FROM ENEMY HANDS

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIII, Issue 89, 16 April 1942, Page 4

FROM ENEMY HANDS

REPATRIATION RULES

MEDICAL CORPS PERSONNEL

In the exchange of British and Italian prisoners of war, reported this week, those on the British side included twenty-nine New Zealanders, most 6f whom were members of the New Zealand Medical Corps. That fact raises a point of ■ special interest regarding the rules of warfare as they apply to those whose duty is in caring for the sick and wounded. Medical personnel are regarded as protected personnel, and it has been an understanding that they, and those associated with them in carrying out their duties, were exempt from capture. However, there has been reason to doubt that rules, as set out in the Geneva Convention, are being carried out to the letter. The matter has been investigated, and information received-, from Geneva throws some light on measures being taken to have members of health services repatriated. PROOF OF IDENTITY. In a letter received at New Zealand headquarters of the Joint Council of the Order of St. John and the Red Cross Society from the Palais dv Conseil General, Geneva, an inquiry was made for particulars as to identification documents carried by the personnel of the health services of the New Zealand Army. "We have undertaken this general inquiry," the letter stated, "because we are anxious to see Article 12 of the Convention of Geneva applied in time of war. This article lays down that the personnel of the health services are exempt from capture and will be sent back to the belligerent country to which they belong. Naturally, it goes without saying that in order to benefit by this ruling it is necessary that members of the health services be enabled to prove -their identity with certainty in the eyes of the authorities of the other side as soon as they fall into their power." The authorities at Geneva were most anxious to have everything possible done to remove difficulties and to avoid what they referred to as the grave inconvenience suffered in many cases of which they had notice. ' "We can prove," the letter stated, "that in many countries the ruling of Article 21 of the Convention of Geneva (dealing with identification) is not scrupulously observed, especially in relation to the identification document which all people included in Article 9 by the Convention ought to possess in addition to an armlet." "MAY NOT BE RETAINED." In so far as those connected with the health services, are concerned, Article 12 lays down that persons designated in Articles 9, 10, and 11 (members of health services, stretcher bearers, etc.) may not be retained after they have fallen into the hands of the enemy. In the absence of an agreement to the contrary, they shall be sent back to the belligerent to which they belong as soon as a route for their return shall be open and military considerations permit. Pending their return they shall continue to carry out their duties under the direction of the enemy. They shall preferably be engaged in the care of the wounded and sick of the belligerent to which they belong. On their departure they shall take with them the effects, instruments, . arms, and means of transport belonging to them. Repatriation of medical personnel would, of course, be governed to some extent by the needs of those in enemy hands. It would be found desirable, no doubt, to leave a certain number of members of medical units to care for members of the fighting services of their own country who are held as prisoners of war. Those repatriated would be free to continue with their medical service duty. GENERAL PROVISIONS. In regard to combatants, the Geneva Convention provides that belligerents are required to send back to their own country, without regard to rank or numbers, after rendering them in a fit condition for transport, prisoners .of war who are seriously ill or seriously wounded. A mixed medical commission, one member appointed by the detaining Power, and two by a neutral Power (one of the latter to preside), is to examine sick- or wounded prisoners and make decisions with regard to them. In addition to prisoners selected by the medical officer of the camp, the commission -is to examine prisoners who make a direct request to that effect to the medical officer of the camp; prisoners presented by the prisoners' appointed representatives; either on their own initiative or at the request of the prisoners; and prisoners nominated by the Power in whose armed forces they served, or by a relief society recognised and authorised by that Power. No repatriated, person may be employed on active military service.