PRISONERS AND INTERNEES

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24676, 20 September 1945, Page 6

PRISONERS AND INTERNEES

THIRD AIRCRAFT LEAVES SINGAPORE ORGANISATION NOW WORKING SMOOTHLY (Official R.N.Z.N. War Correspondent.) SINGAPORE, September 17. The third aircraft of the New Zealand prisoners of war flight took off early this morning with 16 more civilians and prisoners of war, bringing the total evacuated by air to 48. The organisation is now working very smoothly. The evacuees are accommodated in a comfortable house while waiting for the air passage and are given special food, good clothes and proper medical attention. As far as is known, only about 20 persons remain to be moved from Singapore, but it is expected that more will be arriving from Sumatra and Java any time.

Reports of a number of New Zealanders in camps in the Netherlands East Indies are far from precise, but inquiries among the returning Australians and British who are streaming in by air indicate there are a few New Zealanders at the main camps. The New Zealand prisoners of war flight reconnaissance party which was sent to survey the situation in Java and Sumatra is due back to-day. Meanwhile there has been a hitch in the evacuation of the Australians and British away from Singapore. An Australian troopship was delayed because the Australian relief of Allied prisoners of war and internees authorities refused to allow their evacuees to occupy the troop decks, although the ships are being loaded with only 60 per cent, of their trooping capacity. A number of British civilian internees walked off a troopship yesterday, complaining about the accommodation and food. The few New Zealanders who elected to return by sea may be affected by the present difficulty. but before the end of the week no Singapore evacuees will be left here. List of Personnel A Press Association message from Wellington says that the following prisoners of war and civilian internees nave been reported as evacuated by air from Singapore on September 15: Royal New Zealand Air Force Dense, L.A.C. E. W.. Kotuku. Doherty, L.A.C. N. E., Ngapara. Meredith, L.A.C. S. 0., Palmerston North. Sergent, L.A.C. S. E,, Gisborne. Vibert, F/Sgt. J. G., Auckland. Poyal New Zealand Navy Edwards. Assistant Cook D. A., Wellington.

Army (Imperial Forces) McArthur, Lieut. C. R„ Auckland.' Civilians (including Volunteer Forces) Anderson. Pte. S. A., Dunedin. Andrew, Sgt. R. B„ Dunedin. Brennan Pte. M. A., Palmerston North. Cooper, R.S.M. P. L. Wife, Mrs M. E. Cooper, Christchurch. Newton-King, Staff-Sgt. C. R„ Paengaroa. Metherell, Sgt. W. R„ Auckland. Peers, Sgt. S. W„ Papakura. Rayenwood, Sgt. R. G.. Dunedin. Williams, Sgt. R. 0., Wellington. Reported Safe The list issued by the New Zealand Missing and Prisoners of War Agency of civilian internees now reported safe includes Anderson, Brennan, Metherell and Peers, who are included in the above evacuation list, and' Captain D. Nelson. Napier, and Lieutenant A. H. Harding, whose next-of-kin is Mr H F Harding, Christchurch. ‘ ‘ The following prisoners of war and civilian internees have been reported evacuated by air from Singapore on September 17:— Merchant Seamen (e\ M.V. Hauraki) P. J. Goodman, Auckland. J. R. Graham, Auckland. G. J. Grey, Wellington. D. McKinley, Auckland. J. H. Merritt, Napier. Papua, Rarotonga. E. Walker, Mangere. L. A. Wigley, Australia. Civilians N. M. Clark, Dunedin. T. N. Cummins, Kerikeri. J. P. Edwards, Paeroa."' : H. W. Hamilton. Wife, Mrs' M. Hamilton, Christchurch. J. H. S. Jenkins, England. Dr. A. F. Mackay, Wellington. R. Scott, Auckland. In addition to the above, B. McKay (Hamilton), who was previously inis now reported safe.