GERMANS ON RIPA ISLAND.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XL, Issue 1798, 7 March 1918, Page 3

GERMANS ON RIPA ISLAND.

NO UNDUE CONSIDERATION,

LUCKNER AND HIS COMPANIONS. Christ church, March 4. Replying to statements regarding the administration and treatment of the German prisoners of war interned on Ripa Island, Colonel D. A. Chafi'ey, officer ’commanding the Canterbury military district, states that the public need not fear that any undue consideration is being extended to the prisoners. They arc given exactly the. same food as (he soldiers stationed on the island. Their quarters are not large, and there is a stretcher, a wooden chair and a table in each room. The prisoners arc allowed to read the newspapers after they have been censored by Major Looming, commandant of the island. Any literature which is allowed the prisoners passes through the commandant’s hands. Each prisoner is allowed to write two letters a week on one sheet of paper only, and the letters are censored before being sent away. Colonel Chaffey said Count von Luckner would be allowed to write his book about bis part in the war if he wanted to, and facilities would bo allowed him to obtain books of reference to that end. None of the prisoners were allowed to go on to the mainland. They had been allowed, however, to have an occasional bathe in the sea, under the escort of two sentries with loaded rifles. That was about the only luxury they received. Their ordinary exercise was confined to the enclosure on the island around their quarters —about 50yds 1 by 30yds.