PRISONERS OF WAR

Greymouth Evening Star, 6 April 1943, Page 2

PRISONERS OF WAR

HOSPITAL AT STALAG VIII B

WELLINGTON, April 3. Latest cabled information received by the Prisoners of War Inquiry Office states that there are .1782 New Zealand prisoners of war interned ai Stalag VIII B. The International Red Cross at Geneva has cabled a report on the hospital at this camp, which was visited by its representative. on February 13. The names of Major Horncastle, R.A.M.C., and of Major A. N. Slater, N.Z.M.C., are mentioned, implying that they are tne senior medical officers. The hospital personnel at that date consisted of 10 doctors and 97 on the medical staff. There are new buildings, . well situated, and excellent dormitories separated for surgical, medical, and isolation cases. The senior medical officer controls all rations and the prisoners, witii the aid of their own private food parcels, prepare meals according to their own taste. Milk diets are available and there is a reserve stock of invalid comfort parcels. During February there were 130 surgical, 90 medical, 30 mental, and 40 infectious cases, none of. which was tubercular or typhus. It is stated that the material required is complete, but a few medicaments are required, and those sent by the Red Cross are freely disposed of by the doctors and are highly appreciated. A camp preacher looks after the sick and there are concerts and cinema shows from the main camp. English books are plentiful and working conditions for the medical staff are excellent. The International Red Cross also states that discipline is good and the cablegram concludes with a statement to the effect that generally speaking it is a remarkable hospital. Among a batch of acknowledgment cards received this week are several for parcels received in Italy early in December, some of which left New Zealand as late as July and August last year.