The British Interned in SwitzerlandPicot, Henry Philip
History
The British Interned in Switzerland
Picot, Henry Philip
World War, 1914-1918 -- Hospitals; World War, 1914-1918 -- Prisoners and prisons, Swiss
4. Those capable of a full day's work, and employable as labourers or
mechanics.
5. Young apprentices who, owing to invalidity, are forced to learn a new
trade.
6. Students wishing to continue their studies at the universities or
schools of Switzerland.
The employment of categories 2, 3, and 5 was deputed to the D.M.O.s;
category 4 to special commissions set up in regional centres; category 6
to a University Committee. The "D.M.Os." were invited to place
themselves in touch with a Society known as "Pro Captivis," with a view
to the employment of men of category 3.
The "Pro Captivis" was originally founded at Berne at the commencement
of 1915 by Monsieur Jean Bernouilli, as a complement to the
International Committee of the Red Cross at Geneva, whose work under the
direction of Monsieur Ador is so well known. Later, it occupied itself
for a time as a "Bureau de Secours" for the despatch of parcels to
German and Austrian Ps. of W. It then changed its complexion by becoming
an exclusively Swiss neutral Society, under the direction of Mme. de
Sprecher (wife of the Chief of the General Staff), who offered its
assistance to the "Médecin d'Armée" for the organization of the work
entailed by the washing and repairs of the linen of the Interned. This
offer was accepted, and, in co-operation with Swiss women of all
classes, an efficient service was created for the purpose. It then
turned its attention to the employment of the Interned, and opened
workshops at Brunnen for the making of shoes, and at Meiringen for
tannery. It also organized classes for the instruction of apprentices.
These enterprises received official support, and were subsidized by the
Swiss Q.M.G. Department.
By the end of 1916, the "Pro Captivis" had in hand fifty workshops, of
which thirty were in German, and twenty in French, Switzerland, giving
occupation to about 1,140 men.
Other enterprises of a similar kind were created by private initiative.
Colonel Luthard, of the French Red Cross, for instance, founded several
ateliers at Leysin and elsewhere for the benefit of the French Interned.
Some of them joined up with the "Pro Captivis," others retained their
autonomy. A model institution of the latter class was that founded in
August, 1916, at Vevey, and known as "T.I.M." (Travail Internés
Militaires). It was installed in an unused building of Messrs. Peter
Cailler and Kohler. Here toys, furniture, and fancy articles were
manufactured. Commencing with ten workmen, work was finally found for
fifty-seven.
All these workshops were organized on the same principle, with an
interned officer or N.C.O. in charge. Raw materials were procured by the
Managing Committees, the output in finished articles being disposed of
in Switzerland by the Management for the benefit of their societies. The
men were employed, as a rule, for four to five hours per diem, at an
average remuneration of fr. 1 for the day's work.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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