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
OUTBREAK OF DIARRHŒA.—It was announced that 78 cases had
occurred at hut 1.[20] Mr. Fischer was asked whether the number
of cases in each hut was known to the overseers. He replied that
they had furnished a report on the previous day. It was
suggested that in such a case the overseers might with advantage
seek the assistance of the delegates of the camp committee, and
especially in the present case, as the overseers were much
occupied with other work, and could not collect complete
statistics.
BREAD.—The question of the quality of the bread was raised; it
was alleged that bread insufficiently baked and bread which
consisted of remains insufficiently ground together was
sometimes distributed. As 2,000 of the prisoners were penniless,
the question was one of great importance. Mr. Fischer said that
bread of inferior quality, if returned immediately, would be
exchanged.
YOUTHS UNDER 17 YEARS OF AGE.—It was alleged that not all the
prisoners under 17 years of age had yet taken the necessary
steps to obtain their release. The meeting, however, thought
that it was the presence of young sailors, for whose release
repeated application had been made, that had produced this
impression. These sailors, however, were in quite a different
position from the civilian prisoners. Civilian prisoners under
17 were released. The overseers had the matter under
consideration.
WASHING.—Mr. Whitwell had taken cast-off clothing from the
rubbish-box. He had had them washed, and found that they were
still serviceable. In his opinion, the whole of the camp washing
could be done by two machines costing about 60M. each. Mr.
Fischer observed that the overseers had given this matter their
attention, but that great difficulties would arise if any
proposals adverse to the concessions granted by the military
authority to private concerns were to be made.
The meeting was then adjourned.
We may next cite an unofficial statement:
STATEMENT RESPECTING CONDITIONS AT RUHLEBEN COMMUNICATED TO HOME
OFFICE BY TWO RELEASED CIVILIANS ON MARCH 18, 1915.
Mr. John P. Bradshaw, of Ballymoney, co. Antrim, and Mr. William
David Coyne, of Ballyhaunis, co. Mayo, both British subjects,
arrived in England on the March 15, having just been released
from detention at Ruhleben on account of their unfitness for
military service.
The following statement has been made by them to the Home
Office:
They were examined by the Camp Doctor, and released as unfit for
military service.
A fortnight ago all who considered themselves unfit were invited
to send their names in with a statement of the grounds of
unfitness.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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