WAR PRISONERS IN ITALY

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 24051, 13 September 1943, Page 4

WAR PRISONERS IN ITALY

633 CANTERBURY AND WESTLAND MEN

LIBERATION PROCEDURE According to the latest advice received in New Zealand from the International Red Cross, Geneva, there are now 633 Canterbury and Westland men in prisoner of war camps in Italy. More than 500 of these are in camps in the north of Italy. The total number of New Zealanders in prison camps in Italy is estimated at more than 4000. • The New Zealanders who are in Italian prisoner of war camps are a fraction of about 80,000 British prisoners known to be there. Some were taken in Greece and Crete and others in 7 North Africa. Airmen are included. It can safely be assumed that the majority of them are quartered in camps south of the Po-Istria’ line, which is commonly regarded as the front, which'the Germans may choose to resist the Allies.' There are about 30 camps and hospitals containing prisoners of war throughout Italy, with the addition of an unknown number of work camps, but the latest information is that only a few, principally P.G. 201 and P.G. 57 and its three work camps, P.G. 107, 120, and 148, are north of the Po. Smuggling by Germans

During the turmoil which succeeded the overthrow of Mussolini it was reported that the Germans were busy transferring Allied prisoners from Italy into their own country. Badoglio’s Government later assured the British Government that no prisoners had been so transferred since the fall of the Fascist regime. This was accepted as an undertaking which would be honoured to the extent that Italy was in a position to give effect to it. It has been reported since then that the Germans, succeeded in transferring about 2000.

The Germans’ interest in the prisoners can be taken as being based mainly on the fact that 'all prisoners of war who are liberated as the result of an armistice can at once be employed by their own countries for any duties "they may’ choose to assign to them. The position of the prisoners is identical with that of the men who from time to time during the Middle East campaigns, notably at Bardia, have been captured and then liberated by a change in the tide of battle. Unlike the wounded ■ and non-combatant prisoners who have been repatriated from belligerent Italy in the past, they can be used again for active military 'service. According to a cable , message received last evening, the Exchange Telegraph correspondent in Zurich reports that Field-Marshal Kesselring, who is the German commander in the south of Italy, has been ordered to transfer all war prisoners who can be reached, from Italy to Germany. Experiences in Last War

It may, be that the men now in Italian camps will not have to wait for official arrangements to be made for their return to their own countrymen or Allies. It was an experience in the last war that guards of camps, gager to return to their homes and families immediately an armistice was concluded, left their charges io their own devices. It may therefore follow that British prisoners are even now walking unmolested out of their Italian camps and are seeking their own way back to their comrades.

Rules governing the liberation and repatriation of prisoners of war at the end of hostilities are laid down in Article 75 of the Geneva Convention. The article states;—“ When belligerents conclude an armistice convention, they shall normally cause to be included therein provisions concerning the repatriation of prisoners -of war. If it has not been possible to insert in that convention such stipulations, the belligerents shall, nevertheless, enter into communication with each other on the question as soon as possible. In any case, the repatriation of prisoners shall be effected as soon as possible after the conclusion of peace. Search of Camps

“Prisoners of war who. are subject to criminal proceedings for a crime or offence at common law may, however, be detained until the end of the proceedings and, if need be, until the expiration of the sentence. The same applies to prisoners convicted for a crime or offence at common law.

‘‘By agreement between the belligerents, commissions may be instituted for the purpose of* searching for scattered prisoners and ensuring their repatriation." That clause of the repatriation article which provides for the constitution of search commissions also ■ has its precedents. In 1918 the Armistice conventions with both Germany and Austria provided for the return, without reciprocity, of all Allied prisoners, Later, searches were made of the various camps not only for prisoners but also to satisfy the Allies that treatment during the period of confinement had been humane.