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HTML Transcription © F.Coakley , 2019
Up to the entry of the USA into the war the Americans looked after the interests of the German and Austro-Hungarian Governments hence the appeal to the American Ambassador for assistance.
The account can be found in FO 383/143 in UK National Archives at Kew:
American Ambassador presents his compliments to His Majesty's Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, and has the honour
to transmit herewith, for such disposition as may be thought fit, copies of letters addressed to this Embassy by
Karl Gonser and Hermann Bense, Prisoners of War at Knockaloe Aliens' Camp, Isle of Man, with regard to the circumstances
of their detention.
London, 24th February 1916.
Encls.
Copy letters.
Karl Gonser No. 5838
Compound 1 Hut 5b Knockaloe Aliens' Camp 2,
Comp Feb.10.1916. To His Excellency The American Ambassador,
London, S . W .
Your Excellency,
After placing the main facts of my case before the Commandant of this camp I feel entitled to most respectfully ask your
valuable assistance for the purpose of obtaining my release.
I was taken prisoner by the Portuguese authorities on Jan.6. 1915 at Sacajemba, Angola. I have been living in Angola for 4 years and had for the last 18 months a farmstead at Sacajemba, from where I plied my trade as a freight carrier. When I was arrested by Capt. More of the Portuguese Troops, I was expressly given to understand by this gentleman that the Portuguese Government would be responsible for any damage, which might befall my property. I was taken before the Chief of the District Belmonde, who held me a prisoner for 13 days, assuring me again that the Portuguese Government accepted responsibility for my property. I was then taken to Benguela where I was informed by the Police Officer that I was not a prisoner. I could select the Hotel I wished to stay at,as long as I informed the Officer of my place of residence. I was placed on parole. On January 23rd I was taken on Board the Portuguese S S "Loanda" and brought to Loanda. After spending 3 days at Loanda again on parole, I was embarked once more on the SS"Loanda". with Lisbon as my destination. The Portuguese authorities informed me, that I was travelling under a safe conduct of the Portuguese and that I was to be held in Lisbon until the then existing differences between the Portuguese and the German Governments regarding their resp. colonial possessions in South West Africa were settled.
When however S. S. "Luanda" was on the point of entering Port Madeira, she was stopped by His Britannic Majesty's Ship "Argonaut". I was ordered to board H.M.S. "Argonaut" ,and declared a prisoner of -war. This was on February 17. 1915. Two days later the Commandant of H.M. S. "Argonaut" handed me over to H.B.M.S "Amphidite" by which ship I was taken back to Vincent, which port was reached on Feb. 27. Soon after arrival, on the same date I was transferred to H.M.S. "Otranto" by which boat I was brought to Liverpool.
This port was reached on March 10. and on the Mar. 12. I was landed and interned at Handforth, Chesh[ire].
I respectfully submit that I am unlawfully held a prisoner of war and shall be glad if you bring these facts to the notice
of the competent British authorities.
I wish to return to Sacajemba, but should the British authorities be unwilling to return me to Africa, I am prepared to
be released to Germany to remain there for the duration of the war.-
May I further mention that I was dismissed from the German Colonial Army as a 60% invalid in 1906, when I was pronounced
permanently unfit for Garrison and Field Service. I am constantly suffering from attacks of Malaria and have been in the
hands of the Doctors ever since I came to this country, My constitution is weakened by the hard climatic conditions of this
country, that I fear a total collapse should l have to stay much longer.
I venture therefore to hope that your Excellency still kindly cause steps to be taken speedily to obtain my release, and
have the honour to remain
Your Excellency's obediently
KARL GONSER .
Herman Bense. 5926 Compound 1, Hut 5B
Knockaloee Aliens' Camp 2. Feb.12.1916.
To His Excellency, The American Ambassador, London, S W
Your Excellency
I beg leave to refer to a letter of my friend K. Gonser addressed to you on the 10th inst. and shall be glad if you will
kindly grant me similar assistance to obtain my release.
I was placed under Police supervision at Benguala by the Portuguese authorities on Jan.6.1915, when I was informed that differences had arisen between the Portuguese & German Governments.
I had been established as a Trader in Benguala for over three years and owned a Cinema at Lobito. I was allowed to go to Lobito under Police supervision and given an opportunity to sell my business there. After that I was removed to Loando on Jan. 26 .1915, I was informed that the Portuguese authorities had been instructed to bring me to Lisbon, where I was to be detained until the existing differences between the Portuguese & German Governments were cleared away. I was to travel on a safe conduct of the Portuguese Government by the Portuguese S. S. "Loando." When entering Port Madeira the "Loando" was stopped by His Britannic Majesty's ship "Argonaut. " I was transferred to this ship and declared a prisoner of War of Great Britain. All my remonstrations that the Captain of the "Loando" conveyed me under a safe conduct of the Portuguese authorities were of no avail. Two days later I was handed over to H.B.M.S."Amphidite" which took me back to Vincent and at that port I was transferred to H.M.S. "Otranto" on February 27.1915 The "Otranto" took me to Liverpool arriving there on March 10. Two days later I was landed and interned at Handforth, Ches[hire].
I most respectfully ask Your Excellency to submit these facts to to the competent British Government Department & procure my release at an early date.
I am 50 years of age, have spent over 15 years in the Tropics and cannot stand the severe European climate for a great length of time. I have constantly to apply to the Camp Doctor for quinine to hold down the Malaria. Moreover I have no connection of any kind with the military in Germany, having been found unfit for any service 30 years ago.
I am not particular as to which country I may be released to, but hope that the British authorities will allow me to remain in company of my friend K. Gonser, who is in a very similar position to myself and to whom I am bound by and old-established colonial friendship..
Trusting that Your Excellency will give our joint case favorable consideration and support same energetically.
I have the honour to remain
Your Excellency's most obediently HERMAN BENSE
The Foreign Office covering note, dated 26th February 1916, states "A safe conduct is clearly only good as against
the giver of it, and we seem to have just as much right to take a detainee off a Portugese ship as a free passenger.
A second note, signed by A.Law for the S. of S. states that "I have no wish to release these prisoners - they[the F.O.]
would be pleased to know whether the Portugese Govt have any views as to their disposal.."
The UK Government had as one aim to remove any German trading companies from both the existing UK or French African Colonies and those, previously German colonies, which the Allied Powers occupied immediately following the declaration of war and also to remove such traders as far away as possible so as to prevent any continued involvement with trade in British or French controlled areas.. Those found in East Africa were generally taken to South Africa for internment, those in West Africa were shipped to the UK for internment and a good number, after some transfers between camps, landed up in Knockaloe where they were referred to as "The Africans".
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