GERMAN PRISONERS

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2648, 20 December 1915, Page 5

GERMAN PRISONERS

KINDLY TREATED A TACTFUL NEW ZEALANDER By TeleßraDh—Press Association-Copyright London, December 17. During tho pressmen's visit to thd Gc-rman camp, they noticed that soma of the prisoners display remarkable in-i dustry. ; One had made two violins, others excellent carvings. Tho carpenters made music stands and furniture. A choirmaster had trained fifty of liia fellow prisoners, and there was a brass band of thirty members, tho instruments having been presented by English musicians. Tailors, bootmakers, and barbers woro paid for their services.Tho men ivash their own clothing, and aro required to keep their rooms clean. "Lights out" ,sounds at 10.30, but tlid men- are permitted' out of doors until midnight under an officer appointed by, each dormitory. This results in splendid discipline". Whan a prisoner burneda plank from a hunk, tho others courtmartialled him, charging him with damaging Government property.. Although there are iio Gorman officers in this camp, many of the men are of superior, talents. A chemist ■ acts as dispenser, a barrister was found lecturing ~a class on the history of Babylon, -a- former . resident of England was teaching short hand and English. The pupils are.glad of the mental exertion to; relievo 'tho monotony. Hot baths are always available. The prisoners are permitted two letterg outward -weekly, and receive all arriving. ■ Thus, they are in_oloso. touch with their relatives. A hundfed and five thousand parcels woro Teceived in eleven months, and they now • total 1500 daily -with Christmas gifts. It is pathetic to watch the anxiety of the recipients during the search of 'the parcels b.y tho officers, fearing that soma of their treasures will ho confiscated. The parcels frequently, contain spirits, which, are tabooed. A New Zealander in Charge, The men are permitted. books and English newspapers,- except those containing offensive anti-German articles and cartoons. The absence of restrictions is remarkable. The band plays "Wacht am der Rhine." Most of the prisoners' aro affable, and only once has trouble threatened, which was tactfully, but promptly, quelled. One man escaped in twelve months. ■ The smoothness of the working is due to tho sympathetic treatment by the commandant, Major W. 0. Bulkeley, p. 5.0., who was born in Taranaki, and is tho owner of property in Colombo Street, Christchurch, and whoso father was Aide-de-camp to Sir Georgo Grey. Ho also controlled tho prisoners in South Africa. Major Bulkeley won .the confidence of tho Germans by his straightforward dealing. On his en.tering a room everyone jumps to attention in a twinkling. Major Bulkeley does not treat the prisoners as dogs, but as soldier to scldjer, always returning a salute. Thus, when an exchange of prisoners is arranged, it is necessary to send a picket to bring out the men, as few of the Germans- desire to go. There are few complaints. The canteen supplements >, the unlimited variety of foodstuffs, The prisoners are permitted to receive from their homos _ half a sovereign weekly. Some complained about the white bread, as they prefer the coarser kind. A travelled American journalist on. taking his leave, declared that tho camp was most striking in contrast to those in Germany, where the British and Russian prisoners are compelled to sweep tho streets and do tho most menial work. ,