PRISONERS OF WAR

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25215, 3 May 1943, Page 4

PRISONERS OF WAR

DISTRIBUTION OF PARCELS WORK OF BRITISH RED CROSS (P.A.) WELLINGTON, MayT.: Recent reports have created the impression that a number of British prisoners of war have been transferred to Russia. As the outcome of inquiries, the office has received cabled advice to the effect that there is no evidence of any transfer to Russia, and, furthermore, it is considered very improbable that such reports have any foundation. The International Red Cross advises in a recent cablegram that Dr Paravicini, its representative in Japan, has distributed over 12,000 standard parcels and several medical parcels to prisoner-of-war camps in Formosa, Korea, Tokio, Osaka, and Fukuoka, and also some 300 parcels to four civilian camps. Receipts for these parcels were obtained from each camp headquarters, and the International Red Cross delegate was holding some 1500 parcels in stock to meet urgent demands.

Geneva also advises that a receipt has come to hand from a Malayan camp for approximately 48,000 packages delivered last September. The cable message also states that a further loan of 81,000 Swiss francs has been arranged in Singapore for additional purchases. The British Red Cross War Organisation states that over 5,500,000 food parcels were packed and despatched from England during 1942 for distribution among British prisoners of war in Germany and Italy. Canada’s weekly output is 70,000, and, in addition, New Zealand is packing and despatching approximately 8000 food parcels every week. A further quantity of food in bulk is despatched by British communities in South America.