TCD MS 10823 folio 17 recto
[April 15th 1918] Our first impressions of Furstenberg were of the best. The little town through which we marched was most picturesque with quaint old fashioned buildings and gardens which extended down to the lakes which lay on either side of the town <& were> connected up by canals. Beyond the lakes were pine forests. Our camp was in a building, about a mile out of the town, which had been used as a Sanatorium. Pine forests surrounded it and there were fine views from it over the surrounding country and <the lakes>. We were told that we were very lucky to come here, as it was the best camp and the one with most privileges in all Germany. We were received very kindly by everyone, the Commandant appeared most civil and the German Adjutant, who was an Alsatian married to a Russian wife, was most agreeable. He spoke English well and was most tactful towards us, smoothing out any little difficulties and altogether very unlike the Germans that we had already met. Sloggett and I again shared a room together with comfortable beds and sheets, and after two nights in the train we slept very soundly.
The camp consisted of about 140 officers, of whom sixty three belonged to the Mercantile Marine, having being captured by U Boats at different times. There were besides five Rumanians and one Russian officer. The orderlies with the exception of three Russians, were all English, and in this camp we were allowed to manage our own affairs completely, looking after the orderlies and running the kitchen and the arrangement of the rooms etc. without interference from the German authorities.