WAR PRISONERS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20627, 1 December 1941, Page 4

WAR PRISONERS

TRANSFERS IN GERMANY RED CROSS PARCELS SUPPLIES OF SPECIAL FOOD (Per Press Association.) WELLINGTON, this day. The transfer of New Zealand prisoners of war from various camps is only to be expected, and the headquarters of the Prisoners of War Inquiry Office, Wellington, advises in its weekly bulletin issued on Saturday that next-of-kin need have no worry in that connection. The International Red Cross has cabled that prisoners who were in camps Oflag V B, Oflag VII C, Oflag VII D and Oflag IX A are now in Oflag VI B, and that prisoners who were in Stalag XXI B have now been sent to Stalag XXI D. Following information that officers in Oflag X C in letters to next-of-kin dated August had stated that they had not received any Red Cross parcels, headquarters communicated with Geneva and received a reply that the International Red Cross was not advised of the existence of Oflag X C until the beginning of September. Geneva immediately arranged for parcels to be sent, and the first consignment went forward on September IT. Between then and October 24 4246 parcels were dispatched. About October all those prisoners were transferred to Oflag VI B and supplies were continued to that camp. Comforts for Invalids

“It is possible under certain conditions to arrange for a certain quantity of special foods to be sent to prisoners who are ill and require special diets. Next-’of-kin, therefore, are asked to inform the Prisoners of War Office if they receive any information from prisoners stating that they require any special diets or special invalid comforts. If relatives know of a prisoner being continuously in ill health he could be asked to make inquiries as to whether any special foods have been received in his camp. It is inadvisable to include chocolate in parcels to prisoners. The main reasons are that half a pound of specially concentrated vitamin chocolate is included in every weekly food parcel that leaves both Canada and New Zealand and that if the chocolate is not in an airtight tin and is packed in a parcel of clothing it is likely to melt and damage badly-needed ' garments. It is felt, too, that the extra half-pound weight can be better used giving the prisoner some clothing or personal items he receives only, at the very outside, once in three months. If relatives still feel that a prisoner would be happier to receive more chocolate, the need for careful packing cannot be stressed too strongly. The packing of food parcels for prisoners started in Wellington this week and the voluntary women helpers have easily been handling the required number, 3000 a week. The total number of prisoners now officially advised and on the records of the office is 3500. In addition, 85 are known, but have not been officially advised.