HOW BRITAIN TREATS PRISONERS

Nelson Evening Mail, 21 September 1916, Page 6

HOW BRITAIN TREATS PRISONERS

U.S. EMBASSY REPORT ON CAMP AT ROUEN. A representative of the United States Em'bassy who paid a visit of inspection to the German prisoners in the British war camp at Rouen speaks well of the arrangements for the comfort of the prisoners, who on 12th June numbered 1468. The men were employed mostly in discharging ships, loading and unloading railway cars, and cutting timber, but it had only been necessary for them to work three days per week and in some cases four, and on the date of the inspection only 558 were working outside the pamp. The food l was stated to be of the same quality as supplied to British troops. The profits from the canteen are expended for the benefit of the prisoners, who are paid 4d a day. Smoking is permitted at all times. Among the complaints was one by an under-ofticer, who said' he was struck with the fist 'by a British guard. The depot officers said that the prisoner had not- reported this, and that it would be investigated. The following is the scale of rations at the camp : bread ; meat, fresh or frozen, or ration pressed; tea ; >,oz salt; goz sugar : 1/20 tin milk, condensed; Boz fresh vegetables; l/720z pepper; loz margarine ('butter at present); 2oz peas, beans, or oatmeal, lentils. Acknowledging receipt of a copy of the report, the Foreign Office referred to a complaint that '"'simple Unteroffiziers (under-officers) are treated and dblifred to work like the privates," and the allegation that "depot officers .stated that this was in accordance with the regulations." The complaint in question is wholly without foundation, as is shown by the following statement bv the senior German warrant officer in the camp:— "I hereby declare that up till to-day (11th July) the German under-officers in the English prisoners' camp at Rouen hax'e not been called on' to do manual work but have been employed in supervising the working parties."