Sixteen Months in Four German Prisons

Sixteen Months in Four German
Prisons

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by
Frederick Arthur Ambrose Talbot, Edited by Henry Charles Mahoney
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Title: Sixteen Months in Four German Prisons Wesel, Sennelager,
Klingelputz, Ruhleben
Author: Frederick Arthur Ambrose Talbot
Editor: Henry Charles Mahoney
Release Date: April 9, 2006 [eBook #18134]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SIXTEEN
MONTHS IN FOUR GERMAN PRISONS***
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The original printing contained gaps in the text, varying in size from a
few words up to several lines. This appears to have been a deliberate
act by the author, editor, or printer. These gaps are indicated in this
version with [*gap] or [*large gap].]

SIXTEEN MONTHS IN FOUR GERMAN PRISONS
WESEL SENNELAGER KLINGELPUTZ RUHLEBEN
Narrated by HENRY C. MAHONEY
Chronicled by FREDERICK A. TALBOT Author of "The New Garden
of Canada," "Conquests of Science," Etc.

London and Edinburgh Sampson Low, Marston & Co., Ltd. 1917

[Illustration: THE AUTHOR AS HE APPEARED ON THE DAY OF

HIS RELEASE FROM RUHLEBEN.
From an official photograph taken by the German Government for
attachment to the passport. The embossed imprint of the stamp of the
Kommandantur of Berlin may be seen.
Frontispiece]

TO MY WIFE AND CHILDREN
WHO WAITED PATIENTLY AND ANXIOUSLY FOR "DADDY,"
AND TO
A FRIEND,
STILL LANGUISHING IN RUHLEBEN, TO WHOM I OWE MY
LIFE

PRISONER'S NOTE
It was whilst suffering the agonies of solitary confinement in the
military prison of Wesel that I first decided to record my experiences so
that readers might be able to glean some idea of the inner workings and
the treatment meted out to our unfortunate compatriots who were
travelling in Germany at the outbreak of war and who have since been
interned.
From the moment of my decision I gathered all the information
possible, determining at the first opportunity to escape to the Old
Country. As will be seen I have to a degree been successful.
Owing to the grossly inaccurate and highly coloured reports which
have been circulated from time to time regarding the life and treatment
of prisoners of war, the story has been set out in a plain unvarnished
form. There are no exaggerations whatever. Much of the most revolting
detail has been eliminated for the simple reason that they are

unprintable.
In nearly every instance names have been suppressed. Only initials
have been indicated, but sufficient description is attached to enable
personal friends of those who are still so unfortunate as to be
incarcerated to identify them and their present situation. Likewise, in
the cases where I received kind treatment from Germans, initials only
have been introduced, since the publication of their names would only
serve to bring punishment upon them.
H.C.M.
[Illustration: Statutory Declaration]

CHRONICLER'S NOTE
On Friday afternoon, July 31, 1914, I shook hands in farewell with my
friend Henry C. Mahoney. He was going to Warsaw and was full of
enthusiasm concerning the new task which was to occupy him for at
least three months. Owing to his exceptional skill and knowledge,
practical as well as theoretical, of photography in all its varied branches,
he had been offered, and had accepted an important appointment
abroad in connection with this craft--one which made a profound
appeal to him. Despite the stormy outlook in the diplomatic world he
felt convinced that he would be able to squeeze through in the nick of
time.
Although he promised to keep me well informed of his movements
months passed in silence. Then some ugly and ominous rumours came
to hand to the effect that he had been arrested as a spy in Germany, had
been secretly tried and had been shot. I did not attach any credence to
these vague, wild stories. I knew he had never been to Germany before,
and was au courant with the harmless nature of his mission.
A year elapsed before I had any definite news. Then to my surprise I
received a letter from him dispatched from the Interned British
Prisoners Camp at Ruhleben. As a matter of fact I learned subsequently

that he had previously written six letters and