§ 76. Mr. GILBERTasked what is the usual method of guarding German Prisoners of War who are engaged on various kinds of work in this country; are all such prisoners under the control of an armed guard or is it the practice to allow small parties of prisoners to be under the charge of soldiers without any fire-arms; and does he consider this is sufficient.
Mr. HOPEI am informed that prisoners of War are always under armed military guard by night, except where they are in the employment of farmers and reside with them. When prisoners of War are employed on agriculture in small parties, they are handed over to the employer for the day, who is held responsible for their custody and behaviour. Where parties of prisoners of War are employed on ploughing under the Food Production Department, an unarmed soldier, who is himself a skilled ploughman, remains with the prisoners during the day. In all other cases prisoners of war are under armed military guard, and the present system is considered satisfactory.
§ Sir J. D. REESIs it not a fact that escapes are very rare and that fugitives are almost immediately and inevitably recovered?