From the Special War Problems Division
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
War - General Bryan
Date: Jun 1, 1945

PRISONER OF WAR CAMP
ATTERBURY, INDIANA

I.  NAME OF CAMP: Prisoner of War Camp Atterbury, Atterbury, Indiana

II. CAMP COMMANDER:  Colonel John L. Gammell
     Executive Officer: Major Harry B. Perkins
     Stockade Commander: Captain Robert S. Thomas
     Welfare and Recreation Officer: Lt. John Liffshin
     Chief Medical Officer for Base Camp: Major Earl C. VanHorn
     Chief Medical Officer for Prisoner of War Camp: Captain Albert N. Lupton
     German Spokesman: Horst Stuermer

III. DATE OF VISIT: May 1 and 2, 1945 by Dr. Rudolph Fischer, representing the Legation of Switzerland, and Mr. Charles C. Eberhardt, representing the Department of State.

IV.  CAPACITY OF CAMP:  While the capacity of this camp which consists of three compounds, is placed at 3,000, the fact that so large a number of prisoners work at nights has made it possible to house the total of 3,754 at the camp, who were present on the day of the visit.  In addition, there are held at Branch Camp Austin 593 prisoners, making a total of 4,347 for which the main camp Atterbury is responsible today.

Of this number 27 are certified protected personnel and are so employed.  Twenty-one others have claimed such rating but after careful examination of their supporting documents, the appropriate American doctors and other authorities have refused to consider them as such.

None of the prisoners at this camp are non-commissioned officers and it is understood from a conversation with the Camp Commander that if he can prevent it, none will ever be accepted at a camp under his command.

V. SANITARY CONDITIONS AND HOSPITAL FACILITIES: Sanitary and health conditions at this Post are excellent as seems plainly indicated by the fact that only one per cent of the prisoners detained were confined in the hospital on the day of our visit.

As for hospital facilities, four wards in the recently established base hospital are available for the German prisoners.  Private rooms are also available.  Two hundred patients can be accommodated at one time but only one ward is in use at the present time.

The surgical and medical cases are treated in separate rooms.  Of a total of 43 patients being treated on the day of the visit, 24 were surgical and 19 were medical.  Among these surgical cases there were, as usual in these camps, a large percentage of broken bones which resulted from football and fistball games.

There is an infirmary in each compound where first aid is administered by both American and German attendants.  American doctors and dentists are available at a moment's notice at the base hospital.

At the Wakeman General Hospital, which is also maintained at this base for American soldiers, there were reported to have been approximately 8,000 convalescents and 2,954 patients on the day of this visit.  The barracks of the former base camp here are now used for American convalescent soldiers.

There has been one death since the last visit and burial with military honors was made in the local cemetery, where a total of ten German prisoners lie buried, eight of whom, however, died at other prisoner of war camps -- their remains having been brought here because no cemeteries were available at the camps where they died.

Two mental cases are considered serious enough to have caused the administration to recommend them for transfer to either Mason or Glennan General Hospitals,

VI.  WORK, KIND AND NUMBER OD MEN ENGAGED:  Practically all employables at this camp were employed on the day of the visit.  Such as were not employed were hospital cases almost entirely.  Except for some 380 out-workers, all prisoners were employed either at the Post Command or in the prisoner of war camp.  Their average earnings are said to be $25 per month.

In season there is always a great demand for workers in both agriculture and the canning industries of this area.  Already the Camp Commander has received calls for about 16,000.  The four branch camps which were maintained last season will be re-opened, namely at Austin, 50 miles south where 800 workers are actually employed today; at Windfall, 83 miles north, where request is made for 1,050 workers; Morristown, 60 miles east, where 400 workers are needed; and Vincennes, 100 miles southwest, where the employer asks for 250 workers.

The Camp Commander states that in his opinion he will be able to supply workers for at least three more branch camps which are being contemplated.

Under this heading of work camps special reference might well be made to the branch camp which has been maintained steadily at Austin since its establishment last summer as a temporary camp.  Both the Swiss representative and the writer had occasion to visit this camp and were well pleased at the very satisfactory services which were being rendered.

The employer, Mr. Morgan, Manager and almost sole owner of the Morgan Packing Company which, starting with borrowed capital early after the turn of the century worth the present Manager, Mr. Morgan, paid at the rate of $300 per annum, has become one of the largest canning and vegetable packing companies in the United States, said to be rated at $18,000,000 today.

At the time of the visit of Messrs. Greuter and Nelson last December, they reported very adversely on what Mr. Greuter termed the "deplorable housing conditions" which existed.  There apparently was a good reason for this complaint.  The camp had been established for temporary service and the men were housed in tents.  This implied that the camp would be discontinued as cold weather approached.

Instead, with December's cold weather, more workers were detailed and they were suffering greatly because the tents had not been winterized.  Our Government had apparently given orders to winterize all tents, but, probably because of a scarcity of lumber for for other reasons, only a few had been improved to this extent.  Finally, Mr. Morgan himself supplied the lumber , winterized all of the tents then being used and an additional number sufficient to house over 1,000 prisoners.  The capacity of the tents now being utilized is 1,200, though Mr. Morgan is said to be certifi8ed for 1,500 employees, all of whom he hopes to secure during the next busy season.  Incidentally, the factory employs some 4,000 American civilian employees as well.  On the day of this visit, there were 593 prisoners working, none of whom were non-commissioned officers.

The camp is administrated by the American Captain Arlie G. Belcher, assisted by Major Kessel, a physician. The German spokesman is Alois Lorscheider.

The best of relations seem to exist between Captain Belcher, his assistants, and the prisoners under his command.

Interviewed by the writer, Mr. Morgan stated that he was greatly pleased with the work performed by the prisoners, further stating in the presence of his assistant manager and Captain Belcher that insofar as he was aware, no case of misconduct between his own employees and the prisoners of war had ever been reported, a statement in which he was confirmed by both his assistant and Captain Belcher.

There is an infirmary with three beds, where two American first aid and three German first aid enlisted men are in attendance.  An ambulance is ready at all times to carry prisoners the the base camp at Atterbury in case of emergency.

In addition to having winterized all tents, Mr. Morgan constructed a theater which accommodates 460, and a day room 300' x 120'.

A mess hall at this camp is badly needed.  At present prisoners are obliged in each case to present themselves at the kitchen and carry their meals to their living quarters.

In view of the fact that additional labor is so urgently needed at Austin where it seems certain that request will be made for the continued services of prisoners of war, the idea of establishing this as a permanent camp would seem well worth serious consideration.  Certainly, where the war in Europe not so evidently nearing its end such action would be recommended by the writer.

The sanitary arrangements are very primitive, though care is exercised that toilets are flushed by running water three times daily, and the health of the prisoners has been excellent.

There is a small recreation field sufficiently large enough for soccer and fistball games and a tennis court is being constructed.  Movies are offered weekly for th prisoners, who pout on their own theatricals fortnightly, and they have formed a much better than average orchestra of 22 pieces.

As an indication of the satisfactory work of the prisoners, both from the employer's and United States Government's viewpoint, attention is called to the following statement furnished by Camp Commander Gammell.  It shows the following for a six month period:

Workmen at Austin brought in a total income of $378,093.89, with an allowance and pay of $94,866.40, for an Income turned in to the Government of $283,227.49

The only complaint presented during the visit was that wash basins had been removed and replacements had not been supplied.  Captain Belcher stated that this would be remedied at once, since the prisoners were entitled to these replacements and it had been an oversight that the basins had not been already supplied.

VII. CANTEEN:  Since the restrictions enforced by an order from the Provost Marshall on May 1, the canteen no longer offers the variety or quantity of goods formerly on display.  The prisoners themselves are now allowed $1.00 per month per man.  A 220 acre nearby farm has supplied all Summer vegetables for both the base camp and the prisoner of war camp with tons of tomatoes as a surplus which were sold locally.

VIII.  FOOD, COOKING, AND CLOTHING:  Likewise since May 1, there has been a reduction in the variety of meals offered at the mess.  However the same quantity and quality of actual meals as to total calories of 3,500, are still being served.  No coke or beer is now available and those who wish to smoke are dependent almost entirely upon loose tobacco, which they must "roll" themselves or smoke in a pipe.

IX.  DISCIPLINE:  In the administration of the this camp, there are 27 American Officers, including Colonel Gammell, and one civilian assisted by 371 enlisted men, this latter number including the few who have been detailed to Austin.  The German Spokesman Stuermer is considered a psychoneurotic, young and undependable, but since he is the choice of the prisoners, and apparently harmless, he is permitted to carry the title.  However the administration has selected a German Camp Commander, Willi Axmann, who is an active and apparently most dependable young man, and who is assisted by three German battalion commanders, and 12 company commanders, all under American officers, an arrangement which has been considered necessary because of the shortage of American officers.  Thus far, the results obtained have been highly satisfactory and this young man, Axmann, enjoys the entire confidence of the Camp Commander and all members of the latter's staff who come in contact with him.

There are nine watch-towers, all manned at night time.  There are no perimeter guards, nor are dogs, either trailers or trackers, ever used.

There have been no courts martial.  Until about three days ago there had been no escapes and no attempts to escape.  At present, however, one German worker in the hospital is missing.  the camp administration is investigating, but so far is entirely at a loss to understand what has happened.  the suspicion is that possibly he was way-laid by convalescent American soldiers returned from overseas.  What leads to this suspicion is the fact that three such American convalescent soldiers actually did beat up most unmercifully a German employed in the hospital and their punishment has been denial of their overseas furlough, upon which they were about to enter.

The report of disciplinary action covering the three months of November, December and January shows a total of 41, who were given from three to 30 days sentence, usually on restricted diet.  The principal misdemeanors were refusal to work, unsatisfactory work, insubordination, unauthorized possession of United States Government property, theft, and sabotage.

During the period from December 6, 1944 to March 15, 1945 inclusive, there were a total of 81 cases of disciplinary punishment at this camp.  Most of these were single cases and the sentence was usually seven to 14 days hard labor without pay.  However, on February 7, a group of 20 prisoners refused to unload a railway car when on prescribed work detail.  they were sentenced to seven days on bread and water.  On February 28, four prisoners refused to give their names to the work foreman while on prescribed work detail.  Their sentence was seven days at hard labor, no pay, with full rations.  Mon March 15, four prisoners were charged with laxity on "Classification Warehouse Work" detail.  They were sentenced to three days hard labor without pay, on full rations.

Newcomers form another prisoner of war camp, upon search, were found to be carrying unauthorized articles, such as knives, chisels, and wire cutters.  Several of the prisoners showed written permits apparently bona fides from the officers of the camp which they had left, whereby they were able to buy such articles.  The articles were confiscated, or course, at this camp.

X. COMPLAINTS:  Camp Commander Gammell has no complaints whatever to make of the prisoners who come under his administration.  Likewise, the prisoners themselves had no real complaint, thought they have made a few requests.

The request to have the tobacco allowance increased since they are no longer permitted to have cigarettes was refused.

Their request to have pictures of Hitler and other personal belongings in their quarters restored was also refused, as, it is understood, has also been the request to have restored t them German insignia which have been taken from their uniforms.  (The writer's understanding is that these insignia may still be worn when wearing of uniforms is permitted.)

Prisoners under confinement ask for two hours in the open air.  The Colonel, surprised that there had ever been any question about this, granted the request immediately.

They are also given a certain amount of reading and writing materials, and a doctor visits them every day.

The request was repeated for reconsideration of the cases of the several non-recognized protected personnel which, however, the Camp Commander had to refuse, stating that a recent examination by the professional American doctors had convened the matter  that these documents and other evidence did not permit these prisoners the rank of protected personnel.

XI.  COMMENTS OF THE SWISS REPRESENTATIVE:  The Swiss Representative was very complimentary in all his remarks, both to the commanding officer and to the writer, regarding the manner in which this camp is being administrated.  The same attitude on his part will apply also to the Branch Camp at Austin, which we both visited.

XII. OBSERVATIONS:  In the opinion of the writer, Atterbury is an exceptionally well administrated prisoner of war camp.  The commanding officer very plainly has the confidence and close cooperation of all his assistants, who in turn appear to have been able to get unusually satisfactory services fro the prisoners themselves, whether in contract farm work or at the base camp and the prisoner of war camp itself.  The usual number of disciplinary cases referred to above must be expected in any camp of this size.

It may be of interest to refer here to an attack which was made on this camp in march or April by the notoriety-seeking Walter Winchell.  Among other things, he criticized the camp for employing Germans near an American factory turning out war munitions.  Investigation developed the fact that both the Mississippi River and 100 miles intervened between the prisoners' working camp and the munitions factory under reference.

However, after all this publicity, Colonel Gammell, who is himself an old newspaperman, induced the well-known woman writer, Mary E. Bostwick, to visit the camp, with free access to everything and anything affecting the camp administration.  Her report as finally published in the Indianapolis Star of April 8, 1945 completely discredited Winchell.  A copy is attached to the original of this report.  Along the same lines, there is attached (1) and article which appeared in The Grenade published by the Service Club of Indianapolis, which sarcastically criticized the camp and its administration, and which Colonel Gammell took as a reflection upon himself directly.  He invited one George Kingsbury, whose name was one of several attached to the article, to call and inspect the camp for himself.  A copy of his retraction of the article which appeared in The Grenade is enclosed (2), as is also a copy of his letter dated April 11, 1945 (3) addressed directly to Colonel Gammell.

It seems only fair and just to Colonel Gammell and his assistants to repeat finally that in the opinion of the writer they are administering Camp Atterbury in a highly satisfactory and commendable manner.

(Walter Winchell's Grave Marker)

Charles C. Eberhardt

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