GERMAN ALLEGATION

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIII, Issue 133, 8 June 1942, Page 5

GERMAN ALLEGATION

BRITISH MALTREATMENT OF. PRISONERS

RUGBY, June 7. German allegations regarding the British treatment of prisoners of war in Libya are the subject of a special communique from the Middle East headquarters, which states:

"A German communique contains an allegation that during the fighting in North Africa an order issued by the British Fourth Tank Brigade was captured. It stated that prisoners should be given neither food nor drink nor any comforts nor facilities till interrogation by competent'authorities had been completed. The German High Command, therefore, had given orders that as from midday on June 6 the British officers and men who were taken prisoner during the recent fighting and were now in German hands should receive neither food nor drink till this shameful, inhuman order has been rescinded. Cancellation of the order must be officially communicated to the German High Command. .

"A reply as follows is being officially communicated to the German Govern* ment through the ''protecting Power, Sweden, the nation which looks after German interests in the Middle East: 'We are not aware of any such order. It is contrary to our method of waging war, and immediate steps have been ' taken to investigate and countermand* orders of this nature if any have been issued without authority by a subordinate commander. Detailed instructions . have been issued that Axis prisoners must be handled strictly according to the terms of the Geneva Convention, The German High Command is requested to furnish the necessai-y proof in support of the allegation made."— 8.0. W. ' '

Sui-h vi Hit ciiuie news on mis imgc es It fn licaiieO Uus. aDimnrt'c) ib "'The nines" and Is cabled to Australia unci Ntftv Zealand by special i emission. it should be umtarstQQd •hat' tlie oplDlons aro not those of "The rimes"'unless expressly 6tated tr> in --n