1 Copy. B.C.B. 12/10/16. 26th Aug.
11th Oct. 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 doubtless 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 ventil—
ated only by a few skylights. According to Government measurement
the grain lofts at present in occupation are supposed to accom m odate
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 well 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 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 Item No 1 A look for B 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 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 unhygenic and insanitary
surroundings of the South Camp. Signed (5)
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 many 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. M.S.
?Michael Staines