PRISONERS OF WAR

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVI, Issue 3, 3 July 1943, Page 6

PRISONERS OF WAR

AIDSFOR THE DEAF

; A .deaf prisoner, .writing firoxn a German, prison camp acknowledging the receipt of a valve .amplifier and: sets of batteries, says that.the"set.is in constant use; it i: has opened up' a new social- life for him. The National Institute for the Deaf send through the Red Cross and Sti John war organisation diagnosis sheets to deaf prisoners and the medical; officer of the camp. From the "information which they stfpply the institute 4s able to decide the kind •of hearing - aid ■. best suited- for each prisoner. This- individual diagnosis is 'important, as deafness arises from many causes arid degrees vary, thus requiring different apparatus. New, batteries have to be sent to prison camps'at intervals. Many prisoners suffering-from' slight degrees : of deafness are studying lip-reading ■ from ;; Repatriated prisoners >. who recently arrived in England recorded the splendid Work of the Portuguese Red Cross under the supervision of .Colonel; Dor» hellas,. who spent three days \6rf. the quay prior .to the arrival; oft the hbsgital ship•'. personally superintending ie arrangements'for the reception of the . wounded, providing everything hecessarjr iii \the ' way of stretchers, beds, medical; comforts, and personnel. The repatriated men- were- entertained at luncheoxv at dubs and 'institutes. Those who "were - not \ fit-to make the journey Avere provided for .invthe quspomhouse'premises on the . quayside. ; Army boots have now .been made available* by;: the. . Government.for,;inclusion -in quarterly parcels. in cases where next-of-kih have received a request from'their prisoner relative for a pair of 'boots in addition to those provided: - Next-of-kin who have, received such, requests are instructed io apply to the Prisoner of War Inquiry Office headquarters, giving the date-of the prisoners request and-size of-boots required: -The '.cost of a pair of boots jyiH :be 275. They ".will >nqt be sent^tb riext-of-kin :but \yill be- added to the next-of-km < parcel vwhen. it ■is'being;censored".and repacked at the depiqt.. ~;. •■•■■.■"■.■.. V ; '"■• \::~y ■'.''/ ■ •"■:-:"' --:- '■• ; Information has been received that the German authorities' have stated that not merely; will prohibited articles be removed from quarterly riext-of-kin parcels before'they are handed, to the prisoners concerned, but that if such articles are included the whole parcel is liable to be confiscated.

,A cable has passed the Prisoner of War Inquiry Office headr quarters from an Empire Red Cross Society which had'received a message from a prisoner of war in RG. 75 Italy to the effect- that the general, conditions in. that camp • are good - and that food parcels are arriving well. The P.0.W.. headquarters requests copies, of-recent letters from■ prisoners at Oflag IX A/H.V