WAR PRISONERS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 79, 3 April 1943, Page 6

WAR PRISONERS

CAMP IN GERMANY

A WELL-RUN HOSPITAL (P.A.) WELLINGTON, this day. Latest cabled advice received by the Prisoners of War Inquiry Office states there are 1782 New Zealand prisoners of war interned at Stalag VIII B. The International Red Cross at Geneva has cabled a report on the hospital at this camp which was visited by their representative on February 13. The names of Major Hoencastle, R.A.M.C., and Surgeon Major A. N. Slater, N.Z.M.C, are mentioned, implying that .they are senior medical officers at the hospital. The personnel at that date consisted of 10 doctors and 97 medical staff.

There are new buildings well situated, with excellent dormitories separated for surgical, medical and isolation cases. The senior medical officer controls all rations, and prisoners, with the aid of their own private food parcels, prepare the meals according to their own taste. Milk diets are available, and there ■is a reserve stock of invalid comfort parcels. The prisoners' representative also administers the regular Red Cross food parcels, and the clothing is in good condition. Hygienic installations are connected with the sewerage. During February there were 130 surgical cases, 90 medical, 30 mental, 40 infectious, none of which were tubercular or typhus. It is stated the material required is complete, but a few medicaments are required, and those sent by the Red Cross are freely disposed of by the doctors and 'highly appreciated. A camp preacher looks after the sick, and there are concerts and cinema shows from the main camp. English books are plentiful, and working conditions for the medical staff are excellent.

The International Red Cross also states that the discipline is good, and the cable concludes with a statement to the effect that generally speaking it is a remarkable hospital.

Among a batch of acknowledgment cards received this week are several for parcels received in Italy early in December, some of which left New Zealand as late as July and August last year.