uarters of the Turkish prisoners in Maadi Camp
include: (1) Old buildings originally erected as a school of music and
subsequently used as a factory; (2) barracks built recently for
prisoners of war.
The first consist chiefly of a huge hall 252 feet long and 49 feet wide,
with many large openings in the walls. The roof, of match-boarding, is
33 feet above the floor. Standpipes are fixed all along the hall. There
are, in addition, some out-buildings used by the management and as
stores.
In the other camp sections new barracks, measuring as a rule 100 by 39
feet, were erected by a building firm. Walls and roof are of wood and
thatch; the floor is hard-beaten earth. All camp quarters are well open
to the air, so that proper ventilation presents no difficulties.
_Sleeping Accommodation._--Lengthwise of all the quarters run platforms
of beaten earth, 6-1/2 feet wide, and 9 inches above the floor. On these
are placed the woven rush mats which serve for beds. Each prisoner has 3
blankets. During the season when the temperature falls appreciably at
night extra blankets are served out. All bedding is cleaned and
disinfected at regular intervals. Shelves whereon the prisoners can keep
their belongings are fixed between the rows of beds.
_Food._--The food of the prisoners of war is according to the scale
already given. Kitchens are provided in each section and staffed by the
prisoners themselves. We tasted the soup and meat stew, and found them
of good quality and very appetising. The prisoners receive _baladi_ or
native bread, which resembles their usual food and is supplied by Cairo
bakeries. We questioned many of the men, who assured us that they were
satisfied with the food. The only complaint noted by us was that of a
man who thought that he got rice too often. A small canteen supplies
black coffee, sweetened, at a farthing per cup. It is run as a private
concern under the supervision of the authorities. Tobacco is
distributed every Thursday on the scale mentioned previously.
_Clothing._--Soon after their arrival in camp the prisoners were taken
to a large courtyard, in which they stripped off all their clothes and
foot-gear. As a health precaution all this stuff was scrapped and
destroyed. After being disinfected, the men received a complete new
outfit consisting of two pairs of drawers and two flannel shirts, a
cholera belt, socks, a pair of trousers and a dark blue cloth tunic with
linen lining and uniform
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