Parcels For P.O.W.

Northern Advocate, 8 March 1943, Page 2

Parcels For P.O.W.

(P.A.) WELLINGTON. This Day. An indication 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 the strategic situation is shown in a cable received by the Prisoners-of-War Inquiry Office. It states that owing to the uncertainty of •he possibility of maintaining regular weekly despatches of prisoners-of-war food parcels to Geneva, following the occupation of Vichy France due to the possibility of suspension of carriage oi prisoners-of-war parcels on 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. Fui’ther Lists Twc further lists of prisoners-of-war in Japanese hands have'been circulated to Red Cross and St. John centres throughout the Dominion and are available for inspection. Next-of-kin of prisoners in Germany and Italy may now purchase by application to the nearest inquiry office, a ; woollen set consisting of a heavy army ; jersey, and three pair of socks, all : khaki colour for the quarterly parcel. A prisoner's letter from Stalag i XVIIIA states that a show entitled ■ "Merry England” was held one day, j raising 1000 marks for camp funds. It , commenced with a procession headed by : a drum major, a band of six Maori j warriors and ended with an Empire j concert by Britishers, Australians and ] New Zealanders. ’ ■ T