1 26th August 11th October, 1916. To Alfred Byrne M.P., House of Commons. A chara, We, the undersigned, being the duly elected Camp Leaders
are desirous of drawing your attention to several grave complaints
concerning the conditions of our internment here. As doubtlelss you are aware the Irish prisoners are housed
here in grain lofts which were never intended for human habitation,
some of them not even possessing windows, being lighted and ventilated
only by a few skylights. According to Government measurement the
grain lofts at present in occupation are supposed to accomodate
185, 200, 300, and 60 prisoners respectively but we feel sure that
all impartial persons having any knowledge of hygiene or sanitation
will agree with us that they are really unfit for human habitation,
and their injurious offensiveness in this respect is considerably
aggravated by the fact that two lavatories are established inside
the grain lofts. Men arise in the morning with what is known to
us as 'that tired Frongoch feeling'; and the debilitating effect of
the sleeping in these grain lofts have been established beyond all
doubt by the number of men who have fainted on the early morning
parade. There are quite a number of prisoners suffering from
lung trouble sleeping amidst the other prisoners and when these
prisoners have been sent sick in the ordinary course of procedure
they have been certified as alright; but when these men are brought
specially before the doctor by the camp leader he admits on a re-
examination that these men are suffering from lung trouble. It is
absolutely iniquitous that these unfortunate prisoners should be
compelled to live in such grain lofts amidst hundreds of other men. On the 26th August last an application was made by the 2 Camp leader for a transference of the whole body of prisoners
to what is known as the North Camp (wooden huts) on the grounds
that it was more healthy and comfortable than the old distillery
buildings which constitute the South Camp; this application
was brutally ignored. Another application for a transfer was
made on 11th October but the Commandant stated that he could not
move us without an order from the Home Office. We should like to know if this refusal to transfer us
arose from a desire on the part of the authorities to ruin the
men's constitution by keeping them in the unhygienic and
insanitary surroundings of the South Camp. Signed (5)
M.S. P.S. It is rumoured this morning (11th inst) that
this transfer to the North Camp is about to be granted to us.
We should like very much to know the reason why it should not be
granted to us on the 26th August instead of leaving it to this
late hour of the day when any of the men's health has already
become affected. We are enclosing a copy of a letter to Mr. Ginnell
which was posted to him on the 10th inst. and we should be very glad
if you would deal with it, as no doubt, Mr. Ginnell would have
dealt with it had he been at liberty.