STARVATION RATIONS IN ITALY

Southland Times, Issue 24758, 1 June 1942, Page 5

STARVATION RATIONS IN ITALY

(Rec. 12.15 a.m.) SYDNEY, May 31. Despite the fact that they are on starvation rations and passed through last winter desperately in need of warm clothing, Australians in prison camps in Italy are in wonderful spirits, according to some soldiers who have returned to Australia after having been repatriated from Italy. There were 11 in the party which reached Australia, including a New Zealander, A. de Joux. The food situation, however, was critical. The rations consisted mostly of rice and macaroni and not too much of that. The prisoners depended largely on parcels forwarded by and through the Red Cross for food, clothes and books. This party was at Oruppignano, where last winter the temperature reached 20 degrees below zero. The discipline in the Italian camps was very strict, but very fair, one officer said. Since March the sugar ration had been cut, but so had the issue of synthetic coffee. The vegetable ration was at a minimum. There was meat only twice a week. However, the fare of the prisoners was superior to that of the ordinary Italian people, who seemed to get “absolutely nothing.’ Everything went to the soldiers and the civilians had to exist as best they could.