BUILT OWN PRISON
CAPTURED ITALIANS
SULLEN NAZIS STAND APART
Sydney, Nov. 15
Near Mersah Matruh is an improvised prison camp which willing Italians helped to build. Behind its barbed wire 15,000 prisoners are crowded, reports Ronald Monson, Sydney Daily Telegraph war correspondent in the Western Desert.
In groups aparr stand the Germans, who have shown their antagonism to their Italian allies by bitting and kicking them in the course of several incidents.
The Italians are arriving at this camp in their own lorries, driving straight in. After being searched, they assist in unloading the trucks of war material, then clamour to be allowed to get away again on the next stage of the journey to the railhead. The other day 20 truckloads of Italian prisoners were sent off from this camp in their own vehicles, driven by Italians. The cavalcade had no escort, but drove on direct to the rear prisoner-of-war camp. The Italians are all very hungry. They complain the Germans took most of their food, and their own officers picked the best of what remained. I saw a hatch rush a bag of inferior flour, grab handfulls, and eat it.
Their joy in being taken prisoner is obvious. Old friends are greeted with poyful shouts as they are recognised among new arrivals. There is a buzz of excited conservation and ready laughter.
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Bibliographic details
Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 13801, 19 November 1942, Page 7
Word Count
224BUILT OWN PRISON Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXXI, Issue 13801, 19 November 1942, Page 7
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