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and especially the Northcliffe press is doing their best to contribute. Anything German has to be exterminated so that the English can reign supreme.
The afore-mentioned Mr Kleine, of course, got to know Ruhleben extremely well and with his help they have drawn up a comparison between the conditions in Ruhleben and L., which in every aspect favours the German camp. The number of internees is the same, but there is 3-4 times more space in R. than in L. I have managed to get a copy of that comparison and a few other points have struck me as particularly in favour of the German camp:
a) Electric light in the barracks, etc.
b) The canteen has been run by the internees from day one.
c) Amusement: a theatre for 1000 spectators; cinema; libraries; 9 tennis courts; 3 hockey fields; 3 soccer fields; a reading room.
d) A parade 3 times a week; internees are addressed as “Mister” by the authorities,
not just as “Prisoner of war”.
e) 5 different daily newspapers. In the beginning even foreign newspapers. [Page 88]
f) Internees on good behaviour get 2-6 weeks leave. g) Naturalised people are not being interned.
h) Escapees are not treated as criminals and get just a light sentence in prison camp. i) No forced labour.
The conditions in L. and even here in Trial Bay are markedly less favourable, and in particular the much hoped-for leave is not being granted. Even the married men are hardly ever allowed to visit their families; they have to come to L. where they are allowed to meet for just a few hours on a separate “recreation ground”, under military
watch. Here in Trial Bay, the wives of some married men like Plate, de Haas, Dr Herz have moved to a tiny village opposite the jail named South West Rocks, and can meet their men twice a week on the beach between the two places, and without any guards.