PRISONERS’ PARCELS

Press, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23802, 23 November 1942, Page 4

PRISONERS’ PARCELS

MEDITERRANEAN SHIPPING HOLDUP (P.A.) WELLINGTON, November 21. The Prisoners of War Inquiry Office has received a cablegram from the High Commissioner (Mr W. J. Jordan) in reply to a request for information, to the effect that the sailing of Red Cross ships carrying parcels for prisoners of war from Lisbon to Marseilles or Genoa is at present suspended. It is hoped that the sailing to Marseilles will be resumed at a comparatively early date. Meanwhile, the British Red Cross is forwarding parcels as usual and the post office is transporting them to Lisbon. Even if sailings are not resumed as early as anticipated, it is intended to continue shipping to Lisbon as long as storage accommodation is available there. The Prisoners of War Inquiry Office has received from the International Red Cross Committee at Geneva several letters addressed to members of the crew of the Neptune which had been returned. The accompanying letter says: “As you may know, there is only one survivor from the Neptune, and he is a prisoner of war in Italy. According to information received there is every reason to believe that officers and crew perished at sea when their ship struck a mine in the Mediterranean.” In connexion with a recent exchange of British and Japanese subjects which took place through Lourenco Marques, a list has now been received in New Zealand giving particulars of all British persons who arrived by the exchange vessel. Copies have been circulated and may be persued at inquiry offices and branches of the Red Cross and St. John organisation. A prisoner writing from Stalag VIIIB in July says: “Cigarette parcels from the Patriotic Fund are continually coming through and the work these people are doing in providing clothing and cigarettes is the talk of the camp, as they outshine all other efforts made by other countries for prisoners of war.” Advice has been'received that prisoners at Oflag IXAH and Stalag VIIA were not permitted to send any letters in August and September, but that the ban has been lifted.