PRISONERS OF WAR

Evening Post, Volume CXXXIV, Issue 76, 26 September 1942, Page 9

PRISONERS OF WAR

FAR EAST SUPPLIES

PERCENTAGE BASIS

Details of relief shipments for prisoners of war and civilian internees in the Far East have been received by the Prisoners of War Inquiry Office headquarters through the Australian and New Zealand representative of the International Red Cross. For future Japanese camps the supplies will be divided on a percentage basis, according to the number of prisoners and internees. Malaya heads the list with 37 per cent, and the remaining percentages are East Indies 33, Philippines 19, Hong Kong 6,. Korea and Formosa Z\, and Shanghai 11.

The cablegram giving the information of supplies says that on the first sailing the steamer Osama unloaded 2823 South African packages at Singapore and that 451 South African, in addition to 3717 American Red Cross packages, were unloaded at Yokohama, pending reshipment. Dr. Paravacini, the International Red Cross delegate at Tokio, now advised that as the Osama's second sailing had been delayed a fortnight he was loading 150 tons for Shanghai and 300 tons for Manila from the Yokohama stocks. Of the present stocks in Singapore he had requested the authorities to reship 50 per cent, to the Netherlands East Indies. An Indian relief shipment was being completely unloaded at Singapore, together with medical supplies. Shipping to Hong Kong was still impossible.

The-percentages quoted for future Japanese camps are the final distribution plan of all Red Cross relief. A further list of civilian internees in Singapore, Borneo, Sarawak, and Java has been received in Wellington. P.opies have been forwarded to the Prisoners of War Inquiry Offices and Red Cross and St. John Council branches throughout New Zealand, where they are available for public insaection.

PRISONERS' PARCELS

The Inquiry Office this week has received approximately another hundred acknowledgement cards from prisoners for personal parcels. • The majority are from Stalag XVIII A for parcels received principally in May and June. 'The latest letter received-is dated July 5 from Stalag VIII B. The writer says that a lot of parcels posted in New Zealand in February had been arriving in that camp lately. He had also received a clothing parcel and four cigarettes parcels from New Zealand House and was well off for clothing for some time to come, although toothpaste, tooth brushes, and razor blades were still required. The Inquiry Office is endeavouring to have additional razor blades, suitable for the razors with which the men have been supplied; sent to them from London. Excluding five unofficial cases, the total number of prisoners listed is now 6602. ■