BACK FROM GERMANY

Southland Times, Issue 18830, 25 May 1920, Page 6

BACK FROM GERMANY

LIFE AT RUHLEBEN NEW ZEALANDERS’ EXPERIENCES. AUCKLAND, May 22. Mr and Mrs Wilfred Morris, who were married in Fcilding by the Rev. George Budd a few months before the war, and left immediately en route for Germany so that they might both study music there, were passengers by the lonic which arrived in Auckland on Thursday. They have a long story to tell of their experiences at, Ruhlehen, where Mr Morris was internee; for nearly four years. Although released some sixteen months ago, Mr Morris still looks thin and worn out from the experiences he "had come through. The first six months he described as a trying time, the officer in charge being hardhearted; but after that parcels commenced to arrive frohis friends in New Zealand, and continued right on to the end, which gave him necessaries that kept him alive. Out of the 4000 civilians interned they formed a very fine orchestra of 40 members, who their activities right on till the armistice was signed those who did not keep themselves fully employed. Camp schools were formed and some of the pupils applied themselves so well that they became good scholars, and have got good positions since the war ceased through the good use they made of their time when interned. Mr Morris speaks in grateful terms of the help he received when interned from a Scottish musical professor, who spared no effort in trying to help those who were musically inclined. Mrs Morris was permitted to live with a German family, and being able to speak the German language was allowed to take in musical pupils, and thereby earned sufficient to keep herself in the necessaries of life. With the further help of parcels she got from New Zealand she did not suffer very severely during the war, although the strain of it all will leave its effects on the mind while life lasts. Mr and Mrs Morris came back under the repatriation scheme, and were among the last to take advantage of this way of returning to their own country.