SENDING OF LETTERS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 60, Issue 304, 1 October 1940, Page 7

SENDING OF LETTERS.

RELATIVES IN ENEMY COUNTRI ES t RED CROSS SERVICE. {Per Press Association). WELLINGTON, September 30. By arrangements with the Government, the New Zealand Red Cross Society is providing official inquiry forms by the use of which people in New Zealand may ’ communicate with relatives in enemy and enemy-occupied countries. These forms are obtainable at all post offices, and anyone wishing to make an inquiry of a relative in an enemy country should fill in the Torm and post it in the ordinary way to the International Red Cross at Geneva, Switzerland. Full instructions appear in the form, which will be passed by the New Zealand censor. The message and reply are not to exceed 25 words each, excluding the address, and only personal or family news is permitted. Already advantage has been taken of 'this service, and more than 300 replies have come back from people in Norway, Denmark and other countries occupied by the Germans. Communications with prisoners of war cannot be made by this means, hut may be arranged by approachii% the Red Cross Society in New Zealand.- Through the British Red Cross and the International Red Cross, New Zealand nationals, civil and military, in enemy countries are each receiving 161 b of foodstuffs a week, and clothing at three-monthly intervals. The capitulation of France has increased the demands upon this service, for which the British Red Cross sent £9OOO to the International Red Cross at Geneva. Besides this there are more than 1,000,000 refugees in Portugal who are being clothed, fed, and housed by the International Red Cross. The International Red Cross receives every day* about 18,000 inquiries for people in belligerent countries or in war zones, and none is too small to receive the most meticulous care. A local example which occurred recently was that of an Italian avlio arrived in Wellington just before Italy entered tire war and communication with that country was cut off. His wife in Naples was expecting a baby, 'and through the Red Cross he was able to find out a few days ago that both his wife and his son were well.