INTERNED IN GERMANY

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2668, 13 January 1916, Page 3

INTERNED IN GERMANY

CAMP LIFE DESCRIBED \ TIMARU MAN'S EXPERIENCES Mr. Squire, of Fairview, has received a letter from his eldest son, George, an electneal engineer, who sinco the outbreak of war has been interned in Germany, at Riihleben camp (states the •limaru "Herald"). The writer, giving & synopsis of happenings since July, 1914, says :— ■ 'When the war broke out we hoped that England' would nut be in it, and as we did not expect to be seriously inconvenienced as private people, wo did not think we should go away. But when England declared war there was no possibility of our leaving. Tho American Engineering Company, people advised us all to stay and kept us on till the end of October, but paid us till November 30, 1914. From the beginning °ii November 6 (on which date nil British, except colonials, were interned, I had to report twice a week at tho nearest police station. From November 6 on wo had to go twice a day, but my wife was very soon let off with twice a week. Early in February all colonials were arrested, and I was put in gaol oii February 19, where one hundred of lis had to stay for about three weeks before we were sent to Ruhleben. 1 must mention that when I was free the police and all the private people were very kind to us, and since my internment all have been very kind to my wife. All her German relations have sent me packets. Uncle and my father-in-law have called on me here several times. _ In gaol we were allowed to see our wives and other relatives twice a week. The first few days we were locked up in our cells, but were soon allowed to have the doors open all day, and to go into the yard or visit one another. We were also allowed to have all local papers, and to have our food sent, in from outside. I only had food .sent-in three times per week, as the gaol food was very plain but quite eatable. On . March 13 we were sent to t Ruhleben. We' marched through Ber- j lin guarded by police,. and took train v to this place. We were put into a new e barracks and allowed to have our lug- j. gage carted out: ' We had our own j blankets, but were given a blanket, j, a towel, mattress and pillow, as well as j a bowl tor food. Ruhleben is quite close \ to Berlin. Tne camp contains 23 barracks, eleiven of which are stone stables with hay lofts. These are fitted upj suitable for camping in. The boxes hold 4 to 6 beds in two storeys. The lofts are fitted up as well as can be expected. All are whitewashed, equipped with central heating and electric light. The wooden barracks are quite ' comfortable, well heated, and have electric light. The central heating of the stone . barracks and two wooden barracks is ls done by means of steam from three large C 1 locomobile boilers. The remainder are v ] heated by ovens. 1 al

"The camp covers a large spaoe of ground/ It is a whole racecourso. The three grandstands servo as general buildings for post, library, and lecture rooms, kinematograph and theatre, l'here is a pavilion of which the top part is. rigged up as barracks, and the lower, part is used as a kitchen. 'We have the whole of the racecourse foi games. Two. gamos of cricket,- and a dozen games of tennis can be played there simultaneously. Tho whole of "the running of the ramp .is in our hands; the German military 'keep guard, do the censoring, and preserve order. It takes nearly' ten minutes to walk from one side of the course to the other. .We have about 4000 civilians, of whom over one-third-are sailors. - We have technical circles, .camp-schools, and ail kinds of entertainment. I have been elected hon. consulting electrical engineer to the Entertainment Committee, and have charge of the theatre and kino plant. I often go to Berlin with a soldier to purchase electrical fittings required, but otherwise no one is permitted to leave the eamp. The life here is by no means monotonous, and wo got on Well with the military. We keep, up order among ourselves by means of our own police force. There are about 100 Australians hero, but only about 10 New Zealandcrs. We have own own staff at the two kitchens. The cooking is done very well, and the food is plentiful and quite good. In the beginning the camp was not as comfortable as it is now, because it had to be prepared in hasto. The British Government give those in need of relief ss. per week through .the American Embassy. Somo people here are bitter, and have a tendency to give unfavourable reports. I must say that we have no complaint , to make about treatment and accommodation Unless , we forget we are in a detention camp and not in a sanatorium. My wife and our. little ones are getting on well. "Among, other things I have made an electric dock, , with striking gear, out of old biscuit tins. It keep's very good

time, and the people say it is tlie best handiwork in tho camp. I liope you will not bo anxions .about me as we are all right. I have over}' hope of being ablo to contiuue my duties with the firm when tho war is over." Mr. Squire, sent his son £20, and tho latter mentions that he received this.