Transcript from copy held at US National Archives.
Source Document: US National Archives Washington (NARA) ; RG 84 Records of Foreign Service Posts ; Diplomatic Posts – Great Britain – Volume 0763
Report of a visit by Mr. DRESEL to detention camp at DUELMEN
This camp previously described in a report by Mr. Jackson on October 21, 1915, was visited on the present occasion on March 18 and 19, 1916. At the date of the visit 1051 British out of 4398 prisoners were found here, about 300 British being absent in working camps. The British are all together in one of the blocks in barracks housing on an average 135 men. Here, as in several Westphalian camps, hammocks are used for the upper tiers. The principal ground of complaint related to men convalescent from wounds and partly disabled who, it was stated, were not accorded special treatment, and slept in the same barracks as the others. On this being reported at Münster, arrangements to house these cases in a separate barracks where they could receive special attention, were at once ordered.
There were the usual representations by prisoners as to inferior quality and Insufficiency of the food, end the men relied, according to their statements, almost exclusively on supplies from home.
Relations with the military authorities in this camp are unusually satisfactory said the ranking non-commissioned Officer stated out of hearing of any Germans that the men had no cause of complaint on account of their treatment and that the behaviour of those in charge of the camp towards them was entirely as It should be.
In answer to inquiries of the Kommandant, it was stated that a football field would shortly be laid out outside of the camp, and also that arrangements would be made permitting more frequent bathing; now there is only provision for one a fortnight.
The
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The British privates are allowed at this camp to spend 20 marks a week and the non-commissioned of floors 40 marks. There is a bank for deposits of surplus funds, in which, the total amount credited to the British was 1509 marks.
The clothing of the prisoners, all of whom were inspected is now almost without exception satisfactory, each man having an overcoat.
There is an English library, but the non-commissioned British officer in charge reports that there is not very much reading,
The work given to prisoners in the main camp is quite light and consists of digging, grading, etc., on the adjoining heath, assistance in erection of barracks, etc.
The general aspect and atmosphere of this camp are good, and it is unusually clean, neat and well arranged.
April 4, 1916
Ellis Loring Dresel