PRESENT VISIT: February 8, 1944

PREVIOUS VISITS: Last previous visit of representative of protecting Power, August 27 to 29, 1943

OFFICERS IN CHARGE

VISIT MADE BY: Dr. Benjamin Spiro, representing the Legation of Switzerland, Department of Italian Interests.

ACCOMPANIED BY: Parker W. Buhrman, Department of State

DESCRIPTION OF CAMP:

The Camp Atterbury Prisoner of War Camp is built over flat land in the midst of an agricultural area.  The principal occupation of this region is general farming,  specializing in the growing of tomatoes.  The region is generally referred to as the "Indiana Tomato Belt."

The Camp Atterbury Military Reservation embraces about 40,000 acres.  The prisoner of war stockade and recreation area is 1,684 feet by 2,259 feet.

The entire camp lies at an elevation of about 750 feet above sea level.  It has an annual rainfall of about thirty-two inches and mean temperature of approximately 54 degrees.

CONSTRUCTION:

The construction of the camp is of the theater of operations type buildings.  The main barracks are twenty by one hundred feet and house 50 men.  The barracks are equipped with camp cots on which are cotton mattresses.  The camp is divided into three compounds, each affording accommodation for 1,000 men.  The camp is neat and the grounds are orderly.  It is also well drained.

CAPACITY:

The total capacity of the camp is 3,000 prisoners.

NUMBER OF PRISONERS: (Italian)

STATEMENT OF TREATMENT PRIOR TO ARRIVAL AT CAMP:

Nothing to report.

SANITARY CONDITIONS:

Water Supply:  The prisoner of war camp water supply is taken from the Camp Atterbury reservation water supply which in turn is pumped from wells into supply tanks.  The water is good and ample for all purposes.  There is no restrictions on its use.

DRAINAGE:  The camp drainage is through surface ditches.  It is satisfactory.

SEWAGE DISPOSAL:  The sewage disposal is through underground conduits to the Camp Atterbury settling basin and disposal system.  That is to say, the sewage disposal is through the main camp sewage system. 

TOILETS:  All toilets are of the flush type.

WASHING AND BATHING FACILITIES:  The camp is amply supplied with laundry tubs and shower baths for bathing.  They are supplied with running hot and cold water upon the use of which there is no restriction.  The camp is regularly inspected.  Its sanitary condition is above reproach.

MEDICAL FACILITIES:  

HOSPITAL:  The hospital requirements of the camp are supplied by the Camp Atterbury Station Hospital,  The section of the hospital devoted to prisoner of war camp needs comprises fifty beds.  There is an average of twenty-four patients per day in the hospital.

There has been one death only, since the last inspection, and that was, from what appeared to be, suicide.  The preliminary investigation failed to reveal that the death was caused by foul play or intimidation.  On the contrary, the indications were that he killed himself while in the state of depression owning, it was reported, to the death of members of his family in Italy.

DISPENSARIES:  There is one dispensary in each compound.  The dispensaries are equipped to care for all cases other than those requiring hospitalization.

NUMBER OF PHYSICIANS:  One of the Italian Army surgeons is on call while the other is on duty in the Camp hospital.  In addition, any additional needs of the camp are supplied by the Station Camp Hospital.

NUMBER OF DENTISTS:  There is one United States Army dental surgeon on duty at the prisoner of war camp.  In case of need, the dental surgical staff of the Station hospital is also at the disposal of the prisoner of war camp.  The optical services at the prisoner of war camp are supplied by the Station hospital staff.

RECREATION FACILITIES:

WELFARE OFFICER:  The special service officer is charged with the general welfare work in the camp.  

The camp recreational facilities are well developed.  There are ample recreation fields for all of the games in which the prisoners are interested.  The principal games are soccer, football, boccie, boxing, basketball, football and fistball.  The prisoners also play tennis, and devote considerable time to indoor games such as chess and checkers.

THEATRICALS: Theatricals are very well organized in the camp.  One of the dayrooms or recreation buildings has been set aside as a theater.  Plays are given weekly.  In addition, moving pictures are given weekly to the prisoners.

SCHOOLS:  Some work has been done in the organization of schools for the prisoners.  The present courses include elementary education for illiterates, classes in English, manual training, general wood-carving, art, drawing, engineering, and art leather.

READING MATERIAL:  The prisoners subscribe to II Carriers Del Papalo.  They also have some books at their disposal.

RELIGIOUS ACTIVITIES:  There is one United States Army chaplain priest assigned to the post.  It is understood that he speaks Italian fluently.  The general religious work of the post has suffered somewhat from the beginning because of lack of chapel facilities.  One of the recreation buildings has now been converted into a chapel.  This is satisfactory as far as it goes, but it does not accommodate a large grop of prisoners.

CORRESPONDENCE:  The men are permitted to write one letter and one postal card weekly.  The principal and almost only complaint is that they have not received news from their families and relatives in Italy since their arrival in the United States.  In fact, many of the men are considerably depressed because of the failure to receive news from their families.  It was explained carefully to them by the representative of the Swiss Legation that there was no unusual delay in the mails in the United States.  In other words, the failure to receive news from their families and relatives may be due to the disorganized state of the mails in Europe and the lack of transport.

WORK, KIND AND NUMBER OF MEN ENGAGED:  The camp is fairly well situated from a point of view in the employment of prisoners.  However , a considerable portion of the employment is of a seasonal character.  At the present time prisoners are mostly employed in and about the main post.  1,562 men are employed in a pay status in various camp activities such as quartermaster, camp maintenance, automobile repairs, and during the crop season in the preparation of grounds for the tomato crop and the harvesting of tomatoes.

In this connection some of the men complained of the long hours of work. It is understood that owing to the distance from the camp of some work details it was necessary for the men to spend about twelve hours going to and from their work in actual work not exceeding eight hours.  No side camps are maintained by the Camp Atterbury Prisoner of War Camp.

PAY:  The prisoners receive three dollars per month in canteen coupons, and those in a pay status receive an additional eighty cents per day.

FOOD AND COOKING:  The food issued to the prisoners is the same as that issued to American troops.  They are especially well fed.

CLOTHING:  All prisoners in this camp received a complete clothing issue.

CANTEEN FACILITIES AND AVAILABLE COMMODITIES:  There is one canteen in each of the prisoner of war compounds.  The canteens are fairly well supplied.

DISCIPLINE:  The discipline at this came is good, but not as strict as it might be.  There have been no court martials and few punishments.  The entire camp has been placed on a limited parole basis.  That is to say, each of the prisoners is issued a limited parole card which permits him to move freely in and around the camp within certain limits.  The general atmosphere of the camp is good.  The morale of the prisoners is high.  There have been no attempts to escape.  The only infringement  of limited parole has been that of going out of bounds, as distinguished from attempts to escape.  The prisoners are generally well-behaved.  The parole system seems to be working unusually well.

There are two guard companies assigned to the camp.  They are said to be up to strength.  There are six guard officers and twenty administrative officers on duty.  Of the twenty administrative officers, one speaks Italian and about twelve members of the guard company speak some Italian dialect.

PRISONERS UNDER DISCIPLINARY PUNISHMENT:  Eight prisoners were under disciplinary punishment for assault on a guard.

COMMENTS OF THE SWISS REPRESENTATIVE:  The representative of the Swiss Legation stated that there were no basic complaints on the part of the prisoners.  He had only commendation for the good order and high morale of the prisoners.

CAMP COMMAND:  The camp commander is responsible to the post command which in turn is responsible to the Fifth Service Command.

OBSERVATIONS:  There is nothing to add to the foregoing. Our visit to the camp was of too short a duration to make a study of the camp.