This report conforms to the paragraphs outlined in the report submitted March 31, 1944.  Those paragraphs in which there are no changes are omitted in this report.

SUBJECT:  Visit to German Prisoner of War at Camp Atterbury, Indiana

PRESENT VISIT:  November 30, December 1, 1944

PREVIOUS VISITS:  The last previous visit by a representative of the protecting Power was on February 28, 1944, when this camp was used for Italian Prisoners of War.

OFFICERS IN CHARGE:

Camp Commander -Colonel J. L. Gammell
Executive Officer - Lieutenant Colonel Lloyd L. Hamilton
Medical Officer - Major Ray Kessell
Camp Spokesman - Feldwebel Strummer
Camp Leader - Willie Axman

VISIT MADE BY:  Mr. Emil Greuter and Mr. Curt Ritter, representing the Legatin of Switzerland, Department of German Interests

ACCOMPANIED BY:  Mr. Eldon F. Nelson, Department of State

NUMBER OF PRISONERS:

E. M. - Main Camp - 3,024
E. M. - Side Camp, Austin - 880

Included in the number of men at the main camp are 102 Russian Prisoners of War who are expected to be transferred.  Also included in the total are 24 certified Protected Personnel of whom 20 are working as Protected Personnel.

MEDICAL FACILITIES: Prisoners of war in need of hospitalization are cared for at the Wakeman General Hospital which has been established on this post.  Four wards at the hospital are set aside for use of prisoners of war.

The average sick line runs from 75 to 90 or about 2-1/2% of the population.  On the day of this visit there were only a few prisoners of war in the hospital; none of them were seriously ill.

During the month of November, 3,003 prisoners of war were given physical examinations.  800 smallpox vaccinations were administered, and 1,300 Tetanus toxoid inoculations were given.  900 Typhoid inoculations were administered.  90 prisoners of war were hospitalized during the month; 8 of these were surgical patients, 82 were medical patients.

Also during the month of November there were 526 dental sittings given.  Of these 215 were routine admissions, 237 emergency admissions.  17 full dentures were furnished and 23 partial dentures.  All of the prisoners of war have had their teeth classified.

There is a dispensary in each compound and an American medical officer is assigned for duty in these dispensaries.

RECREATIONAL FACILITIES:  First Lieutenant Jack Liffakin is assigned as special services officer.  The usual sports equipment is available.  15 classes in various subjects have been started and proposals are under way for the construction of a large theater building from prisoner of war funds as soon as official approval is given.  There is a band organized and a good-sized library.

There is one chapel building for all three compounds.  Religious services are conducted by American clergy.  The Catholic chaplain is regularly assigned to the Prisoner of War camp, while the Protestant Chaplain comes from the Main Post.  The Protestant chaplain speaks German.  The Catholic services are said to have a better attendance than the protestant service.

WORK, KIND AND NUMBER OF MEN ENGAGED:  All prisoners of war available for work are employed at paid labor either at the post or at the side camp at Austin.  In addition to the 880 men regularly assigned and housed at Austin a large detail of about 300 are transported daily except Sundays from the main camp for work at the Morgan Packing Company at Austin.

SIDE CAMPS:  At the time of the visit there was only one side camp in operation which is located at Austin, Indiana.  This camp was originally set p as a temporary installation with a capacity of about 900.The camp was being winterized at the time of the visit.  Unfortunately the winterization of this camp had been delayed so that all of the men were not yet in winterized tents although winter weather had started and there was ice and snow from a storm of the day previous to the visit.  The side camp commander stated however that winterization of the tents of the camp would be completed over the weekend.  The latrine, washing, and bathing facilities were quite primitive, although there were being improved at the time of the visit.  The prisoners of war who were not in the winterized tents had built stoves and stove pipes out of old tin cans in order to get some heat.  As these tents were very close together the Swiss Legation representative felt that this was quite a fire hazard.  A canteen and mess halls were under construction and were expected to be completed in a few days.  For the time being the men were eating in their tents from mess kits.

The representative of the Legation of Switzerland stated that this was one of the most primitive camps that he had visited.  It was unfortunate  that the winterization and other improvements had been delayed as the camp would at least have made a satisfactory impression had this work been completed.

It was reported that a complaint to the Swiss Legation from a former spokesman of this side camp regarding bayoneting of some prisoners or war in September had not reached the Legation.  This matter was discussed with Colonel Gammell at the main camp.  He stated that he would look into the matter and would try to locate the letter if possible and have it forwarded to the Legation.  As the former spokesman was in Camp Breckenridge, Mr. Greter interviewed him there and a copy of the complaint was forwarded by Colonel Johnston of Camp Breckenridge to Colonel Gammell.  It is hoped that this will be forwarded as soon as possible to the Legation in order that the treaty provisions of the Geneva Convention may not be violated in this connection.

CANTEEN FACILITIES AND AVAILABLE COMMODITIES:  A report indicated that from June 1944 when the canteen set p was turned over to the Exchange Service, to August 24, 1`944, this camp had a net profit of approximately $34,150. p to October 3, 1944, non of these funds had been received from the Exchange Service for distribution.  Since that time about $13,000 had been received for distribution,  Colonel Gammell had been very much concerned about this as it was affecting adversely the morals of the prisoners of war.  He has requested authorization to spend $9,500 for the construction of a theater from the proceeds of canteen profits, as a theater would help boost the morals considerably and it is felt to be needed.  The Legation representative said he hoped that the military authorities would expedite authorization for this expenditure as he felt that it would help the camp a great deal to have more adequate theatrical facilities.

DISCIPLINE:  The discipline at this camp appeared to be good, and military courtesies were observed.  The prisoners on the whole were generally well-behaved at the main camp and according to the Swiss representative the morals of the men was good thought not high.  At the side camp the morale was high in spite of living conditions not being too desirable.

The camp commander has had some difficulty with some of the officers assigned to him as some of them do not appear to be as well suited for prisoner of war work as they might be. This may be one reason why the morale is not too high in the present camp.  Colonel Gammell has tried to keep and continues to keep his officers as alert to their responsibilities as possible.  At the time if the visit he stated that about half of the officers assigned to him were not measuring up to the standards of performance set by him.

PRISONERS UNDER DISCIPLINARY PUNISHMENT:  On the day of the visit there were 5 prisoners of war in the guard house for disciplinary punishment.

There have been no escapes and no court-martials.

COMMENTS OF THE SWISS REPRESENTATIVE: The Legation representative stated informally to the writer that the main camp was satisfactory but that the side camp was not up to the usual American standard.  He was quite disturbed about the bayoneting which had occurred at the side camp in Austin in September and the failure of the letter of protest regarding this incident to reach the Swiss Legation.

OBSERVATIONS:  It is hoped that the letter of protest mentioned in the previous paragraph will be forwarded through official channels without further delay in order that it might reach the Swiss Legation as soon as possible.  It might be helpful if some explanation of the delay could be forwarded with the letter of protest since there may be a question of treaty violation involved.