prisoners were penniless,
the question was one of great importance. Mr. Fischer said that
bread of inferior quality, if returned immediately, would be
exchanged.

YOUTHS UNDER 17 YEARS OF AGE.--It was alleged that not all the
prisoners under 17 years of age had yet taken the necessary
steps to obtain their release. The meeting, however, thought
that it was the presence of young sailors, for whose release
repeated application had been made, that had produced this
impression. These sailors, however, were in quite a different
position from the civilian prisoners. Civilian prisoners under
17 were released. The overseers had the matter under
consideration.

WASHING.--Mr. Whitwell had taken cast-off clothing from the
rubbish-box. He had had them washed, and found that they were
still serviceable. In his opinion, the whole of the camp washing
could be done by two machines costing about 60M. each. Mr.
Fischer observed that the overseers had given this matter their
attention, but that great difficulties would arise if any
proposals adverse to the concessions granted by the military
authority to private concerns were to be made.

The meeting was then adjourned.

We may next cite an unofficial statement:

STATEMENT RESPECTING CONDITIONS AT RUHLEBEN COMMUNICATED TO HOME
OFFICE BY TWO RELEASED CIVILIANS ON MARCH 18, 1915.

Mr. John P. Bradshaw, of Ballymoney, co. Antrim, and Mr. William
David Coyne, of Ballyhaunis, co. Mayo, both British subjects,
arrived in England on the March 15, having just been released
from detention at Ruhleben on account of their unfitness for
military service.

The following statement has been made by them to the Home
Office:

They were examined by the Camp Doctor, and released as unfit for
military service.

A fortnight ago all who considered themselves unfit were invited
to send their names in with a statement of the grounds of
unfitness.

A week later all were asked to state where they would go if
released from Ruhleben, but few of the real British subjects
were anxious to be released now unless they can leave Germany
because of the bitterness against England.[21]

Since March 7 a very important change has taken place in the
food supply to the prisoners; thanks to investigations by
Rittmeister von Mueller, the caterer has