N.Z. PRISONERS IN KOREA

Press, Volume LXXXIX, Issue 27112, 7 August 1953, Page 3

N.Z. PRISONERS IN KOREA

EARLY RELEASE TO BE SOUGHT (New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, August 6. The New Zealand Government is to ask the United Nations Command to press for the earliest possible repatriation by the Communists of two New Zealanders at present held prisoners of war in Korea. “It is known officially that the name of Gunner N. G. Garland, of Auckland, is on the list of confirmed prisoners of war,” said the Minister of Defence (Mr T. L. Macdonald.) this mqrning. “Gunner Garland is safe and well, and is known to be in Camp No. 5 in Communist territory,’’ he said. “Another New Zealander, Pilot Officer V. Drummond, of Hamilton, who was serving with the Royal Australian Air Force when captured, is in Camp 2/1.” The Minister said that the names of prisoners to be released by the Communists would not be known until the day before actual repatriation. The first prisoners of British nationality were expected to arrive in Japan today. A cable message from Tokyo quotes Corporal James Taylor, of Hale. Cheshire, as saying that he saw Gunner Garland yesterday, fit and in good spirits, at Kaesong, on the Communist side of the neutral zone. He said he had lived with Gunner Garland in the same hut since December, 1951, and they came down in the same train to Kaesong. Gunner Garland was expecting to be returned within a few days.