As for the escapes, the boys were allowed as much
liberty as possible. Everything was done to develop a sense of honour, but in some eases the boys had taken advantage of their liberty. No one who had visited the playing-fields of Borstal would fail to understand what a temptation there was for a healthy youngster to make a dash for the woods and enjoy himself hiding from the officers. With regard to the punishments, there was necessarily some form of disciplinary treatment. Corporal Punishment was never given except for an assault on an officer, and then only when it was approved by the Visiting Committee and the Rome Secretary. Mr. Shortt said that he had stopped
close confinement and punishments involving insufficient food. This is a welcome announcement, but surely it involves a rather damaging admission. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, we are told, has undertaken to write a report on the Borstal institutions and to publish it shortly.
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