GREECE AND CRETE CAMPAIGNS

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23430, 10 September 1941, Page 6

GREECE AND CRETE CAMPAIGNS

Fate of Men Reported Missing OFFICIAL ADVICE STILL AWAITED (P.A.) WELLINGTON, September 9. The Acting-Prime Minister (the Hon. W. Nash) stated to-night: “My attention has been drawn to a statement dated London, August 12, which was published in the press on Monday, September 1, referring to a special department set up in New Zealand House, London, for keeping contact with some 4000 to 5000 New Zealanders in German prison camps. It is added, also, in this statement that the men have been transferred to these camps since they were captured in Greece and Crete. “As the : public will be aware from my statement in the House on Thursday last, the Government is still awaiting official advice as to whether or not some 3000 men who are missing and still unaccounted for are prisoners of war. I have been in communication with the High Commissioner (Mr W. J. Jordan), who informs me that it is incorrect to say that this number are prisoners of war, and that in fact official advice is still awaited by his office, as it is here, regarding-the fate of men who have been reported missing. . “Further, there is no information as yet to say that all men captured in the campaigns in Greece and Crete have been transferred to prison camps in Germany. The public can be assured that as soomas this information is received by the Government, notification will be sent immediately to the next-of-kin.”