PRISONERS’ NEW ABODE.

FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT. ROTTERDAM, THURSDAY. According to a statement published here from a semi-official German source, the first three groups of British officers and non-commissioned officers released under The Hague agreement between the British and German Governments will arrive in Holland on Dec. 28. Although our authorities have not yet received official confirmation of this news, they, with many Dutch friends who are co-operating in the good work, have made every arrangement for the reception and accommodation of the guests, as, indeed, of all the British soldiers who, it is hoped, will be able to make the happy exchange of German prison camps for internment in Holland during the remainder of the war.

The first contingent of Holland’s guests will comprise 300 unwounded officers and non-commissioned officers coming under the agreement for the release of those who have been in captivity for more than eighteen months. The selection is being made according to the dates at which they were taken prisoner, so that those first benefiting are prisoners captured in the early days of the war. All the released Britishers will pass through Aix-la-chapelle, where the central exchange bureau is established.

It was visited for the purpose of inspection a few days ago by General Onnen, Chief of the Internment Department of the Dutch War Office, which is lending all possible assistance in carrying out the arrangements. I understand that the first transport ship going to England for the released Germans will leave in January, taking with it a number of British – totally incapacitated military men and also invalid civilians who have been interned in Germany.

I was to-day afforded an opportunity of seeing something of the accommodation provided for the British who are to be interned in this country. This is of the best possible description, situated in perhaps the pleasantest part of the Netherlands, namely, the Hague district and Scheveningen, the latter being the most popular Dutch seaside resort. For the officers two of the finest hotels on the coast have been taken over, whilst a third hotel will have as guests 300 non-commissioned officers.

For other non-commissioned officers the happy plan has been adopted of making use of a large number of recently erected private houses of the better-class London suburban type. Nearly all the rooms have been converted into dormitories whilst on vacant ground at the back temporary mess and smoking rooms are being erected. Each non-com has a comfortable camp bed, whilst every house is fitted up with a large bath-room Privates, except those suffering from serious injuries, will live in substantially-built hutments, situated in delightful surroundings, sheltered behind the sand dunes. For the care of mental as well as physical sufferers a splendid organisation on the Swiss model has been established.

In general command, as representing the British War Office, is Major-general Sir John Hanbury Williams, under whom are two departments, namely, the British Red Cross, with Mr. F. M. Voules as Commissioner for Holland, and the Young Men’s Christian Association, with Mr. H. A. Dennis as organising secretary for Holland.