ITALIAN PRISON CAMP

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24736, 13 October 1941, Page 5

ITALIAN PRISON CAMP

BARRACKS IN MOUNTAINS SATISFACTORY CONDITIONS (Rec; 7 p.m.) RUGBY, Oct. 11. Details of the Italian camp for prisoners of war at Sulmona are now available. The camp is in the Abrassi Mountains, about five miles from the nearest railway station, and four or five hours by train from Rome. It was used as a war prisoners' camp in 1915-18. and has since been unoccupied until it was put to its present use. A large walled compound encloses barjacks of stone with tiled roofs. The climate in winter can be severe. There are stoves in all the barracks and rooms, however, and the heating is described as sufficient. The officers have made a garden in their section and keep hens. The only work available for the men is voluntary labour within the camp enclosure. ' All round their hutments they have made flower borders. An innovation in May was the issue, of about a pint of wine daily. Prisoners who do not like wine may havr beer instead. The games for officers include basketball and deck tennis, and the men have improvised a cricket pitch. The rations are superior to those issued in Germany. The men are reported to be receiving fried eggs on bread once a week. The weekly walks, which for a time were suspended, were resumed in August, and some prisoners of war have climbed a 10,000 ft mountain above the camp. Red Cross parcels are reaching the camp in sufficient quantities, and the clothing situation is described as entirely adequate.