HTML Transcription © F.Coakley , 2019
[Copy included in TNA file FO 383/162 - formatting changed from the rather faint typescript and a few typo's corrected - a few words on the 1st page were lost in the tight binding]
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 - hence the requests channelled to the American Ambassador.
The covering note from the Embassy states "This one of more than twenty letters dealing with camp administration which were presented to Mr Littlefield and Mr Buckler at the time of their recent visit. This being the most comprehensive may be taken as typical of those received from all the other compounds and as such it is forwarded for Sir Edward Grey's information.
The covernote of the Foreign Office folder has "There are two observations on p6 which call for comments the first that the German born wives of BSS [British Subjects?] in Germany are receiving relief from the German Govt, the second that free communication with the Embassy should be allowed - Both are founded on a complete misapprehension of the procedure in Germany. Otherwise there seems much to be said for the complaints"
Camp 3, Compound 1
Knockaloe, Peel, Isle of Man
Friday Dec 17th 1915
We have learnt with much pleasure and satisfaction that several representatives
of your Embassy have taken steps to visit Knockaloe Camp,
with a view to obtaining personal knowledge of the conditions prevailing at
this camp of some 23,000 interned Germans and Austrians, and to investigate
the complaints [which] we have brought forward on various occasions. We therefore
[] that you will give us an opportunity of substantiating and [] to the full
our various grievances, and we feel sure that [] accord us the same facilities
of free intercourse here [] as all British subjects interned in Germany and
Austria [] we may hope for a speedy redress of the numerous complaints [] below/
We trust that our previous petitions to Your Excellency on Sept 29th and Oct
29th have in the meantime been handed to [our] respective Governments
a. Huts are neither water nor weather-tight owing to faulty construction; proper
ventilation, none; floors, walls, roofs, bedding, in fact everything inside
the huts is damp and also mouldy in part; indeed the humidity is such as to
penetrate even our lock-ups, trunks and boxes. 12 small stoves (no shovels,
pokers or coal boxes provided) are in working order for about 1000 men, a terrible
state of affairs at this time of the year.
The sleeping accommodation for nearly five months has been wretched, the majority
of men having to sleep on straw sacks laid on the bare damp floor. Bed-boards
have only lately been supplied, and bunks built by some of the men (at their
own expense), are now to be removed, which order is naturally deeply resented.
Proper cleaning and scrubbing of the huts is precluded as nothing will dry,
owing to the lack of stoves. No scrapers outside doors of huts, and no water
taps fixed at huts as in Camp 1.
b. Outside conditions. The whole camp ground is a veritable quagmire: in spite
of frequent appeals for further sleepers, we are still without passable roads
between the huts, to the canteen, Bankers and post-boxes, and to the water supply:
result numerous accidents (incl, fractures of legs etc.). Such provisional drainage
as exists around the huts, has been carried out by ourselves. Ditch behind hut
6 filled with stagnant water without outlet. Rats plentiful. No facilities for
outdoor exercise in the compound at all: promenade round compound required.
c. Wash house. Draughty. Size, number of taps, supply of hot and cold water
still wholly insufficient, just as stated in our previous petition, no improvements
whatever having been made since. Drainage and wooden gratings still lacking
in spite of repeated promises, Men overcrowding each other in the endeavour
to was their bodies and clean their teeth, while wading in dirty and soapy water
on the bare, cold, cement floor. Those who try to evade this nauseating performance
by washing outside, are punished by fatigue work. Worst of all, only four showers
(two hot and two cold) are provided for nearly 1000 men, which are fixed in
the cement-floored room described above. Baths or bath tubs non existent. No
washing basins or utensils. For washing ourselves we are compelled to use the
same buckets (one to each six men) which serve as fire buckets, for washing
up the table utensils, scrubbing the floors, and washing our clothes. In order
to get a clear idea of the unthinkable conditions which we are subjected to
in this request, inspection is earnestly requested between reveille and breakfast
time.
d. Drying room far too small.
e. Latrines draughty and unhealthy; inspection invited. Use for weak and elderly
people, especially at night, injurious to health; ought to be roofed properly,
as previously demanded. Further suitable accommodation for the night urgently
needed. In our opinion the whole system wants overhauling, so that overflow
of latrine from adjoining compound does not occur again.
f. Drinking water unfit for human consumption. We are compelled to refrain from
drinking water, it being unfiltered. Proof: eels in state of decomposition and
other impurities clogging supply pipes and taps.
g. Clothing and footwear (particularly the indispensable clogs). Supply inadequate
and shoddy; moreover the authorities refuse to supply unless old boots, clothing
etc. are handed over in exchange. Underwear, overcoats, leather boots lacking
altogether.
The apparatus is too primitive and insufficient, likewise utensils. Food supply and rations not in accordance with official allowance, no fresh (i.e. home killed) meat supplied at all. We are compelled to supplement at our expense. Facilities ought to be given for obtaining supplies from outside, to ensure a greater variation in the food. The monotony, the entire lack of fresh i.e. home killed) meat, and especially the dearth of vegetables, is no doubt responsible for a number of curious symptoms and ailments, such as swelling in the face and finger joints.
Annoying delay in ordinary and business letters; frequent loss of letters and parcels without possibility of redress. Facilities for writing too restricted. Quality and size of paper absurd. Postage on parcels from the U.K. to be abolished and registration of parcels to be re-instated, to ensure their safe arrival. Post carriers to be paid by Government. Delivery of parcels and payments by Banker to be made under cover.
No accommodation provided. Partitioning of Hall for instruction, lectures, workshops, etc. urgently required, and arrangements desired for attending classes in other compounds.
See special report annexed.
We are certainly entitled to more liberty and freedom of action, as most of us are supposed to be interned for their own safety (sic). Actually the treatment here amounts to punishment. Contradictory and irritating orders are issued frequently, and trivial offences against same are punished harshly and unnecessarily. Compulsory and unpaid work outside the compound, e.g. sweeping in front of Commandant's office in all kinds of weather, are emphatically protested against.
Men suffering from bronchitis, rheumatism, and kindred ailments (partly contracted
here) demand transfer to a more suitable climate without delay.
All men who have British-born wives request transfer to camps nearest their
homes, as assured by competent authorities long ago. The same request applies
to men married to German-born women exempted from repatriation. Opportunities
for seeing wives and children practically out of the question on account of
prohibitive cost and objectionable formalities involved. Special attention should
be drawn to the fact that very many of us have not seen our wives and children
(although living in the U.K.) for 16 months.
The treatment of applications to the camp authorities is dilatory and annoying,
if meeting with any response at all, and there is ample scope for improvement.
The same holds good of meetings between friends and relatives within the camp,
which are connected with so many inconveniences and difficulties, that it is
practically useless to apply.
We further protest against the detention of cripples, men over and under military
age, and those entirely unfit for military service.
Numerous letters addressed to the Home Office have been left unanswered; documents,
military passports etc. sent in with applications, have not been returned; from
our standpoint these papers are of particular importance, and we make a special
point of entreating you to use your influence so that they are returned to owners
without further delay.
Government grant to British-born wives and children of interned aliens. We should
be relieved to be informed precisely on what basis this relief will be continued,
if at all, as we understand that reciprocal arrangements have been made between
our and the British Governments for such payments. We are specially alarmed
anent this point owing to a circular issued by Mr Long, M.P. through the Local
Government Board to the Board of Guardians on this subject (vide "Morning
Post" Dec 11th 1915) and we should like to be specially reassured that
it is not left to the discretion of the Local Guardians that such legally established
grants are curtailed, still less discontinued.
Newspapers and Periodicals. What reason can there be for withholding halfpenny
newspapers ? or Sunday papers?
Sewing of sacks purporting to be mail bags. Can the American Embassy give us
the assurance that the German and Austrian Governments do not object to the
making of these bags by our own men.
Correspondence with Your Excellency. What guarantees have we as to the safe
arrival of our letters addressed to Your Excellency, having been given to understand
that you raise no objection to such letters remaining unsealed in transmission;
we must confess that we do not feel particularly comfortable about this. Might
we request Your Excellency to reconsider your attitude, in order to establish
absolute privacy in our intercourse.
Property forcibly taken away from us at time of internment has not been restored
yet, in spite of repeated claims. Lists given to the authorities.
Investigation of brutal treatment at Stratford and Olympia, and subsequent transport
like cattle from Fleetwood to the Isle of Man strongly demanded, and safeguards
required against such recurrence.
Finally, we protest against our internment as such, especially
in the Isle of Man, a place notorious for rapid climatic
changes, and therefore most unsuitable for such a purpose, and we reserve
all rights with regard to future claims and consequential damages. We specially
request that deliberately incorrect statements as to our condition and treatment
here, vice Morning Post of Nov 22nd and 23rd last, shall be publicly rectified.
In view of the fact that nearly 25,000 are interned here, repeated visits on
behalf of our respective Governments by suitable representatives would be essential,
in case the presence of a permanent official in the I.o.M is not feasible.
We have the honour to be, Your Excellency
Your obedient servants
Committee elected by Compound:
(signed) C. Frohnhaeuser, 11213, Capt. 3d for Austrians.
R. Daehnel 11947 Capt 6A
R. Huchler 11223
S. Schubert
The scandalous conditions prevailing here compel us to treat this most important
matter separately; alter perusing the following data we feel sure that for the
sake of humanity you will make a special and personal effort to bring about
a radical improvement in staff and system.
The buildings called "Hospital" are in size and construction absolutely
identical with our huts, possessing the same defects complained of under paragraph
I.
The equipment, sanitary fittings and conditions are as primitive as can be imagined;
there is not a single bath or other bathing facility, no wash house (one small
enamelled washing basin has to serve for about 30 patients(; there are only
two W.C.'s without boards on the porcelaine pans. The beds have no sheets, bolsters
or pillows, except when patients supply same themselves. There is no ambulance
whatever.
Patients complain of lack of utensils and inadequate sterilization of medical
instruments. No evidence of change of bedding, disinfection or fumigation.
Patients complain of lack of utensils and inadequate seterilization of medical
instruments. No evidence of change of bedding, disinfection or fumigation.
Two doctors (one for outdoor, one for indoor duty) have to attend to the medical
wants of the 5,000 (five thousands) men of our camp 3. The remaining technical
staff of the hospital consists of two dressers for ward duty and two orderlies
for menial services.
Patient remonstrate against the negligent and offhand manner of the doctors
- no wonder when one doctor has to hurry through a thorough examination at the
average rate of one patient a minute. There are many patients who require immediate
operative or specialist's attention: their names cannot be given here as the
patients in question are afraid of making their position worse by complaining
publicly. Such cases should be transferred to London at the earliest possible
date, and if we are allowed to make a suggestion, we would ask Your Excellency
to send us an American medical Expert, there being undoubtedly a shortage of
English doctors. This expert might verify our statements and might perhaps arrange
for an early wholesale transfer of all the interned men suffering from ailments
and physically unable to stand the conditions of the climate and camp much longer.
As regards the Isolation hospital you are probably posted on this by the "Proffen"
case. The "solid construction" of these last-named hospital huts is
best illustrated by the fact that the recent storm dislocated the wall and roof
of half a hut, fortunately without injury to patients, as the place happened
to be empty.
Ample personal experiences of men and evidence can be furnished on request.
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| Any comments, errors or omissions gratefully received The
Editor HTML Transcription © F.Coakley , 2019 |
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