From Isle of Man Examiner 6th January 1917

The Aliens' Camp in Douglas

INTERESTING REPORT OF THE AMERICAN EMBASSY.

Messrs Littlefield , Beal, and Buckler, of the American Embassy Staff, paid an official visit to the Aliens' Camp in Douglas in May last, and their report has been received at the British Foreign Office through the American Ambassador in London. The Camp, the report says, is under the direction of Commandant Lieut. Col. W. H. Madoc, and is under the supervision of the Home Office. On the day of their visit there were 2,744 prisoners, of whom 1.968 were German. 759 Austrian, 14 Turks, and 3 of other nationalities.
There is what is called a " Lowry" Committee: a Jewish Committee, which arranges all Jewish matters: the Privilege Camp Committee, which deals with internal matters connected with the Privilege Camp; a Sports Committee ; an Entertainment Committee; and Christmas Committee. All these committees are run by the prisoners themselves

THE " PRIVILEGE" CAMP AND ITS SERVANTS.

There are 500 men in the lower, or Privilege Camp, who, among other advantages, are allowed to have servants, who are obtained from the poorer men in the upper camp, where there are two compounds. 'There are about 100 of these men, who are acting as servants in the Privilege Camp. The men interned in the Privilege Camp contribute towards their maintenance at the following rates:-
12s 6d per week for board and a half of a tent ; 10s per week for board and a third of a tent; 12s per week for board and a third of a hut.

Those men of the Privilege Camp who occupy tents do so at their own desire.

In the upper camp there are eight huts containing bunks, one hut with cubicles, and some tents with camp beds for those who prefer sleeping in tents. Since the last visit the number of cubicles has been increased. Each hut accommodates 120 men. There is a captain in each hut and a captain to each compound. In the privilege camp there were two new rows of asbestos room huts. Each hut has accommodation for three men with beds, and the tents have a similar capacity. All these accommodations were examined, and it was found there was no criticism to be made.

Sanitary Arrangements.-There have been certain additions to the permanent sanitary arrangements since the last visit. New lavatories and latrines have been opened in the observation tower in the privilege camp, and three new hot-water baths have been added. A Russian bath will shortly be opened. In the upper camip a new central drain for surface water has been installed. All the sanitary arrangements were inspected and found neat, clean, and odourless.

Infirmary.-In the infirmary there was one English doctor and one German, who had volunteered his services. There were four German attendants.

On the day of our visit there were three men in hospital and five in the observation ward, none of whom were seriously ill. The invalids were suffering from minor complaints, such as colds. dyspepsia, and sprains received during exercise.

The hospital conditions were fonnd excellent.

Kitchens-The kitchens were examines! and found neat and in good condition We found no possible criticism could be made of the kitchens or food.

85 PER CENT OF THE MEN WORKING.

About 85 per cent, of the prisoners are at work. They find employment as the following: -
Waiters and stewards in the privilege camp, working for their follow prisoners , roughly about 100; clerks in the quartermaster's store, purser's office, censor's and parcels office, and requisition office; camp cleaners (mostly lavatory work), two or three bath attendants, and masseur ; private tailors; barbers; men who wash clothes for other men, of whom there are a considerable number; watchmakers ; jewellers ; dentists; one doctor ; hospital orderlies; librarians ; assistants in Cunningham's kitchen, etc., for the privilege camp, which takes quite a number of men; workers in the gardens about the camp and the fowl-run (a new feature since the last report); members of the two bands, string and brass: artists, who are able to work in the studios found for them-also a new feature.

A large number of inmates go out every day as labourers to the neighbouring farms and gardens and do regular work, the number of which is nearly a hundred now, and could be easily increased.

For all work, not included in the regular fatigue work in the camp, the interned men receive pay.

1,400 TEACHERS AND PUPILS.

There are about 1,400 interned men occupied as teachers or pupils in the camp schools. There are technical schools, in which the prisoners work at bookbinding, tailoring, shoemaking and cobbling, broom-making, and an art school. attended by many men, and a small typewriting school. Some of the men are also learning Braille work, so as to eventually make books for the blind.

In the privilege camp first aid on the St. John Ambulance lines, is being taken up. There are many new gardens in both the upper and lower camps, and a new greenhouse in the upper camp. There is a new hen-run in the lower camp, and a piggery is being built in the upper camp. In the lower camp there is also a new studio and a new workshop.

Exercise.-In addition to the recreation field mentioned in the last report, we were told that another exercise field of about eight acres is to be opened near the privilege camp (top portion of Falcon Cliff). In the recreation field, near the upper camp, there are five new tennis courts, a football field, and a running track. The interned men have opportunity for tennis, football, fistball. skittles (for which a fine new alley has been built), running, dancing, boxing wrestling, and swimming. They have two billiard tables and a ping-pong table. There is a very large gymnastic class in connection with the Upper camp, and a small one, mostly for Swedish drill, in the inner camp. There is a swimming pool in the lower camp.

On the evening of our visit to the camp the prisoners gave an interesting exhibition of boxing, wrestling, nnd gymnastics.

Wants by Camps.-We had opportunities of talking with the interned men. and there were no complaints made of any serious nature.

LIBRARY OF 5,000 VOLS.

Observations.-Since the last visit much has been done to make the inmates' time pass more quickly. They have now a library of from 5,000 to 6,000 books, which are in constant circulation.

Good facilities for religious services nnd observances exist. In addition to the usual services, the Roman Catholic have their chapel and confessional, and the Jews, who are under the spiritual guidance of Rabbi Silbermann. have opportunities for their rites. At the time of our visit we saw the elaborate decorations for the Passover, the celebration of which had taken place shortly before.

The relations between the commandant and the interned men seemed excellent, and the inmates appeared contented and well.

There were three men in cells and one waiting trial. The cells were examined and found in good condition, well-warmed, well-lighted, and well-ventilated.

Any comments, errors or omissions gratefully received The Editor HTML Transcription © F.Coakley , 2019