FREEING PRISONERS

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXV, Issue 227, 24 August 1945, Page 5

FREEING PRISONERS

UNITED NATIONS’ PLANS,

LACK OF INFORMATION. (Rec. Noon.) RUGBY, Aug. 23 An official of the Prisoners-of-War Directorate of the War Office has given the following information about United Kingdom prisoners 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 on the location of the prisqner-of-war camps in the outlying areas or of the numbers in them. Considerable numbers ol prisoners have died, and only a small proportion of those have been reported by the Japanese. The best estimate it lias 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 Hong Kong. Others are in that part of Borneo and Sarawak which lias not been recaptured, and in Java, Malaya and Indo-China. There are almost certainly large numbers 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, India, the United States and Dutch nationals.

Arrangements for bringing them home have been made by the four commanders on the spot—Admiral Mountbatten, General MacArtliur, Marshal Cliiang Kai-shek and, in the northern area, the Supreme Commander of the Soviet forces. All the commanders have been told of the known camps in their area. They have been asked to get in touch with the camps at the earliest possible moment to provide all the necessary protection, food, clothing, medical care and accommodation and to use every available means to send the prisoners of war and civilians on their way to their home countries as quickly as possible. Though it is'hoped many will be removed by air from tho camps to ports, it lias been decided, in tho 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 tho voyage 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.