Report on Manx Camps September 1915

Introduction

Up to the entry of the USA into the war in early 1917, 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 - one such report is given here reformatted from the original typescript but otherwise unchanged. Original held at TNA in file HO 45/10946/266042

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Sir, I have the honor to submit the following report covering a visit of inspection to the Prisoner of War Internment Camps at Knockaloe, Peel, Isle of Man, and Douglas, Isle of Man.

KNOCKALOE

This Camp was visited on September 29, 30 and October 1. 1915.

Since Mr. Lowry's visit the Camp has been enlarged by the addition of two sub-Camps. The housing and general scheme of these erections is the same as reported on by Mr. Lowry, except that each hut contains only about 180 men, indeed there is less crowding throughout the entire camp.

Camps No. 1, 2 and 3 are quite complete, and practically filled to their capacity, while Camp No. 4 (which will have 7 compounds, each holding 1,000 men) is about half occupied.

There are in confinement in Knockaloe Camp at present .

These figures will be augmented by a further 2,000 men during the week ending October 9.

HOSPITALS. Each Camp has a hospital of its own; at the time of my visit there were in:-

There are six hospital attendants in Camps 1, 3 and 4, and eight in Camp 2. There are 8 Medical Officers, 4 in constant attendance. In these Camps there were no serious cases.

In addition there is one general hospital, to which any serious cases are moved. Here there were 46 patients, suffering from malaria and rheumatic fevers, and heart affections. However, only about 10 were confined to their beds, the other patients were convalescent, and most of them were out of doors, it being a bright, sunny day.

Attached to Camp No.3 is an isolation hospital for infectious cases, in which there were 55 patients, of whom 20 were suffering from tubercular trouble, and 35 venereal diseases.

COMPLAINTS .

The causes for the main complaints referred to in Mr.Lowry's report have for the most part disappeared.

Food. This is now quite satisfactory.

I visited the Compound quite unattended, and talked with the cooks, and saw the food. There were no complaints on this score, the new dietary being quite approved.

Difficulty in obtaining clothing, and arrangements of the Wash-houses. The matter of the clothing was taken up with the Officials of the Home Office, whe replied that the Government were now importing large supplies of clothing for the prisoners.

The complaint as to the wash-houses is to be remedied. so that the men may use the drying rooms that are next to the wash-houses as dressing rooms. Thie will give them a warm, dry place to dress in after their baths.

An arrangement with sufficient cocks furnishing hot and cold water is to be installed in the wash-houses of each Compound.

Non-delivery of mails. The delay in the delivery of mails seems to be a general complaint, but it is difficult to know the cause. The Prisoners do not allege that the cause of delay lies in the Camp administration. The time taken for transit of letters is, however, about the same at Knockaloe as at the other Detention Camps.

Shortage of Camp Beds. There were complaints not without reason, of the shortage of Camp beds, but this matter has now had attention. 20 men were turn- ing out something like 200 beds per day, but on Octo ber 1st 300 men were being detailed to make beds, and they should turn out from 1,000 to 1,800 a day, which should take care of the entire shortage within four or five days.

SANITARY ARRANGEMENTS.

"A" water supply. Many complaints of a more serious nature reached this Embassey in regard to the water supply. There was unquestionably a shortage of water for about 13 or 14 days from about the 4th September, caused by extreme drought. The matter had the attention of the Camp authorities as early as the middle of August, and they set to work to lay a new 4 inch main from the reservoir to the Camp. This main was completed on the 19th September. Other measures were taken to increase the water supply, such as damming of two small streams, and the leading more water into the reservoir. As these complaints were of rather a serious nature in a Camp intended for 24,000 people, I devoted most of my time to a thorough study of the conditions. I find now that

1. The water supply is conducted by a direct 4 inch main to the Camp, and from there taken to the highest point of the Camp in a 3 inch main.

2. The water supply is ample.

3. It arrives under strong pressure.

The interned men expressed themselves as now satisfied with the water supply.

"B" Drainage. The entire sanitary arrangements of the Camp are now conducted on the water-bourne system except in Camp No. 4 mention of which will be made later. All sewage from Camps 1, 2 and 3 is conducted to a Separator. The effluent is then conducted through, a series of pipes, and is distributed through gravel beds of some 10 acres in extent. The solids are run off, and at the present time trenched. These solids when the Camp is full will amount to about 450, to 500 gallons per diem. This system is now working well.

The system for Compound No.4 is not yet in working order, but will be within two weeks, meanwhile the pail system is employed. This sewage will be dealt with by a Separator, and by 4 clinker filter distributors. It was originally intended to have but three distributors, but it seemed wise to connect the No.2 Camp to the sewage system of No.4 Camp, therefore, another distributor has been decided upon.

Plans of the Camp showing the water supply and the sewage system, and the detaile of the same are attached to the report, also plan of the Camp showing the arrangement of huts, dining-roome, etc.

Sanitary experts have been employed to furnish an up-to-date Sewage System for this Camp, and no expense has been spared to make the installation successful and complete.

DRINKING WATER.

Several of the men were doubtful as to the purity of the water. It became rether discoloured when the reservoir wss drawn low. Samples were taken from the two Camps, No. 2 and 3 (from which complaints were received) and these have been examined in London. Copy of thie analysis with the Chemist's remarks is attached to the report.

The substance of this report has been comunicated to the Home Office Officials, and they have arranged for Mr. Dibdin to go to the island on October 10 to take samples and analyse and report on them, and to advise generally what steps are necessary to be taken in order to remove any possible source of danger or apprehension. Mr Dibdin's report is expected on October 18th; immediately it is received it shall be submitted to you.

DINING ROOMS

. Dining rooms have now been completed for each Compound, but it is found the men much prefer to eat in the huts where they sleep. The dining huts are therefore to be used for pleasure purposes - educational and recreation - and as work-shops.

CANTEEN.

Although I talked to about 100 men, there were no complaints concerning the Canteen, other than that several items on the Canteen list were unobtainable.

DOUGLAS.

I visited the Douglas Aliens' Camp on September 30, and found the same conditions obtained as reported by Mr. Lowry on July 12.1915.

There are in confinement at Douglas at present

RECREATION Tennis Courts have been constructed in the recreation field, and the men are enjoying them greatly

PREFERENTIAL CAMP. There has now been a Camp set apart for a better class of prisoners, where by a payment of 10/- a week they receive preferential food. Huts are being built to house these men, but a number of tents are also erected. They are given the privilege of choosing between huts and tents, many seemed to prefer a tent. The tents accommodate from 1 to 3 persons, but by the payment of £1:1:0 a week a man may have a tent to himself, The new huts have the same accommodation as the tents.

The preferential Camp at present contains some 242 prisoners, 195 of whom are of a better class, and the remaining 47 are their personal servants.

A special feature of this Camp is a separate kitchen where Kosher food is prepared for orthodox Jews.

SWIMMING BATHS. Some 2,032 men used the large swimming bath in one week.

The same happy conditions referred to in Mr. Lowry's report of July 12. 1915 are still very evident.

LELAND H. LITTLEFIELD,

Any comments, errors or omissions gratefully received The Editor HTML Transcription © F.Coakley , 2025