PRISONERS OF WAR

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24836, 9 February 1942, Page 4

PRISONERS OF WAR

INTIMATION TO RELATIVES PRIVATE INQUIRIES USELESS (PA.V WELLINGTON, Feb: 7. ' In a prisoners-of-war statement to--day Mr J. Abel points put that the sending of private cabled inquiries to Geneva is inadvisable. Many relatives 'send cable messages in the hope of receiving quick information. Only this week a reply was received in answer to one sent seven months ago. The Prime Minister had tp-day received a cablegram from Geneva? stating ■ -that the >P.edCrpss. headquarter over 250 prepaid -cables:■•».£**} unanswered. Besides 'adding to ..the anxiety of relatives these private inquiries seriously impede the work of the International Red Cross; which cables direct to the New, Zealand .Government immediately, infprmatipri;; is received -of. a ; man jeceiyed.-in .a prison'camp.V'-.- l r.K V X^-.S"'^, f " Mr Abel asks that if there are special cases they should be referred to the Prisoners of War Office headquarters, Wellington. He also iritirhates that headquarters would appreciate advice from any next-of-kin in New Zealand who have -received -Mknowlolgment cards 'for "parcels sent.' ."-Ahy 'relatives who have received a card or: letter from the-many men not yet officially reported , prisoner of war are again asked to send such informatipn.to the Prisoners of War Inquiry office, as it is the only means there is of compiling an unofficial prisoners'; list, ,; i; The latest figures on the flies Army 4224, Air Force:ll6iriavy,'6 f merchant seamen and civilians 2&l> miscel-" larieous 20, unpffleiari34;;'t4otak 4524 -