PRISONERS OF WAR

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 263, 26 July 1918, Page 6

PRISONERS OF WAR

INQUIRIES ABOUT MISSING MEN. The British Red Cross Society havo received a request from the Agence Internationale des Prissouuiers da Guerre, Geneva,, Switzerland, that the following statement be published:— 1 "In view of the great number of inquiries received lately for missing officers and men, we would venture to ask that these be as brief as possible, and written, in a'legible hand. The following details only are required: Surname; Christian name; rank; regiment (and,in tho case of n.c.o.'s and men, regimental number); approximate date of disappearance; front whero missing. In the case of aviators} the nain'q and number of machine and placo of disappearance if known. "It is requested that no photographs be sent nor personal description be given, and that news of individual prisoners should not bo asked for on tlio strength of photographs in groups. No inquiry should be made unless the person has officially been reported missing. The idea still seems prevalent that if money is enclosed fhe'inquiry enjojs the privilege of greater dispatch. Although gifts are welcome, it should be understood that no preference is given in dealing with.such inquiry. All work done by this agency as gratuitous; correspondence is ,post free; telegrams only are charged for. Owing to the present heavy pressure of work, the Agency reserves to itself the right to decide if the caso calls for a reply by cable.

"Present delay in replying to correspondents is due to the fact that no letters were received for nearly three weeks as the Franco-Swiss frontier was closed during the greater part of April. This is a condition of affairs that has already occurred more than once, and might possibly occur again. • In order to avoid additional work it x is requested, when possible, that only'tbo nest-of-kili should submit inquiries."