Boer Prisoners in Camp.

Gisborne Times, Volume VI, Issue 229, 5 October 1901, Page 3

Boer Prisoners in Camp.

The Bloemfontein Post publishes an interesting account of the camp in which Boer prisoners of war are temporarily interned, and of the treatment they receive at the hands of our military authorities : During their stay in Bloemfontein prisoners of war are considerately cared for and supplied with everything they need—in many instances with moro than they have been accustomed to. Their daily rations consist of 1(1 b of broad, lib of meat (fresh), 3oz. of sugar, loz. of coffee, l-12th part of a tin of condensed milk, and vegetables and potatoes, in addition to which a lib tin of jam is served out to four men four times a week. Wood and coal for their cookhouse is also provided in liberal quantities, and one campkettle is provided for each 10 prisoners. Prisoners of war when first entering tho camp are often in a very miserable condition indeed —half-starved, ill-dressed, and often without boots. Instances are known when a prisoner entered a prisoner of war camp with bits of carpet or sheepskin wrapped round his feet in lieu of boots, and his clothes, of which little only remained of the original, patched up with material such as sacking, carpet, sheepskin, or, in fact, anything adaptable, to fill up holes, and many arrive also without blankets. The generous British authorities, with an unequalled lavishness, serve warm suits of clothes (such as are rriven to time-expired soldiers) out to them, ammunition boots (the sizes ranging from eight to twelve—smaller sizes are not required), slouched hats (same as worn by Tommy Atkins), underpants and ilannei shirts (few of them ever wore them before), socks —in fact, Great Britain provides her prisoners of war with a complete and respectable outfit. The following figures will give an idea of what it must cost to provide for war prisoners on the liberal plan adopted by the Imperial Government. Since February U last not less than 330 complete suits of clothes, 200 shirts, and 200 pairs of socks have been served out to them. The number of hats,

boots, etc., naturally, will be about the same. If prisoners of war wish to proceed to town to buy tobacco or other luxuries an escort is provided for them, and they are then also permitted to visit friends, who in their turn may visit the prisoners on Wednesdays and Saturdays on obtaining a permit from Captain Salmon, the assistant provost-marshal.