As survivor John Hoyte said, within the confines of a totalitarian regime a democratic society was born. Almost immediately a governing committee of internees was established. Members were chosen to manage housing, employment, schools, discipline and cooking. The daily operation and maintenance of the camp was left to these individuals. Dependence on the Japanese was restricted only to food rations, coal dust for heat, electricity and waste removal, according to Hoyte. “This was a life almost normal, and yet intensely difficult,” Gilkey said. “Very near to our usual cries
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and problems, and yet precarious in the extreme.” Food was scarce. Thin leek soup, bread and gaoling, a peasant grain, were staples. Every now and then the Japanese would provide 10 pounds of mule or horse meat, according to Hoyte. Sometimes a rotting mystery meat would also appear which creative cooks disguised in stew. Previte’s teachers decided school must go on. Classes were held every day. The writing materials they brought with them were used, erased and used again. While the children ate gruel out of soap dishes, their teachers insisted the quality of manners used in Weihsien was not to differ from those used in Buckingham Palace, Previte said. They made their beds with hospital corners.