The Better Germany in War Time: Being Some Facts Towards FellowshipPicton, Harold W. (Harold Williams)
History
The Better Germany in War Time: Being Some Facts Towards Fellowship
Picton, Harold W. (Harold Williams)
World War, 1914-1918 -- Hospitals, charities, etc.; World War, 1914-1918 -- Prisoners and prisons, German
The chief points are inadequate ventilation, inadequate service for
officers and, in the first two, the fact that living rooms were used
for all purposes, there being no special mess or recreation rooms. There
seemed, however, to be no discrimination against the British.
GŒTTINGEN.
Mr. Page himself reports on Göttingen, where there were about 6,000
prisoners. “The Camp Commandant, Colonel Bogen, has done everything
possible to make this a model camp, and he has accomplished a great
work. The only complaint is as to the food, the quantity of which, of
course, is not under the control of the Commandant, as he is limited to
an expenditure of only 60 pfennigs (about 7d.) per day per man.
“Everything was in the most beautiful order. There was a very fine steam
laundry and drying room, bath rooms, with hot and cold showers, and the
closets, etc., are in a very good condition and scientifically built.
There is running water and electricity in the camp. A French barrister
of Arras, named Léon Paillet, who was working with the French Red Cross
and who, for some reason or other, has been made a prisoner, has done
marvellous work in organising libraries, etc.
“I am pleased to say that the professors and pastors in Göttingen have,
from the first, taken an interest in this camp, and Professor Stange has
done much in helping the lot of the prisoners. The Y.M.C.A. building,
erected through the efforts of Mr. A. C. Harte, who for a number of
years has been working with the Y.M.C.A. in India, will be a great help
to the men in the camp.
“At the opening ceremonies there were speeches by Colonel Bogen, Mr.
Harte, and Professor Stange, and then each speech was delivered in
English and French by prisoners. These were followed by short speeches
by French, English, and Belgian prisoners. Then came a concert by the
camp orchestra and the camp singing society, followed by songs and
recitations by various prisoners.”
Dr. Ohnesorg reported further on April 22. At that time there were 6,577
prisoners, of whom 1,586 were British. He warmly commends the steam
laundry, the steam disinfecting plant, and the hospital. “A spirit of
contentment pervaded the camp. The British prisoners were well clothed.
I tasted the evening meal, consisting of a vegetable soup, which was
very palatable and, I should say, nourishing.... The citizens of
Göttingen have taken a great interest in the camp, and some of them,
notably Professor Stange, of the University, have given a great deal of
their time to the welfare of prisoners and the formation of classes for
study amongst them.”
GERMAN HELP FOR PRISONERS.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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