NEW ZEALAND WAR PRISONERS

Southland Times, Issue 25334, 10 April 1944, Page 2

NEW ZEALAND WAR PRISONERS

673 Not Accounted For (P.A.) WELLINGTON, April 8. The Prisoner of War Inquiry Office advises that during the past week another 17 of the New Zealanders who were in camps in Italy have been accounted for. Sixteen are in German camps and one is safe with the Allies. Altogether 2614 have been transferred to Germany, 208 have escaped to the Allied lines, 19 to Switzerland and the remaining 673 are still to be accounted for. In cases where the next of kin of prisoners formerly in Italy receive letters from a prisoner stating he is now located in a German camp and have had no official advice through Base Records concerning the transfer, they are asked to send such communications to Base Records and a copy to the Prisoners of War Inquiry Office headquarters. A report is to haffd concerning a visit to Stalag 344 in October of last year by the International Red Cross representative. It states that the canteen is inadequately stocked and on account of the fact that the number of prisoners located there has been doubled since the early part of 1943, the accommodation was over-crowded. On receipt of this report a strong protest on the unsatisfactory conditions was forwarded td the German Government through the High Commissioner for New Zealand in London. Information has now been received by the High Commissioner to the effect that a marked improvement has been effected and that the morale of the prisoners has been raised considerably in consequence. The office is requesting copies of letters from prisoners of war written during or shortly after the Christmas festivities.