrister
of Arras, named Léon Paillet, who was working with the French Red Cross
and who, for some reason or other, has been made a prisoner, has done
marvellous work in organising libraries, etc.
"I am pleased to say that the professors and pastors in Göttingen have,
from the first, taken an interest in this camp, and Professor Stange has
done much in helping the lot of the prisoners. The Y.M.C.A. building,
erected through the efforts of Mr. A. C. Harte, who for a number of
years has been working with the Y.M.C.A. in India, will be a great help
to the men in the camp.
"At the opening ceremonies there were speeches by Colonel Bogen, Mr.
Harte, and Professor Stange, and then each speech was delivered in
English and French by prisoners. These were followed by short speeches
by French, English, and Belgian prisoners. Then came a concert by the
camp orchestra and the camp singing society, followed by songs and
recitations by various prisoners."
Dr. Ohnesorg reported further on April 22. At that time there were 6,577
prisoners, of whom 1,586 were British. He warmly commends the steam
laundry, the steam disinfecting plant, and the hospital. "A spirit of
contentment pervaded the camp. The British prisoners were well clothed.
I tasted the evening meal, consisting of a vegetable soup, which was
very palatable and, I should say, nourishing.... The citizens of
Göttingen have taken a great interest in the camp, and some of them,
notably Professor Stange, of the University, have given a great deal of
their time to the welfare of prisoners and the formation of classes for
study amongst them."
GERMAN HELP FOR PRISONERS.
The interest taken by prominent Germans in the welfare of prisoners of
war is little recognised in this country. The Berlin Committee (of which
more will be said later) has received considerable support. At the end
of June, 1916, a meeting in support of its work was held at the house of
Prince Lichnowsky, former Ambassador in London, who returned specially
from the front to preside. The Bishop of Winchester, writing in the
_Times_, tells us that many notable men and women were present, and that
at the meeting a collection of 8,000 marks (about £400) was made.
COLOGNE.
Mr. Michelson visited in April, 1915, the three Cologne hospitals in
which wounded British prisoners are lying. He reports as follows:
These institutions are so typical of large, modern, well ordered
hospitals that little need be said of their employment or
management. They are provided with all the machinery and
paraphernalia usual to surgical work on a large scale, contain
all standard and necessary conveniences and fittings, afford to
patients a maximum of protection in the matter of sanitation,
quiet and relief from preventable irritation, and are conducted
in a thoroughly scientific, professional and humane way.
The names of the 49 wounded British prisoners are hereunto
annexed. I personally spoke to every one of these men, and with
many of them I conversed privately and without being overheard.
With but one exception no English-speaking British prisoner had
any complaint to make, and a number of the British prisoners
eagerly expressed to me their appreciation for the care and
attention given them.
The physical condition of the Indians is particularly good. Only
21 deaths have occurred among the 1,000 wounded cared for in
hospital No. VI. since the war began, and the death rate in the
other two hospitals is correspondingly low. The physicians in
charge consider the rate to be somewhat remarkable in view of
the many grave injuries treated.
In closing I may say that there is no discrimination or
segregation among the patients and that certain French patients
with whom I spoke expressed, likewise, their appreciation for
the care and attention given them.
CREFELD.
At Crefeld Mr. Michelson visited the camp for interned officers. Of
these interned 137 were British. The general statements of the
Commandant "were afterwards independently confirmed by the one interned
British medical officer, Captain Benjamin Johnson, who said that as a
physician he had no complaints to make or improvements to suggest. He
did, however, complain on the score of being held prisoner, but the
Commandant and the German medical officer, and I with them, feel that
the presence of a British medical officer in the barracks is desirable.
"The bath room which I saw has a floor space of about 1,500 square feet,
one-half of which, drained in the centre, lies under some 20 shower
nozzles. There are a couple of porcelain tubs in the other half, and in
the centre there is a large stove. Hot and cold water is available. The
British officers were enthusiastic in their praise of this room.
"As regards the sleeping rooms, wash rooms and latrines, and their
equipment, the general German housing regulations are being fully
complied with. I visited a great many sleeping rooms, and in none of
them did I find overcrowding, uncleanliness, insufficient light, heat,
or equipment.
"The orderlies are housed in stalls in one of the stables, and in their
regard, too, the general German housing regulations are being fully
complied with. Their quarters looked sufficiently comfortable and clean,
and two or three of the orderlies with whom I spoke said that they had
no complaints to make, and that they were happy to be interned with, and
not apart from their officers. I visited the one building fenced off
from the others--also a stable--in which German soldiers are quartered,
and I found the accommodation and equipment there to be precisely that
furnished to the orderlies. The comparison was, however, somewhat in
favour of the orderlies, for the orderlies were fewer in number and less
crowded than the soldiers. Although exercise is not compulsory, there is
ample space in the central rectangle for out-door games of all sorts and
for walking. No appropriate form of exercise, recreation, or amusement
is denied the interned, and opportunities for distraction within the
barracks lie largely in their own hands. Smoking is freely permitted,
and English, French and Russian songs are sung without interference. The
walls of one French officer's room were covered with good-natured
caricature drawings. When I asked the Commandant if the interned might
not be permitted to go out into the country under guard, he replied that
the barracks were too near the frontier for that, and he mentioned that
one officer had already escaped and succeeded in getting over the
border."
Food is provided to all officers at the rate of two marks daily. This
absorbs the whole of a lieutenant's pay, and the Commandant recognised
the difficulty. But "none of the officers want the present arrangement
altered if alteration is to involve a decrease in the quality,
quantity, or variety of the food furnished. All of them agree that the
food is entirely satisfactory, under the circumstances, and that it is
fully worth two marks a day.
"The officers told me that letters and packages were delivered to them
with commendable rapidity, and that the Commandant was unfailingly
obliging when, for important reasons, any officer needed to send off
more than two letters a month."
GARDELEGEN, SALZWEDEL.
Dr. Ohnesorg, of the U.S. Navy, inspected Gardelegen and Salzwedel.
Owing to typhus, the former was not completely inspected. Two hundred
and twenty-eight British soldiers were interned here. Dr. Ohnesorg
remarks that the situation is open, with natural drainage. There was a
good and unstinted water supply. "I had a long talk alone with Captain
Brown. He spoke well of the camp." "Work was being rushed on" for the
complete eradication of the clothing louse which is the carrier of the
infection. "It should be mentioned that the Russian prisoners, who are
primarily responsible for the introduction of the disease, are quartered
alone, ... but all the prisoners associate with one another in the
compound." At Salzwedel, out of a total of 7,900 prisoners, only 49 were
British. The supply of water was unstinted. Shower baths and hot water
were available. Each man could have a bath every three days, and the
baths were being added to. In the hospital "the English doctor informed
me that the medicines and treatment accorded to the sick were good."
"The majority of the English prisoners complained of not getting enough
food and the monotony of the diet. The black bread was another point of
protest. I myself was given a sample of the mid-day meal as it came
from the kettle. It consisted of a thick soup containing potatoes,
beans, and small portions of fish. It was palatable, and I should say
nourishing. The prisoners do not do heavy work, their work being police
duties, etc. I must add that those whom I saw were well nourished, of
good colour, and appeared to be in good physical condition. There were
only a half-dozen on the sick list, and, with one exception, they were
under treatment for wounds."
GUESTROW, MUENSTER (LAGER), SOLTAU, SCHEUEN, SCHLOSS CELLE.
Mr. Jackson reported on the first four of these. The Güstrow camp
(Mecklenburg) contained about 6,000 prisoners, of whom 300 were British.
It is situated in the pine woods, and consists of "solid, newly-built
wooden barracks, lighted by electricity and heated." Washing and bathing
facilities were good and the postal department well organised. "Clothing
is furnished when required, _if asked for_."
"There are several workrooms, and most of the men who have trades can
find something to do to occupy their time and can earn a little money.
"Most of the British soldiers spoke of harsh treatment immediately
following their capture--at the beginning of the war--and while they
were being transported to Germany, and several spoke of their having
been handled roughly while in the tents. Others said frankly that most
of those who had been treated badly since they came to the camp had done
something to deserve it. In any event all admitted that their present
treatment was good, and that there was now no discrimination against the
British. British soldiers had never been called on to do more than their
share of the dirty work about the camp. A party of Russians had always
had charge of the latrines, voluntarily, in return for some small
compensation. The spirits of the British prisoners seemed good."
The account of Münster is almost precisely similar--"solidly-built
barracks," "good bathing arrangements," "well-arranged hospital."
Suggestive of the nervous strain of internment is the following: "Here
the relations between the British and Belgians seemed cordial, and the
former participated in the recent celebration of King Albert's birthday,
which the French declined to do."
At Soltau there were about 30,000 prisoners, principally Belgian. Four
hundred were British. German control was largely eliminated, but the
results in this case do not seem to have been satisfactory.
"In this camp there seemed to be fewer German soldiers on duty than is
the rule elsewhere, and practically the whole of its administration is
in the hands of the Belgians, who have organised many courses of study
(under Belgian professors) and who have a Catholic Church, a theatre, an
orchestra, and a choir. The British complained that there is
discrimination against them here (apparently more by the Belgians than
by the Germans), and that they are not permitted to participate in the
administration or to be represented in the kitchen or post office.
Complaints were made about the food and the delivery of mail and
parcels, and it was said that the Belgians objected to have them join in
football games, etc. They also said that they were compelled to do much
more than their share of fatigue work in connection with the latrines.
All these complaints were brought to the attention of the officer in
charge, who promised to investigate them, as apparently but little
attention had been paid to such matters so long as there had been no
trouble in the camp."
At Scheuen near Celle a similar difficulty existed. There were 118
British out of a total of 9,000 prisoners. "The British
non-commissioned officers muster their men and exercise some general
control over them, but the French or Belgian non-commissioned officers
are in charge of the barracks and designate the men who are to do
fatigue duty. In consequence, it is claimed, British soldiers are
detailed to such work more frequently than those of other nationalities.
On speaking of this to the Commandant, he promised at once to arrange so
that a more fair division of work should be made in the future.
Otherwise the men made no complaint with regard to any discrimination
against them."
ZUEDER ZOLLHAUS, WAHN.
The reports issued in Miscellaneous, No. 14 (1915) continue the
inspections and reinspections up to the middle of May. As improvements
were continuously being made in the camps, it is scarcely necessary to
refer in detail to these further reports. There are reports on fifteen
camps for military prisoners. Two of these reports (those on the
"working camp" at Züder Zollhaus and Wahn) are unfavourable, thirteen
are favourable. At Züder Zollhaus were 2,000 prisoners, of whom 479 were
British. The camp was for prisoners who were willing to work on the
land. "I was given to understand," writes Dr. Ohnesorg, "that this camp
would only be occupied during the summer months." The inspector finds
the hospital accommodation in this case "very crude." There were about
thirty cases of sickness which should certainly have been removed
elsewhere. The morning meal seems very small for the morning's work. It
consists of either soup or coffee with 300 grammes (say 10 oz.) of
bread. Altogether it is plain that improvements here were urgently
needed. Dr. Ohnesorg, however, says: "All of them (the British
prisoners) appeared to be in good physical condition.... The work is not
hard, and they are permitted to take it leisurely.... They informed me
that their treatment was good, they were not overworked, and practically
the only complaint they had to make was that a more substantial meal to
begin the day on should be given them." At Wahn the food was complained
of, and the most unpleasant feature is that the Commandant did not seem
on good terms with the British.
BLANKENBURG.
As regards the camp for officers at Blankenburg, Mr. Jackson writes:
The house itself is as comfortable as any of the places where I
saw interned officers in England.... It is surrounded by
attractive, well-kept grounds, in which a tennis-court has just
been made.... There are several modestly furnished mess and
recreation rooms, and a terrace which is used for afternoon
tea.... The Commandant is interested in his work, and evidently
does all he can to make conditions agreeable.
There were 110 officers, of whom nine were British.
SENNE.
At Sennelager Mr. Osborne reports:
The situation of the camp is good ... on very dry, sandy soil,
surrounded at a few kilometres by pine forests. The buildings
are good. Though there were the customary complaints about the
food, more than half the men I spoke with expressed themselves
as satisfied.... The men looked healthy, and they all stated
that the general health of the camp was excellent.... There are
shower baths with hot and cold water.... The men said they were
well treated by the Commandants and the German soldiers and
N.C.O.'s in charge of them.
The camps at Sennelager are large ones, and include more than two
thousand British prisoners. Games, concerts, and theatrical performances
help to pass the time. A play given by French prisoners was entitled:
_Avant et après la guerre._
MAINZ.
Of the officers' camp at Mainz, Dr. Ohnesorg reports that "The quality
and quantity of the food was good and varied.... One and all the British
officers spoke in the highest terms of their commanding officer, his
kindness and courtesy, and said that they received every privilege which
could be afforded them, considering their position." There were about
700 officers, of whom 25 were British. "If anything," says the American
Consul at Wiesbaden in a later report on Mainz, "I should think the
British officers would ... receive almost greater courtesy at the hands
of their keepers than those of the other nations."
GENERAL REMARKS OF DR. OHNESORG.
Dr. Ohnesorg appends some general remarks on the camps he visited. In
the following quotations I have omitted nothing which is in the nature
of adverse criticism:
"On the whole the treatment accorded them is good, but frequent protests
were made to me concerning the food--not so much because of its quality,
as because of the insufficient quantity and the monotony of the diet.
The prisoners, however, appeared to be in good physical condition and
well nourished. Appended are various weekly dietary slips. I had an
opportunity in various camps to sample either the mid-day or the evening
meal. I found them palatable and, I should say, nourishing. Considering
the fact that the men have practically no hard work to do, it appears to
be sufficient in quantity, each man getting a liberal allowance--probably
a litre and a half of food per meal.
"The treatment accorded the sick and wounded prisoners is excellent.
They are given every advantage of medicines and treatment, and special
food when necessary. A dietary slip of the latter is appended. The same
routine, the same food, etc., as in use in German military hospitals,
apply for these various hospitals in prison camps.
"I found no discrimination made between prisoners of various
nationalities. With the exception of Limburg, the British prisoners are
housed with the Russians, French and Belgians, and this is the cause
oft-times of complaint on the part of the English, especially if they
are under the direct supervision of a non-commissioned officer of
another nationality. Some of them stated that the work, i.e., the police
duties, etc., largely because of this are not equally and justly
divided.
"Every precaution is taken by the authorities against the spread of
disease in camp. All the prisoners are vaccinated against smallpox, and
are immunised against typhoid and cholera. Certain simple rules against
the contraction of disease are posted throughout the camps, and the men
are impressed with the importance of personal cleanliness. Baths are
obligatory, the facilities affording each man a weekly bath under the
showers.
"The water supply in the camps is good. In most of them it is connected
with the city supply, and when not, Artesian wells have been sunk on the
premises and water thus obtained. Taps are placed throughout the company
streets, and the use of water is unstinted.
"As a rule, the prisoners were found to be well clothed, although not
all in their own uniforms. Some were in French uniforms, and some in a
combination of Russian, French, and British.
"In many of these camps, prisoners are loaned out throughout the country
to work upon farms, and, in some cases, in various industries. This is
entirely voluntary on the part of the prisoner, and this service is
mostly accepted by the French. No British volunteer. These men have a
guard over them, are housed and fed by their employer and receive five
pfennigs a day in pay. It breaks the monotony of prison life, and many
more volunteer than are needed for this work."
NEW REGULATIONS.
On April 24, 1915, the Prussian Ministry of War issued a new set of
regulations respecting the maintenance of prisoners of war. They show
great thoroughness and forethought, but I am afraid the average
Englishman would be as unready to believe that they showed genuine good
intentions, as the average German would be to believe that favourable
regulations issued by the English authorities were really _bona fide_.
Yet, as it seems to me of general interest, I will here give the second
regulation: "Self-management as regards catering has already been
ordered for military and civilian prisoners' camps, as this system has
been proved far preferable to the employment of contractors. Nearly all
the complaints about the food come from camps where contractors are
employed."
ERFURT, OHRDRUF.
It is impossible to do more than make very brief citations from the
remaining reports. In no case is the report otherwise than favourable,
and the food is described as good.
At Erfurt "the kitchens are clean, and the midday soup (which I tasted)
was good". The British soldiers had no complaint against German officers
or soldiers, but "they claimed that the French or Belgian
non-commissioned officers caused them to be detailed as members of
working parties more frequently than their fellow prisoners of other
nationalities." This reminds us that complaints arise in institutions
other than those worked by "enemies."
At Ohrdruf "a number of men who had been treated for their wounds in
the lazaret at Weimar spoke in the highest praise of their treatment by
German doctors and nurses.... Some of the British thought (as at Erfurt)
that they were detailed to working parties (by French non-commissioned
officers) more frequently than the others, but otherwise no complaint
was made to me of any discrimination against them." The British did not
like the soup, "but almost without exception they seemed in good
physical condition and in good spirits."
MR. GERARD'S COMMENTS.
"The food question," writes Mr. Gerard (U.S. Ambassador at Berlin), "is
of course a difficult one in a country where the whole population is put
upon a bread ration. Most of the rumours current in England are without
foundation or very exaggerated.... No British prisoner needs clothes in
Germany ... and I have just learned that British prisoners at Zossen, to
whom we sent clothes, shoes, etc., have sold these articles to the
French prisoners and are asking for a second supply."
MUENDEN, FRIEDBERG, TORGAU, MERSEBERG.
Thirteen British prisoners at Hannover-Münden "said that they were not
discriminated against in any way.... All seemed in good spirits." At
Friedberg were 13 British officers. "The commandant drew my particular
attention to the row of little gardens cared for by the interned, and is
much pleased with this feature of the place. He also told me he would
like to allow officers to have dogs, but he fears this cannot be
done.... The officers' rooms amply exceed all requirements as to housing
and equipment.... The dining-rooms are two ... and either room would do
credit to a club or hotel of the first class." At Torgau "the commandant
spoke of the British officers to me in very complimentary terms." At
Merseberg "the new food regulations are in force.... No complaints were
made to me about the food, and the men appeared to be in good health."
A PENNY BLUE BOOK.
On May 14, 1915, Viscount (then Sir Edward) Grey, writing to Mr. Page
(U.S. Ambassador in London), mentioned that His Majesty's Government
"have heard with pleasure that there is a distinct disposition on the
part of the German authorities to accept suggestions made for the
welfare of the prisoners of war." These words gave hope of the
development of better feeling and of those "reprisals of good" which
many believe to be more constructive than reprisals of frightfulness.
The Penny Blue Book on the treatment of prisoners of war, issued not
long after this, was not helpful to these hopes. As regards Germany,
this publication consists almost exclusively of the "unofficial
information and rumours" which, as Sir Edward Grey stated in February,
1915, His Majesty's Government "trusted did not accurately represent the
facts." The result is unfortunate. The Blue Book is limited by its title
to "the first eight months of the war," and deals almost exclusively
with charges brought before the close of 1914, when, as is well known,
there was confusion everywhere. The method of arranging the evidence is
too much that of an advocate aiming at producing the maximum effect. For
example, we read (page 6): "The United States Consul-General at Berlin
heard on October 16 that information regarding the treatment of
non-commissioned officers and men of the British Army who are prisoners
of war in other camps is anxiously awaited at Torgau. 'Rumours of their
exposure to the elements, their starvation and their treatment, are
rampant all along the line.'" On turning to Misc. 7 (1915) we find that
_these last words were not those of the American Consul-General_, but
those of an officer interned at Torgau. The American Ambassador, Mr.
Gerard, writes: "It should also be added that, although the British
officers at Torgau state that they have heard reports of starvation and
ill-treatment of British soldiers in other prisoners' camps, the Embassy
have no reason for believing that this is the case." _This statement is
omitted in the Penny Blue Book._