e of June 6, 1916, said: "I have received
a letter about the treatment of our prisoners in France which says, 'If
pigs were so fed by us they would go on hunger strike.' But I do not
wish our Government to exercise reprisals, which, after all, could only
hit the innocent." [_Cambridge Magazine_, August 26, 1916, Supplement
"Prisoners." An important supplement for those who wish to get a glimpse
(it is no more than a glimpse) of recriminations made by others as to
treatment of prisoners.] It is odd how exactly the same phrases occur on
both sides. Thus a private at Doeberitz, according to the unknown
American journalist referred to on pages 5 and 25, relieved his feelings
as to the German food with the words: "I 'ad a sow. And even she
wouldn't eat skilly."
To suit the tastes of all the different nationalities would at any time
be difficult; under war conditions it is impossible. Professor Stange
relates how the hostess of some Russian working prisoners thought to
give them a specially good meal of meat. The result, however, was less
bulky than a soup, and the Russian comment on this occasion was, "Mother
good, eating not good." ("Das Gefangenen-Lager in Goettingen," page 9.)
A PRISONER'S REPORT.
A serious and responsible statement of experiences has been made by
Chaplain Benjamin O'Rorke, M.A., in his little book, "In the Hands of
the Enemy." I commend the book to the notice of those who wish for a
fair statement by a patriot who has actual experience of a good many
German camps in the early days of the war. As he was taken prisoner in
August, 1914, his experiences belong to the time before the improvements
introduced in all countries had been begun. There are callous episodes,
for instance, one of revolting caddishness of an orderly standing by
without offering help when an invalid officer is struggling to tie up
his bootlace. Military bounce, popular vulgarity, hardships,
homesickness, courage--all these things one may read of, but the
incidents which some journalists revel in are to seek. It was a neutral
journalist, we should remember, who sent to a German paper a wonderful
account of the panic fears and regulations of London under the Zeppelin
menace.
Chaplain O'Rorke's reminiscences give us a good many "facts towards
fellowship." Let us select a few. Even the unpleasant ones may help us,
where they show that the failings of the others are the same as our own.
The prisoners were taken to Germany from Land
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