HTML Transcription © F.Coakley , 2025
This report to the Destitute Aliens Committee , which also had an attached long report on the sanitary conditions at Knockaloe was by Sir Wm Byrne and Edmund Sebag Montefiore (Secretary) - it was also more direct in its comments and as a result a strong letter was sent to Bertram Sargeaunt (Goverment Secretary) as to certain needed changes at the Manx camps.
1. Dr. Branthwaite's report to the Chairman of the Destitute Aliens Committee deals with the general conditions of the Camps in the Isle of Man from a medical point of view, consequently there is little need for us to deal in extenso with these matters, beyond expressing our opinion in the strongest possible manner that in general the recommendations therein contained should be carried out without delay. The present state of affairs, as detailed in this Report, caused us serious concern.
2. We are taking immediate steps to secure the services of an officer to act as principal Medical Officer on Colonel Panzera's staff, his responsibilities will be to see that the Camp is kept in all respects in proper sanitary condition and to make such arrangements in agreement with the Camp Commandant as will secure that the existing medical staff carry out their duties efficiently. After consultation with Sir Alfred Keogh and Sir Havelock Charles of the Indian Medical Service, we have no doubt but that an efficient officer will be procurable. We have impressed on the Isle of Man Government the necessity of paying immediate attention to all representations which may come from the Camp on matters connected with sanitation and the care of the sick, including cases of mental or nervous disorders.
3. We have requested Mr. Sargeaunt, and he has agreed, to make arrangements that there shall always be 4 empty beds ready at the Isle of Man Lunatic Asylum to meet the requirements of urgent cases from the Camps.
4. Further we have informed him that it is the Home Secretary's desire that the Prisoners of War should be treated with due consideration, and that, after having regard to public interests, their welfare and comforts should be taken into account, that every effort should be made to find them employment, and that facilities, such as the supply of clothing, boots &c., which they may require for outdoor work, should be afforded.
6. We were asked to enquire, on behalf of the War Office, whether it would be possible to provide accommodation for a large number of military prisoners in the Isle of Man, either by utilising the existing Camps, or by constructing a new camp. The Isle of Man Government were not able to indicate to us any suitable site for a new camp, and they represented to us that, unless the existing means of communication with the mainland were improved, it would be impossible to maintain a greatly increased number of aliens on the Island. The difficulty of finding sites with an adequate water supply is also present to their minds.
Some of the hotels might be used for the accomodation of officers, such as the Ramsey Hydro and the Douglas Bay Hotel. We were satisfied it would be most expensive to arrange to billet considerable numbers of the aliens in the boarding houses, even if the question of public safety did not arise.
6. Many requests were received from well-to-do aliens in the Camps that they might be released on parole from the Camps and live in the Island at their own expense and under supervision, the married ones with their wives and families, and though again the Island Government discountenances this proposal, we are satisfied that many of the Islanders would appreciate the benefit which would accrue to them if it were carried out, and the distress which may exist amongst the Lodging house keepers would be to a very large extent relieved and arrears in rates and rents could be paid.
During the last summer the Island was vsited by about one fifth of the number of visitors who annually resorted there before the war, and they expect a still further improvement in 1917, provided more and better boats are running. They are concerned that this influx should not be stopped by the known presence of Germans at large in their midst. We think that the advantages f the proposal are such that it should be pressed on the attention of the Insular Government and that they be requested to ascertain the views of the Municipalities regarding it.
7. We took up the question of walks and route marches for the interned aliens, and this matter is referred to in Dr.Branthwaite's report. We are satisfied, in spite of the opposition from the Insular Government, that instructions may safely be given that walks and marches should be permitted to those aliens at Douglas, who, on account of good conduct or for reasons of health, might be allowed to enjoy this privilege.
The circumstances of the two Camps are so entirely different that we do not think that any serious or lasting dissatisfaction can be given by allowing the privilege to one Camp and refusing it to the others, although it is our duty to record that Colonel Panzera expressed an emphatic opinion to the contrary.
8. We found the condition of the existing drainage system at Knockaloe very unsatisfactory, while but slow progress had been made with the new system, and we consider that the danger to health in the Camp from this cause is undoubtedly great. In the strongest terms we expressed our diasatisfaction to the Construotion Officer and to Mr. Sargeaunt at not having been kept informed in London of this state of affairs.
The weekly reports of the sanitary arrangements in the Camp generally recorded the words "drainage satisfactory". The Construction Officer informed us that he weekly reported in duplicate to Mr Sargeaunt as to the progress made and he thought that one of the copies of his report came to the DAC. We have now requested Mr. Sargeaunt in the future to send these reports, so that the Committee may see that this matter is no longer neglected. Mr Sargeaunt expressed the view that as the drainage alterations were being carried out by the directions of a London firm on instructions from the D.A.C., it did not fall within his duty to criticise the work or progress. We informed him that we did not agree with his point of view, and further that if any out-break were to occur through defective drainage, the Insular Government would be held to have shared in the responsibility through neglect of its duties in this respect. We have at once taken steps to expedite the work so far as is in our power.
9. We noted with regret that the farmers in the Island had not taken advantage of the new demand created by the existence of the Camps to grow more vegetables, of which there appears to be a shortage, and we were informed that there are difficulties in obtaining regular supplies from the Mainland. The stranger in the Island cannot but be struck with the large number of men of military age, who are about the streets and country roads; and we were informed that many of those were of so called farming class, and the shortage of free labour does not seem to be extreme. We feel certain that if the farmers (employers of labour) had had alien labour offered to them in attractive terms, not necessarily the strict terms laid down by the War Office for military camps, or if the Local Government had energetically encouraged them to take Austro-Hungarian subjects on parole, as has been done in a few estates in England, many of these men could be drafted into the Army to the advantage of Great Britain. The summoning by the Insular Board of Agriculture of a meeting of farmers, for the purpose of pointing out to them the advantage and patriotism of carrying out this proposal, would, in our opinion, be most advisable. At Knockaloe there are 50 acres of land under vegetable cultivation, and the Insular Government are considering the advisability, which is in our opinion obvious, of putting another 40 acres under cultivation for this purpose. Even larger extensions seem to us most advisable.
10. About 1,100 men with British-born wives resident in the Metropolitan area, who have been able to pay the cost of their own removal, have up to the present been sent to the Alexandra Palace. We were told that there may be still some 500 to be sent; many of these will probably not be able to pay the travelling cost, but we understand that instructions are to be given for their transfer in due course.
The question has also arisen as to whether the opportunity for transfer is to be offered to men with wives of allied nationality, and also to those who have married wives of neutral nationality. The Committee will be glad to have instructions on this subject, and also as to the procedure to be adopted with widowers having British-born children residing in the Metropolitan area, provided sufficient accommodation is still available.
11. The proposed formation of a separate camp for Austro-Hungarian subjects has been, at the request of the aliens themselves, dropped. The Commandant has pointed out to the men that the Government was prepared to establish such a Camp, but the Austrians stated that if they were to be retained in the Isle of Man, they preferred remaining in their present quarters, and they are prepared to take any risk there may be in so doing.
12. A considerable number of complaints exist as to the non-arrival of letters and tampering with parcels. The D.A.C. propose addressing a letter on this subject to the General Post Office.
13. We were informed that there are some 4,000 men of 45 years and over at Knockaloe.
14. The question of the employment of the aliens is surrounded by many difficulties especially when occupation of very large numbers is considered. The authorities are still awaiting the written Report of Mr. Sydney Mayer of the Board of Agricuture on the reclamation of the Curragh lands, and we informed them that we hoped that early consideration would be given to the whole matter this autumn with a view to the preparation of a detailed scheme to which practical effect could be given in as the weather permitted, Reclamation in other areas was also advised, and the vigorous prosecuting of the peatcutting Industry on a larger and consequemtly a more economical scale, For these projects, and for increased vegetable-growing, boot and clog making, road making and repairing, we believe the approval and cooperation of the Insular authorities has been secured.
[15.] We carefully investigated the connection of the Emergency Committee for the Assistance of Austrians, Germans and Hungarians in Distress with the Camps at Douglas and Knockaloe. Mr Baily, the industrial adviser representing the Committee, resides at Knockaloe and visits each compound at certain periods in order to confer with the Industrial Committees as to their requirements, to arrange for the delivery of materials and to discuss new projects of labour, At Knockaloe he appears to enjoy the confidence of the Commandant, and we are of the opinion, after careful consideration, that his activities should in no way be restrained so long as he loyally and satisfactorily carries out the restrictions which the Command may think necessary to impose on him. We would suggest that as he has now been in residence for some time, the Commandant might consider the advisability of extending the time allowed for his visits and disposing with the necessity of his being accompanied by an armed guard.
[16.] It is difficult to see how the work of the Emergency Committee could be taken over by any other body, In the first place they are all, apparently, very keen on benefiting the interned, and, though their action is to a great extent unselfish, there is no doubt that they hope to gain repute amongst their own body of Quakers. They have the confidence of the Industrial Committees, who,in turn, are trusted by the workers. At present they state that they pay into the Camp about £150 a week on account of industrial work for goods, such as toys, boxes and carved bones made by the prisoners, but they hope very materially to increase this amount in the near future, They are also starting basket making and a certain amount of cabinet making; and the Industrial Committees evidently thought they were as efficient a body as could be desired for procuring new modes of employment. The chief market for the goods appears to be the United States of America, but they are making arrangements for introducing them in Norway and Sweden. It appears, hovever, that all the articles they purchase are paid for as piece work, and that they supply no labour at a weekly wage. We are informed that it is Mr. Baily's practice to have the articles submitted to him with the price affixed by the maker and if he agrees to purchase them, the money is forthwith paid, less 10%, to the Camp Industrial Committees, who hand the money to the prisoners, less a very small deduction required for the expenses of the Industrial Committee; and this system works satisfactorily. Once the goods have passed into Mr. Baily's hands, as representative of the Emergency Committees, all trace of them is lost, and there is no evidence obtainable as to whether the Emergency Committee make summary manner, without the pros and cons being fully represented, and more frequent contact between Government Buildings and the Camp Command would, we are sure, be of the greatest use.
[17.] Dietary. Dr.Branthwaite's Report on the dietary at Knockaloe is to the effect that it is sufficient, the prisoners of war being in an excellent state of nutrition. If, however, after consideration of Sir Herbert Smalley's figures, it is thought advisable to raise the value of the diet as measured in calories we would suggest that this might be readily and economically effected by providing a ration of oatmeal porridge. and syrup sufficient to bring the total value to about 3,100 calories.
18. We are glad to report that Mr. Sargeaunt has been able to reduce the amount paid to Mr. Cunningham for "camping" the prisoners from 8/- to 7/- a week. We were present at the interview between this gentleman and Mr. Sargeaunt,and it was pointed out to him that unless he continued to keep the Camp Supplies up to the terms of his contract, the Government would be compelled to commandeer the Camp and take over the entire administration.
19. Industrial activity is much more marked at Douglas than at Knockaloe, and we are pleased to note that the brushmaking is showing marked progress. New buildings have been acquired, and are being made suitable and before Christmas it is anticipated that at least some 500 man will be employed here.
A good start has also been made in furnishing work for private employers, and it is satisfactory to note that a substantial sum is saved for the Government from these services, owing to deductions from the prisoners' wages.
W.P. BYRNE.
EDMUND SEBAG-MONTEFIORE. 9th October 1918
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