Delivery of Parcels For Prisoners of War

Manawatu Times, Volume 68, Issue 56, 8 March 1943, Page 5

Delivery of Parcels For Prisoners of War

Per Press Association. WELLINGTON, Mar. 6. Some indications of how the 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 tho strategic situation is shown in a cable received by the Prisoners of War Inquiry Office. It states that owing to the uncertainty of the possibility of maintaining regular weekly despatches to Geneva following the occupation of Vichy France and due to the possibility of a suspension of the carriage of prisoner of war parcels on the German railways for the month of December, the International Red Cross has 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 cable 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 Germanv and Italy may now purchase, ’by application to the nearest inquiry office, a woollen set consisting of a heavy army jersey and three pairs of socks (all of khaki colour) for the quarterly parcel. A prisoner’s letter from Stalag XVTIIA states that a show entitled “Merry England" was held one day raising .1000 marks for the camp funds. It commenced with a procession headed by a drum-major and a band of six Maori warriors, and ended with an Empire concert by Britons, Australians and New Zealanders.