Turkish Prisoners in Egypt: A Report by the Delegates of the International Committee of the Red CrossInternational Committee of the Red Cross
History
Turkish Prisoners in Egypt: A Report by the Delegates of the International Committee of the Red Cross
International Committee of the Red Cross
World War, 1914-1918 -- Prisoners and prisons, British
An English Red Cross orderly assists the doctor. An Austrian dentist,
formerly in business at Cairo, gives dental attention to the prisoners;
he has a complete outfit of instruments.
The infirmary is well housed in a stone building. It contains a
consulting-room, supplied with a full-flushed lavatory basin; a sick
ward with 6 iron beds, mattress and coverings _ad libitum_; an isolation
ward, and a dispensary.
Only slight cases are treated at the infirmary; serious cases are
removed to Hospital No. 21 at Alexandria, situated within 10 minutes of
the camp, a large modern hospital overlooking the sea.
On the day of our inspection there were in the infirmary 1 prisoner ill
with bronchitis; at the hospital 1 tuberculous case and 1 with a wounded
elbow.
The sanitary state of the camp has always been excellent. Apart from two
relapse cases of dysentery in 1916, there has been neither trachoma,
typhoid, typhus, malaria, nor any other infectious disease. This is
explained by the fact that the interned civilians were not in bad health
before their captivity, as was the case with soldiers who had sojourned
in the desert, whom we saw in the other Egyptian camps.
There had been no deaths in the camp or at the hospital in Alexandria.
The orderly, Abrahim Hassan, told us of his own accord that the sick
receive the most assiduous attention, and have nothing but praise for
the resident physician.
_Religion and Amusements._--The prisoners offer their prayers daily. A
mosque will be built for them in the new camp at Sidi Bishr.
Catholics are looked after by several Austrian priests, who used to
manage Catholic schools in Upper Egypt.
For the Germans and Austrians there is a good circulating library,
containing English, French and German books.
The prisoners have formed an orchestra, and organised theatrical
performances, for which they have painted pretty scenery.
There is a cinematograph performance every evening. There are a piano
and harmonium. A photographer, who had an establishment in Cairo before
the war, practises his art in the camp.
_Discipline._--The very occasional cases of infraction of rules which
entail one or more days' detention in the police cells, have a special
diet prescribed for them. The military authorities find the general
conduct of the civilians quite satisfactory.
_Exercise and Sports._--The prisoners have at their own disposal that
part of the grounds lying between the tents and the barracks, a broad
space where they can amuse themselves all day long with football and
other games.
They have also a tennis-court, of which the Austro-Germans make more use
than the Orientals; a committee of the prisoners arrange the hours for
each set of players. Skittles are very popular. Fencing is eagerly
learned; the English officer who teaches it being delighted with his
pupils' progress. Lessons in gymnastics, like those in other sports, are
optional.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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