FEARFUL LOSSES

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 21801, 25 August 1945, Page 6

FEARFUL LOSSES

PRISONERS OF JAPAN ONE QUARTER SURVIVING WAR OFFICE ESTIMATES RUGBY, Aug. 23. An official of the Prisoners-of-War Directorate of the War Office has given the following information about United Kingdom pr'isoilers in Japanese hands: United Kingdom civilians total about 22,000 persons. Information about United Kingdom prisoners-of-war is much less definite. One of the reasons for this is that the authorities in Japan have no complete information of the location of prisoner-of-war camps in the outlying areas or of the numbers in them. Considerable numbers of prisoners have died and only a small proportion of those who died have been reported by the Japanese. The best estimate it has been possible to make is that there are more than 10,000 United Kingdom prisoners in the areas north of the Philippines, and fewer than 30,000 south of the Philippines. Most of the 10,000 to the north are in Japan. There are some, but not a large number, in Hongkong, and others are in that part of Borneo and Sarawak which has not been recaptured, in Java. Malaya and Indo-China; there are almost certainly a large number in Siam. Thus the people whom the Allied authorities are trying to reach are scattered over a vast area in which vastly differing conditions prevail. In all it is hoped to release up to 60,000 United Kingdom prisoners and civilians, out of a total number which may reach 250,000. including those from the Dominions and Indian, United States and Dutch nationals. Arrangements for bringing them home have been made by the four commanders on the spot—Lord Mountbatten, General MacArthur, Marshal Chiang Kai-Shek, and, in the northern area, the supreme commander of the Soviet forces. All the commanders have been told of known camps in their areas. They have been asked to get in touch with the camps at the earliest possible moment and to provide all necessary protection, food, clothing, medical care and accommodation, and to use every available means to send prisoners-of-war civilians on their way to their home countries as quickly as possible. Though it is hoped that many will be removed by air from the camps to the ports, it has been decided in the interests of their own health to bring them home by sea. The voyage will be an ideal opportunity for recuperation. They will be cared for on the v.oyage with food and medical attention, and will also be mentally prepared for coming home by being enabled to learn of the changes in Britain since they were last there. The prisoners will be at the top of the priority list of those returning home.