PARCELS FOR PRISONERS

Greymouth Evening Star, 8 March 1943, Page 4

PARCELS FOR PRISONERS

NORMAL ISSUE RESUMED WELLINGTON, March 6. An indication of how delivery of food parcels for prisoners of war has been affected, and is likely to be affected from time to time by major actions, altering the strategic situation, is shown in a cablegram received by the Prisoners of War Inquiry Office. It states that owing to the uncertainty of the possibility of maintaining regular weekly despatches of .prisoner-of-war food parcels to Geneva, following the occupation of Vichy France, due to the possibility. of suspension of the carriage of prisoner-of-war parcels on German railways for the month of December, the International Red Cross advised camp leaders to limit the issue of food parcels temporarily to one fortnightly, instead of one weekly. In December two ordinary food parcels and one special Christmas parcel per man were issued in most of the camps and during January two parcels per man only were delivered. The cablegram concluded that the position was satisfactory now, and that the normal issue was resumed at the beginning of February. Two further lists of prisoners of war in Japanese hands have been circulated to the Red Cross and St. John centres throughout the Dominion, and are available for inspection. Next-of-kin of prisoners in Germany and Italy may now purchase by application to the nearest inquiry office, a woollen set consist-, ing of heavy Army jersey, three pairs of socks, all khaki colour, for the quarterly parcel. A prisoner’s letter from Stalag XVIII A states that a show entitled “Merry England” was held orie day, raising a thousand marks for camp funds. It commenced with a procession headed by the drum-major of the band and six Maori warriors, and ended with an Empire concert by Britishers, Australians and New Zealanders.