GERMANS ON RIPA ISLAND.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 March 1918, Page 7

GERMANS ON RIPA ISLAND.

NO UNDUE CONSIDERATION. IXCKNKR AND HIS COMPANIONS. Christchurch, Monday. Replying to statements regarding the .administration and treatment of the j German prisoners of "war interned on j Ripa Islam], Colonel D. A. Cliaffey, offi- | ecr commanding the Canterbury mili!tary district, states that the public need .not fear that any undue consideration is beincj extended to the prisoners. They are given exactly the same food as the • soldiers stationed on the island. Their ! quarters are not large, and there is a | stretcher, a wooden chair and a table |in cadi room. The prisoners are al- | lowed to read the newspapers after they have been censored by Major Leeming, commandant of the island. Any literature wliicTi is allowed the prisoners passes through the commandant's bands. 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 Chafrey said Count von Lnckner would be allowed to write bis liook about his part in the war if he wanted to, and facilities would be'allowed him jto obtain books of reference to that end. None of the prisoners was 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 I received. Their ordinary exercise was I confined to flie enclosure on the island 1 around their ' quarters—about 60yds by , %ds.