RELIEF MEASURE

Auckland Star, Volume LXXVI, Issue 200, 24 August 1945, Page 5

RELIEF MEASURE

BRITISH PRISONERS

Camps Scattered Over Big Area British Official Wireless Rec. noon. RUGBY, August 23. An official of the Prisoners of War Directorate at the War Office has given the following information about United Kingdom prisoners in Japanese hands:— United Kingdom civilians total about 22,000 persons. Information about United Kingdom prisoners of war is much less definite. One of the reasons for this is that the authorities in Japan have no complete information on the location of prisoner of war camps in outlying areas or the numbers in them. Considerable numbers of prisoners have died, and only a small proportion of those who died have been reported by the Japanese. The best estimate it has been possible to make is that there are more than 10,000 United Kingdom prisoners in the areas north of the Philippines and fewer than 30,000 south of the Philippines.

Most of the 10,000 to the north are in Japan. There are some, but not a large number, in Hongkong. Others are in that part of Borneo and Sarawak which have not been recaptured, in Java, Malay and Indo-China; there are almost certainly a large number in Siam.

Thus the people whom the Allied authorities are trying to reach are scattered over a vast area in which vastly different conditions prevail. In all, it is hoped to release up to 60,000 United Kingdom prisoners and civilians out of a total number which may reach 250,000, including those from the Dominions and Indian, United States and Dutch nationals. Arrangements for Return Arrangements for bringing them home have been made by the four commanders on the spot—Admiral Mountbatten, General Mac Arthur, Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek, and the supreme commander of the Soviet torces. All the commanders have been told of the known camps in their area. They have been asked to get in touch with camps at the earliest possible moment to provide all necessary protection, food, clothing, medical care and accommodation, and to use every available means to send the prisoners of war and civilians on their way to their home countries as quickly as possible. Though it is hoped that many will be removed bv air from the camps to the ports, it has been decided in the interests of their own health to' bring them home by sea.

The voyage will be an ideal opportunity for recunsration. They will be cared for on the voyage with food and medical attention and will also be mentallv prepared for coming home by being enabled to learn of the changes in Britain since they were last there.

The prisoners will be at the top of the priority list of those returning home.