PRISONERS IN FAR EAST

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23754, 28 September 1942, Page 6

PRISONERS IN FAR EAST

RELIEF SHIPMENTS ARRANGED

DISTRIBUTION TO CAMPS (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Sept. 26. Details of relief shipments for prisoners of war and civilian internees in the Far East have been received by the Prisoners’ of War Inquiry Office Headquarters in Wellington, through the Australian and New Zealand representative of the International Red Cross. In the future supplies for Japanese camps will be divided on a percentage basis, according to the number of prisoners and internees. Malaya heads the list with 37 per cent. The remainder are East Indies 33 per cent., Philippines 19 per cent., Hong Kong 6 per cent., Korea and Formosa 3i per cent., Shanghai 1J per cent. The message from the International Red Cross says that on the first sailing the steamer Osama unloaded 2823 South African packages at Singapore, and that 451 South African, in addition to 3717 American Red Cross packages, were unloaded at Yokohama, pending reshipment. The International Red Cross delegate at Tokyo advises that as the Osama’s second sailing was delayed he was loading 150 tons for Shanghai, and 300 for Manila from Yokohama stocks. Of the present stocks in Singapore he had requested the authorities to reship 50 per cent, to the Netherlands East Indies. An Indian'relief shipment was being completely unloaded at Singapore, together with medical supplies. Shipping to Hong Kong was still impossible. Percentages quoted for future Japanese camps are the final distribution plan of all Red Cross relief. The office notifies that a further list of civilian internees in Singapore. Borneo, Sarawak, and Java, has been received and distributed throughout New Zealand for public inspection. The total number of prisoners listed at the office is now 6602 official, and five unofficial.