NEED FOR CAUTION

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 250, 20 July 1942, Page 2

NEED FOR CAUTION

Communications Overseas About Airmen WARNING BY MINISTER ■ The need for caution in writing or cabling overseas concerning Air Force personnel has been emphasized by the Minister of Defence, Mr. Jones. Relatives and friends, he said, were asked to exercise great care when communicating overseas to ensure that, they did rot include valuable information in their letters or cables. “This particularly applies to requests which are often made concerning officers or airmen who are reported as casualties,” said the Ministei. “Next-of-kin are naturally anxious to obtain information when air personnel are reported missing, and to this' end they may be inclined to write or cable direct to friends overseas, to the International Red Cross, or to the Air Ministry, London. In such communications they may include details of the unit to .which the officer or airman was attached, the date of the casualty, and other particulars which may be of value to the enemy, should that information fall into their hands, “In order to guard against such a possibility, relatives or friends who may contemplate making such inquiries are asked not to send any communications overseas concerning air casualties till at least eight weeks have Elapsed after the date of the casualty. They are also asked not to include in their messages the type of aircraft involved,, the name or number of the squadron, of the location of 'the unit. Letters or cables giving such information will not be passed by the censor, but if these rules are observed much difficulty may be avoided.”