Visit June 1915

Introduction

Up to the entry of the USA into the war the Americans looked after the interests of the German and Austro-Hungarian Governments - one of their duties was to inspect and report on the various internment camps - one such report is given here reformatted from the original typescript but otherwise unchanged - Original held at TNA in file FO 383/33. This visit preceeded a longer one to Knockaloe.

Text

DOUGLAS.

The Camp at Douglas, Isle of Man, was visited June 19. There were 2,429 prisoners. Of these I found 560 living in tents and all the others in huts, as described in Mr. Jackson's Report on pages 19 and 20. I found, on an average, 240 men in each hut.
Each hut was 150 feet long by 30 broad, with a door at either end and three doors and three windows on each side.

A new turf playing-field of 8 acres had been provided and had been in use since the route marches were given up, at the beginning of May,

The prisoners have a brass band, a string band and a piano.

Two prisoners have died in this Camp since last February. Both deaths were caused by tuberculosis contracted before the prisoners came to the Camp.

Gardens and flower beds have been made all over the Camp and about the huts and tents.

A building has been set aside for a Coffee Restaurant, which is managed entirely by the prisoners, and just outside they have started a Coffee House Garden, and have erected frames and arbours, with vines and creepers to cover them In this Canteen the prisoners serve such things as:-

Parallel and horizontal bars have been provided and there are classes with competent instructors.

I saw a tennis-court being made on the playing-field.

Shower-baths have now been installed, with running hot and cold water, to be used in connection with the large swimming-pool.

This Camp appears to be particularly well organized. There are classes in book-binding,, wood-work, boot-making, languages, navigation and shipping; the
l atter under the instruction of merchant captains. The library now numbers 4,000 books.

The is is distinctly one of the "happy" Camps.

I met all of the various "Captains" in a room alone and talked freely with them. There were no complaints about the Camp of any character whatever.

Some of the prisoners, who had had an opportunity of being transferred to other Camps had declined.

The Camp is clean and well kept and the prisoners seem to take a pride in making it look as attractive as possible. They seems to be on the best of terms with their Commandant and several spoke to me of him in the most complimentary way.

There were no complaints about the food, and the greater number of the men seemed to have some occupation to keep them from brooding in idleness over their misfortunes.

Note, Canteen Price-List, Dietary and Regulations governing the Camp, attached to copy of report sent to Berlin,

Any comments, errors or omissions gratefully received The Editor HTML Transcription © F.Coakley , 2020