Miscellaneous (General). Prisoners, including: Claims for the payment of rates on...

Miscellaneous (General). Prisoners, including:

Claims for the payment of rates on embassy buildings in London occupied by representatives of the German and Austro-Hungarian governments, including:

• Claim regarding the former German Consulate in Russell Square.
• Rate demand notes issued to Baron Carl von Schubert (printed copies in docket nos 46199 and 109687), Herr Paul Hirschfeld and Baron Hoesch (printed copy in docket no 133189).
• Request by the German Government for details of the rates owing to be provided by the London municipal authorities.
• Receipt of payment of the parochial rates for the Austro-Hungarian Embassy in Belgrave Square.
• Receipt of payment of the ground rent for the former German Embassy building in Carlton House Terrace.
• Payment of rates and ground rent on the former British Embassy building in Berlin.
• Statement of rents due to the City of Westminster on German Embassy buildings.
• Payment by Count Festetics of the parochial rates due on the property at 14 Clarges Street.

Acknowledgement of the receipt of a list of prisoners in Germany and Turkey from the International Red Cross at Geneva.

Birthday messages from prisoners interned in South Africa to the German Emperor and Empress and the Austrian Emperor.

Disposal of certain articles forwarded for Prisoners of War, Army Council Instruction No 176 of January 1916.

Parliamentary question by Mr Fell about the deportation of enemy subjects in the United Kingdom.

Enquiry from the British Consul General in Rotterdam about the activities and whereabouts of Mr Maxse and Mr Schmiedell.

Survivors from the SS Coquet, sunk by an enemy submarine off the east coast of Malta, including:

• Report of the capture of ten of the crew by Bedouin Arabs near Tripoli in Libya, with additional details provided by the Government of Tripoli.
• The Mercantile Steamship Company: request for information on Captain Arnold Groom and other survivors from the ship, and a further enquiry from Mr J Johnson.
• Report that Captain Groom was convalescing in hospital at Apollonia near Derna, and that seven of the crew members were interned at Antelat near Benghazi.
• Report by the Governor of Tripoli on the circumstances surrounding the capture of the crew.
• Information that two Greek crew members were being repatriated.
• Notification to Mrs A Taylor that her son was among the crew members captured by Bedouin Arabs.

Proposal for the repatriation from India of certain Roman Catholic missionaries of German and Austro-Hungarian nationality (names in docket no 26964).

Enquiries from the Government of the Netherlands about the terms of the agreement between Germany and the United Kingdom for the mutual exchange of civilian prisoners; subsequent enquiries about the status of enemy civilians on Dutch ships, and of those resident in the East Indies.

HMS Tara: lists of men killed in action and of survivors (in docket no 27374) taken prisoner by Turkish forces in Tripoli.

Liberation by an armoured car squadron of British prisoners from HMS Tara and HMS Morina, who were being held by the Senoussi near Sollum in Libya; offer of a reward to Osman Abel Kader for his assistance.

Enquiries about the welfare of survivors from the SS Coquet, including:

• Parliamentary question by Mr Peto about the ten crew members who were taken prisoner on the coast of Tripoli.
• Confirmation of the repatriation of Captain Arnold Groom, and a report by him of the sinking of the ship and the events following.
• Names of the nine crew members captured by Bedouin Arabs (in docket nos 64161 and 122963).
• Information on conditions at the camp at Bir Akhem in Cyrenaica (Eastern Libya) where British and Italian prisoners were being held by the Senoussi.
• Mr Joseph Johnson: enquiry about his son and efforts being made to free the other prisoners taken by Bedouin Arabs; further enquiry from the Mercantile Steamship Company Ltd.
• Efforts by the Italian Government to secure the release of the prisoners held by Bedouin Arabs; suggestion for advice from Lieutenant Dudgeon on his arrival in Egypt.
• Report by Sub-Lieutenant Leslie T Dudgeon on the sinking of HMS Tara and the treatment of the crew while prisoners of the Arabs.
• Mr John W Hill: request for a letter to his son, Mr Christopher Hill, to be delivered to the Arab camp where his son was held; enquiries from Mr Basil Peto MP.
• Report from the Italian Government stating that the prisoners were in good health; subsequent information that nine of the prisoners were being held at Gedabia in Cyrenaica (Libya) (names in docket no 144192).
• Liaison by the British and Italian authorities with Idris Senoussi; unconditional release of remaining British prisoners from the ship by the Senoussi; confirmation of their release to Mr Basil Peto MP and the Mercantile Marine Service Association..

Enquiries regarding Flight Lieutenant Cyril F Davis (or Lan-Davis), including:

• Enquiry from his father, Mr Israel Davis stating that he was believed to have left Mudros (on the island of Lemnos) for Alexandria.
• Statement by the Austro-Hungarian authorities that they had no record of Flight Lieutenant Davis being held as a prisoner.
• Enquiry from his sister, Mrs Kathleen Chotzner.
• Confirmation by the Turkish authorities that he was not being held prisoner in Turkey.

Code 1250 Files 12673-28678.

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