HTML Transcription © F.Coakley , 2019
Following the entry of the USA into the war the neutral Swedish Legation represented the interests of the Imperial and Royal (I. & R.) Austro-Hungarian Government - one task of which was to inspect places of internment of Austro-Hungarian subjects.
I have the honour to submit herewith a report on a visit of inspection from July 14th to 25th 1918 to the places of internment for civilian prisoners of war in the Isle of Man, viz. Douglas and Knockaloe, which have been visited twice before by members of this Legation, by Lieutenant Colonel Mossberg from May 4th to 18th 1917, and by Major Unander from November 5th to 12th of the same year. A report on the working Camp at Regaby is also attached.
ADMINISTRATION.
One alteration only has to be reported under this heading since Colonel Mossberg's visit in 1917. A General has been appointed as Military Chief for the island and Lieutenant Clark, the former Home Office medical referee, has been attached to his staff, and has now exclusively to supervise the sanitary state of the camps on the Isle of Man, whereas formerly he was responsible for all the camps in the United Kingdom which new arrangement is a great improvement.
For the section on Douglas see elsewhere
There is only one change to report since Major Unander's Visit. the Adjutant is now Captain C B. Bibby.
NUMBER AND NATIONALITY OF PRISONERS
At the time of my visit there were:
Germans 13365
Austrians 2152
Turks 57
Bulgars 14
Others 92
Total 15680
or 3742 less than at the time of Major Unander's visit.
The number of Austro-Hungarians in the respective camps were: -
Camp I. 752.
Camp II. 3100.
Camp III 280.
Camp IV. 740.
2152
HOUSING AND SIMILAR MATTERS
When Knockaloe Camp was built, it was intended only for temporary use, whereas
it has existed for four years, and the wooden huts used to form the camp cannot
resist the weather for so long a time, without suffering severely, unless constantly
repaired. This seems not to have been done to a large number of those forming
this camp, for in many cases one could see through the walls where the boards
had separated from each other, and material to repair the damages was not available.
In many places, too, the roofs were leaking, especially in the compound for boy prisoners in Camp IV, where the water was
running through in many places. If the camp has to be used much longer, a thorough overhauling will have to be made, or
the health of the prisoners will be badly affected.
LIGHTING It would be of great value to the internees if the lighting of the huts could be improved, as it to insufficient to allow them to read or write during the long winter evening. In the summer they naturally do not so much through this defect, but they all spoke with horror of the long winter evenings during; which they would be again compelled to pass the time in idleness . Thanks to the decrease in the number of prisoners , the space allotted to each man was somewhat increased, though a very considerable part of each hut was still occupied by the prisoners' luggage and the cupboards fixed up by them to hold. their belongings.
WATER SUPPLY. At the time of my visit to Knockaloe, there was a great shortage of water, so that during the night the supply had to be stopped. The only water available during that time was that from the fire pails, Which were placed at the ends of the huts. It was very dirty , and if an accident had occurred of would have been impossible to give the man the necessary assistance, Colonel Metcalfe-Smith, to whom I pointed out this fact, at once gave orders that all kitchen pails should be filled each evening with fresh water at the same time assuring me that steps should be taken to increase the water supply for the camp, so as to make all water restrictions unnecessary.
HOSPITALS PRISONERS' HEALTH etc
There are no changes to be reported under this heading. The hospitals are almost
in the same state as at the time of the previous visits by representatives of
this legation, and the same doctors are in charge of them. There were very few
Austrians or Hungarians under treatment, the number being : -
Camp I 5
Camp II 2
Camp III. l
Camp IV 6
In Camp IV, Count Aichelburg is still in hospital, his state of health being
practically the same. It would be an act of charity to transfer this old Gentleman,
to a nursing home outside the barbed wire as soon as possible, where he could
finish his days in quiet and privacy, and receive better nursing than is possible
in an internment camp , although all is done that is possible by the Camp doctor
and attendants under the circumstances .
ISOLATION HOSPITAL IN CAMP III There were 26 Austrians or Hungarians in the
hospital; a list of those suffering from tuberculosis will be found amongst
the exhibits (Exhibit C). It would be desirable if the cases in which there
is no improvement should be repatriated as soon as possible
Influenza had broken out in Knockaloe, the worst affected camp being Camp1,
where the theatre halls had to be made use of as an auxiliary hospital . It
was fortunate that the epidemic was not a severe one, as these halls are far
from offering the comfort necessary to sick people, having no sanitary arrangement
of any sort. It would be desirable if these halls which in the case of a fresh
epidemic would have to be used again in the same way, should be furnished with
latrines, for, as it is now the patients have to walk in all weathers to those
at a fair distance away, and in cold weather this would be most dangerous .
THE GENERAL STATE OF HEALTH To judge from the death rate, the general state
of health amongst the prisoners at Knockaloe, has been better this year up to
the present date than it was in 1917. The following are the death
statistics for the time the camp has been in existence :--
1915 there were 30 deaths .
1916 there were 46
1917 there were 76
1919 to July 20th 27
Since Major Unander's visit in November last year, 35 deaths have occurred,
and during the same time, there have been 38 cases of insanity, 1 of suicide,
and 3 of attempted suicide.
Das Kranken and Beerdigungs Komitee intends erecting a monument to all the prisoners who have died in Knockaloe during;
their internment , and who are buried in the church yard of St. Patrick close to the camp. The plan for this future monument
is already drawn, and a fair amount of money collected for the purpose. (see exhibit D. )
FOOD
see report on my vist to Douglas.
REPATRIATION AND EXCHANGE
see report on my visit to Douglas.
In Knockaloe camp there were at the time of my visit, a considerable number of Austrian and Hungarian prisoners over 51
years of age, who applied for a speedy repatriation..
The only two camps from which I could get definite statements concerning the
number of such prisoners were Camp II and Camp IV
In Camp II. there were 12 , and in camp IV. 22 (See exhibit F. and G.)
In connection with the question of repatriation, the Austro-Hungarian music hall artists, who are interned at Knockaloe
asked if it would not be possible to allow them to take when leaving the country, more than the permitted weight of luggage,
their costumes and outfit often being of considerable weight, and they being necessary to help them to earn their living
once their freedom was regained.
MAIL
The same complaints were made in Knockaloe as in Douglas camp, but, in addition, the prisoners stated that the arrival of
letters from Austria was even more irregular than ever before, It was not unusual for them to be on the way for three or
four months, and that parcels took the same length of time, with the result that the foodstuff contained in them suffered
considerably,
MONEY REMITTANCE Most of the private remittances arriving at the camp, for both Austro-Hungarians and Germans, according to the statement of the prisoners sent through the Deutsche Bank in Berlin. While considerable delay has always been experienced in the arrival of these remittances, during the last few months this has greatly increased. The last payment of such remittances in Douglas Camp took place a week before my visit, and this was money advised as having been sent off from the middle to the end of March, thus being on its way for nearly four months
This delay in the transmission of parcels, money and letters aggravates the hard lot of prisoners to an unnecessary degree, and it would certainly help to lessen these hardships if some means could be found to reduce the length of time taken for them to reach the Isle of Man from Austria.
VISITS
The prisoners complained that they were only allowed a
visit from their family once a month, and then only for half an hour under
the strictest supervision. Taking into considaration the manner in which British
subjects, are treated in Austro-Hungary, the Austro-Hungrian prisoners asked
me to urge their desire for an extension of the visiting time, and permission
for a visit at least once a week.
AUSTRO-HUNGARIAN COMMITTEES
Each camp is is administered by a committee formed by the representatives of each individual compound , and presided over
by a chairman. The chairmen of the four camps again form an inter-camp committee which meets fortnightly alternatively in
the different camps.
The following shows the names and functions of the members of the Committees at the time of my visit :-
Chairman - Erwin Both, representative of Camp II
Dr Karl Kottas Camp I
Justin Weidinger Camp III
G Biro Camp IV
CAMP I
Chairman Dr Karl Kottas representative Compound 3
Secretary Albert Hill 1
Dr J Fried 2
R Kadich 4
F T Zimmermann 5
M Mazgay 6
CAMP II
Chairman Erwin Both 4
Secretary F Sieber 5
F Bauer 2
Thiele
CAMP III.
Chairman, J, Weidinger, 5
Secretary,V, Bartsch 4
H. Mittermayer 1
H, Henrici 2
G. Fischer 3
CAMP IV
Chairman G. Biro 1
Secretary, A Bleazi
Wurscher 2
Froehlich 3
Helmschmied 4
Bartha 5
Spitz 6
Weiss 7
PRISONERS' LIFE
WORK A great number of. the Austro-Hungarian prisoners at Knockaloe are working
outside the camp on road-making and on farms. I was told that employers who
at first were somewhat prejudiced against the men whom they employed, are now
generally very satisfied with them, I met a number of prisoners returning from
work to the camp in the evening, and was astonished at the difference between
those who had the whole day been employed on work, and those who had remained
in the camp, idle, thinking only of the hardships of their captivity and the
wrongs they suffered. The former looked healthy, both mentally and bodily, and
the latter quite the contrary, being both depressed and nervous.
The schools and lectures in the camps are still being energetically carried on, and the theatrical and other societies for
the entertainment of the prisoners are still continuing their good work.
I had great pleasure in hearing, during my visit to Knockaloe, an excellent performance of Ibsen's '"Hedda-Pabler"
in the theatre of Camp II. (Exhibit F.)
COURTS MARTIAL
Up to the present, prisoners, who for some crime of which they have been accused, appear before a court martial, are usually
defended by one of their fellow prisoners, belonging to the "Knockaloe Prisoners' Aid Society".
No doubt all possible help is given, but usually those advocates are not familiar with the English law, and in addition
do not feel sufficiently free to defend a fellow prisoner, even if the competent authorities act as fairly as possible with
them. I therefore propose that the I. and R. Government, after conferring on the matter with the German Government, should
appoint an English lawyer in the Isle of Man to attend, ex officio, all court martials[sic] before which a German or Austro-Hungarian
prisoner on the Island is tried.
SITUATION
At the northern side of the island is Regaby in which only Austrians or Hungarian subjects are interned, and which was opened
only last spring. The easiest mode of access is by motor car from Douglas.[Regaby is in Andreas about 3miles North West
of Ramsey]
MILITARY STAFF
The commandant of the Camp is a Sergeant-Major, who is assisted by a small number
of soldiers.
NUMBER OF PRISONERS
At the time of my visit there were 52 Austrians or Hungarians interned at Regaby.
DESCRIPTION OF CAMP
The Camp was formerly a small farmstead, situated close to the main road, the former gardens and courtyard, about half an
acre altogether, are at the prisoners disposal, and here they cultivate a large quantity of vegetables, The camp is certainly
surrounded by a barbed wire fence, but it is composed of so few wires that it is scarcely noticeable. During the day there
is no sentry at the entrance. Most of the men are out at work.
HOUSING
A fairly large shed has been transformed into a living and sleeping room, on both sides of which are the bedsteads , the
tables and benches being arranged in the centre. The floor is made of earth, but wooden boards are provided near each bed.
The place is heated by an iron stove, and lighted by a sufficient number of
oil lamps. There was another dormitory under under the roof above the kitchen,
large enough to accommodate nine men, and very much appreciated on account of
the warmth coming up from the kitchen. Each prisoner has a bedstead, mattress,
pillow and four blankets .
NUTRITION
In the old farm kitchen, two boilers, one for hot water and the other for preparing the food, have been added to the large
stove which was installed there before. The kitchen is large and well kept by the Austrian cooks who are in charge of it.
The prisoners are provided with food by their employers, with the exception of the cooks, two stewards and prisoners without
work, who are fed in the camp. On Sunday when no work is done, all the men receive their food there in accordance with the
food regulations, (See exhibit A,)
SANITARY ARRANGEMENTS
There are latrines on the pail system in a small shed in the garden, besides
which there is another shed for washing purposes, with a sufficient quantity
of hand bowls . The former Stable is used as a very primitive bath room. a fairly
large tub having been placed there. This shed was also used as a store room
for coal.
The laundry work is done in the camp by the prisoners but the being no drying
room, the living room has to be used for this purpose in bad weather.
The civil doctor of the district attends to the prisoners who need it, serious
cases would be sent to Noble's Hospital in Douglas
All the men interned at Regaby come from Knockaloe. They are employed on agricultural..
work on the farms round the camp, an escort taking them to the farm in the morning
and taking them back in the evening. Whilst working they have no military supervision.
All the prisoners to whom I spoke had no complaints to make; they were as happy as prisoners can be, and. no-one wanted
to go back to Knockaloe. According to the Commandant of the Camp, the farmers were very satisfied with the work done by
the men,
The discipline was very satisfactory.
RESUME
Regaby Camp is I think a model camp for civilian prisoners of war, this not
from the point of view of mere comfort, as this has been very little taken into
consideration, but with regard to the prisoners' life, To work the whole day
without a guard. and to return at night to a camp where barbed wire does not
always remind them of hateful captivity is a great boon. They feel a freer man,
and are not affected by the barbed wire disease, the moral depression and in
many cases, the immorality connected with it.
I am sure that the greater number of Austro-Hungarian prisoners would be just
as harmless in camps like Regaby, as they are in Knockaloe or Douglas, or any
other internment camp.
At the same time, they would be doing useful work by which they not only would
do themselves good both bodily and mentally but also help the farmers, who certainly
are and in need of assistance.
I strongly recommend the creation of as many camps as possible on the same principle
as that of Regaby, for if the British Government sees its way to following this
suggestion many men who after this war would, on account of their long internment,
be unfit for all kinds of work, and mentally broken down, still be restored
to the community as useful members .
I wish also to express my heartiest thanks to all the authorities, both civil
and military, of the Isle of Man who have done all they could to facilitate
my work on the island.
I have the honour to be, Sir,
With the highest consideration, Your most humble , obedient servant,
[signed] Major C de Dandel
in charge of the Austro-Hungarian Division of the SWEDISH LEGATION.
London October 29th 1918. His Excellency,
Count H. Wrangel, Swedish Minister to the Court of St. James etc., etc.
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