In the spring of 1917 I was approached by Mrs. Cook Daniels and Miss Martin, who had opened a hand-made carpet factory at Gunten, on the Lake of Thoune, with the object of giving employment to French and Belgian Interned quartered at that place. They had made a success of the enterprise, and offered to give similar employment to forty or fifty disabled British soldiers. This number of men was accordingly gradually drafted to Gunten from Mürren, where they were continuously employed until their repatriation in December, 1918. The Gunten carpets obtained a high reputation in Switzerland, and found a ready sale in the country. The profits were distributed to the men in salaries varying from frs. 3 to 6 per diem, frs. 1·20 being paid for every 1,000 stitches. These ladies also opened at their own expense a Club House and Canteen, which became a social centre for the men of the whole district. Gunten always struck me as one of the happiest and best organized of the Allied communities in the Bernese Oberland, and reflected great credit on the two ladies who stood sponsors for its welfare.

With the above exception of the carpet workshop, all the classes and workshops at the camps were financed by the "B.L.R.C.O.," sums being advanced to the "S.B.Os." for the purpose. At Mürren the management was so successful, that Colonel Neish was able to refund, out of profits, the greater part of the advances made by the "B.L.R.C.O."

During this period of preliminary organization, the number of Interned was constantly increasing, owing to the arrival of fresh contingents, whilst the health of the men who had been in the country some months was showing signs of marked improvement, thus adding to the sum total of those for whom it was desirable to find work. For the reasons already given, any outlet in the factories or workshops in Switzerland being practically barred, the minds of our officers were turned to our own schools and workshops, as offering the most likely and useful field for the absorption of the surplus energies still available, and it was calculated that by developing these so as to provide training for another 350 men, the needs of the Interned would be fairly well met. Further development at the camps was out of the question, as every inch of roof space had already been utilized, and it was determined, therefore, to look elsewhere for the necessary accommodation. A step in this direction was taken by the formation by Lieut. Wallis of the advanced class of motor engineering at Vevey, on the Lake of Geneva.

So far, the financial arrangements involved had been commensurate with the funds at the disposal of the "B.L.R.C.O.," but as the developments contemplated went far beyond the resources of that Organization, it was realized that we should have to look farther afield to meet the increased cost of additional technical training.

In framing any scheme of advanced technical training, some knowledge of the probable demands of the home market for skilled labour under after-war conditions was essential, so that, in order to prevent any haphazard growth of the existing Institutes, I addressed myself in the autumn of 1916 to the War Office, with the request that a qualified official might be sent out as my "Technical Adviser" for educational purposes. The matter was taken in hand, and in February, 1917, a specialist in the person of Dr. Garnett was found. Dr. Garnett was peculiarly well fitted for the part, as he had occupied the positions of Secretary to the Technical Education Board, and Adviser to the London County Council. From 1892 to 1904 he had been responsible for the organization of the Polytechnics, and for the work carried out by the London County Council under the Technical Instruction Act. From 1904 to 1915 he had been closely associated with their work as Educational Adviser, and in that capacity had acquired an intimate knowledge of trade requirements.

Dr. Garnett reached Switzerland in April, 1917, and, accompanied by Major H. R. Charley, Royal Irish Rifles, made a tour of inspection of all British and French Institutes. On the conclusion of this inspection he framed a scheme of instruction based on the following principles:—

To give effect to these recommendations, he proposed the erection of Central Schools at Brienz, Meiringen, and Seebourg (Lucerne), where the necessary accommodation and motive power could be obtained, and, further, the enlargement of the Motor Engineering School at Vevey. Brienz and Meiringen had the advantage of being in the vicinity of Mürren and Interlaken; Vevey, in that of Château d'Oex; whilst Seebourg, though farther away, had the unique advantage of affording residential and workshop accommodation in one institution—the Polytechnic Châlets.

The subjects suggested for technical study were:—