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 Visit of Mr. Dresel to SENNELAGER camps and Lazarets.
Three of the Sennelagar camps were described in a report of a visit made by Mr. Osborne in April 1915. In addition to those, there is a fourth camp (Staumühle) situated at a distance of some four miles from the other three, hut under the same Kommandant as the others, The camp lazaret and a sanatorium, at a distance of some six miles at Lippspringe, were also visited on the present occasion. (March 21. and 22,1916) there are now no British civilians at Sennelager.
In all these establishments the general conditions are now good. The climate and the nature of the soil are conductive to health, there is sufficient room for exercise, end there were few serious complaints of my hind, though ample opportunity was given to speak to the men alone. Improvements are made being made in the sleeping quarters, -the beds now being placed in two tiers, and blocks of four in each tier, In the centre of the barracks. At the sides, next to the windows, tables, some twenty feet in length, are being adjusted, at which the men can eat, write aid play games. These are not yet fully completed, but assurances were given that, in a short time, the accommodations would allow each eight men. one of these tables. A good feature is further the construction (also not yet completed) of small wooden cupboards to hold eatables and other effects of the prisoners.
In all these camp, there were the usual complaints as to food, which did not, however, appear to be fully justified, so the soup served aft the midday meal (camp II) was tried and found good. In all the kitchens seen, one or more British are employed, and they are allowed to make suggestions in regard
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to the fare. The chief dependence Is on packages from home, and considerable apprehension was expressed by some prisoners that the supply might cease. That there seems, however, to be no immediate danger of this, is shown by the fact that in January 58,000 packages were received by the British and in February 53,000, out of a total for each month of some 160,000.
There were no complaints as to non-receipt of packages, but some as to irregularity in the receipt of letters both those addressed to the prisoners at the camps and to their relatives and friends in England, An inspection of the postal bureau and inquiry of the camp officials failed to disclose sufficient grounds for a belief that the trouble was within the camp.
Arrangements will shortly be completed for the preferential treatment of the higher classes of non-commissioned officers, but the nature of the added privileges had not yet been decided.
The bathing arrangements, allowing of a bath each week, appear now to be satisfactory. It was stated that in summer all prisoners are given opportunity for river bathing. The latrines were also examined and were found sufficient and free from oder. As in most country camps, there is no flushing, but proper attention is paid to the disinfection of the latrines and removal of the refuse, and the latter is now no longer used on the adjoining fields.
At SENNE I were found only 18 British, 185 being absent at various working camps. Those in the main camp had been found temporarily or permanently unfit for outside work. There were complaints that the men, though in each ease they were in possession of leather boots from home, were obliged to wear wooden clogs in the camp. On reporting this to the Inspection Department at Münster, it was promised that the regulation should be changed. The barracks here were not overcrowded, on account of the absence of many prisoners in working camps, and general
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Conditions were not unsatisfactory.
SENNE II contained at the time of the visit 642 British out of a total of 1736. There was some discontent in this camp on account of an attempt to escape by French prisoners in which no British were alleged to be concerned, having been followed by football, theatres and music being stopped for a week as punishment. It was claimed that penalties should only have been inflected on those in the barrack from where the attempt was made. This matter was taken both with the Kommmdant and at Münster and an investigation was promised.
Walks allowed to higher non-commissioned officers in this camp, had been stopped, on account, as was stated, of the difficulty of providing enough guards.
A sketch plan of this camp is hereto annexed.
In Senna III, also called Waldmühle, 304 British were found, 426 being away on working parties. Conditions were good here, the British prisoners being housed in two barracks containing 1144 end 160 respectively. The football field has been somewhat restricted in size, of which the men complained, but on inquiry it was ascertained that the grounds had been considerably extended in other directions, and as in the Sennelager camps generally the opportunities for exercise are not inadequate.
There was also come complaint as to the disturbance of the arrangements of men permanently in one of the barracks by the temporary return of working parties, but this appeared to be difficult to avoid and it was stated by the Commandant that the arrangement of a temporary receiving barrack was not practicable.
The STAUMEHLE camp is situated on the open heath at a distance of some three miles from the other camps. The air is pure and bracing, and the surroundings attractive. The 99 British in this this camp, which is looked on by the authorities as especially good, are partly convalescents, and in part, as was told me by the Kommandant, were assigned to it on account of good behaviour.
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The marked feature is smaller barracks than are found elsewhere, each being built for 50 and not containing more than 40 or 45. The sleeping quarters, bathe and latrines are satisfactory and modern in construction, and the camp gives the impression of ample space. The cantine is well stocked and an arrangement which has been much appreciated, permits the distribution at all hours if the day of good sized cups of coffee, prepared by a French prisoner, for a penny a cup. There is a small orchestra. The aspect of the camp was cheerful, and the prisoners expressed themselves satisfied with their treatment and the camp generally.
On March 17 Private Hugh Day, Somersetshire Light Inf. Reg. died in the lazaret at this camp of tuberculosis. There was one other British patient in the lazaret.
The lazaret attached to the main Sennelager camps is for the treatment of acute diseases. Here were found Privates Chalmers, Gordon Highlanders, (1073), Chappell, Royal Lancaster, (9845), Brine, Middlesex, (14754), Halls, Suffolk, (8550), Smith, Suffolk, (6469), Burgess, Royal Lancaster, (16581), Wilkins, Norfolk (8778), Whittington, Royal Scotch fusiliers, (7755), Hemingway, Royal Munster Fusiliers, (8367), Lance-Corporal Gilchrist, Gordon Highlanders (9096), Privates Taylor, 4th Middlesex, (11712), Richardson, Coldstream Guards, (8992), Till, Dorsetshire, (9327), Pettitt, Norfolk, (8612), Kelly, Coldstream Guards (9813), Heath, Cheshire, (7198), Sutcliffe, Coldstream Guards, (7711), Cox, Somerset Light Inf., (8501), Vines, Middlesex, (8793), White, Scottish Borders, (8608), Johnson, Lancashire, (7195), and Simpson, Royal Scotch, (10965). The last two had fully recovered and were acting as nurses. All these man were spoken with and expressed themselves as fully satisfied with treatment, food and general conditions. The wards were well aired and comfortable, and the arrangements modern.
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LIPPSRINGE:
This village, about six miles from Sennelager, is a health resort in a favourable situation surrounded by pine woods. Here there is a large, high and well ventilated one-storey wooden building (formerly a shooting gallery and assembly hall), which contained (March 21, 1916,) one hundred and twenty-five cases, all chronic. Corporal Bryant, 1st Rifle Brigade, Privates Chapman, Royal Scots, Eden, Cheshire, Hayes, Royal Munster Fusiliers, Morris, King’s Own Royal Lancaster, and Loe, Middlesex, were the only British. There were no complaints, and the accommodation, medical attention and food appeared to be in every respect satisfactory.
April 3, 1916,
Ellis Loring Dresel