WAR PRISONERS IN FAR EAST

Southland Times, Issue 25763, 29 August 1945, Page 5

WAR PRISONERS IN FAR EAST

PERSONNEL SCATTERED OVER VAST AREA RUGBY, August 26. An official of the Prisoners of War Directorate at the War Office has given the following information about United Kingdom prisoners in Japanese hands: United Kingdom civilians total about 22,000 persons. Information about United Kingdom prisoners of war is much less definite. One of the reasons for this is that the authorities in Japan have no complete information on the location of prisoner of war camps in outlying areas or the numbers in them. Considerable numbers of prisoners have died and only a small proportion of those who died have been reported by the Japanese. The best estimate it has been possible to make is that there are more than 10,000 United Kingdom prisoners in the areas north of the Philippines and fewer than 30,000 south of the Philippines. Most of the 10,000 to the north are in Japan. There are some, but not a large number, in Hong Kong. Others are in that part of Borneo and Sarawak which have not been recaptured, in Java, Malaya, and Indo-China, and there is almost certainly a large number in Siam. Thus, the persons whom the Allied authorities are trying to reach are scattered over a vast area in which vastly differing conditions prevail. RETURN HOME In all, it is hoped to release up to 60,000 United Kingdom prisoners and civilians out of the total number, which may reach 250,000, including those from the Dominions, Indian, United States and Dutch nationals. Arrangements for bringing them home have been made by the four commanders on the spot—Admiral Lord Louis Mountbatten, General Douglas MacArthur and Generalissimo Chiang Kai-shek in the northern area and the Supreme Commander of the Soviet forces. All the commanders have been told of the known camps in their area. They have been asked to get in touch with the camps at the earliest possible moment, to provide all the necessary protection, food, clothing, medical care and accommodation and to use every available means to send the prisoners of war and civilians on their way to their home countries as quickly as possible. Although it is hoped that many will be removed by air from the camps to ports, it has been decided in the in-, terests of their own health to bring them home by sea. The voyage will be an ideal opportunity for recuperation. They will be cared for on the voyage with food and medical attention and will also be mentally prepared for coming home by being enabled to leam of the changes in Britain since they were last there. The prisoners will be at the top of the priority list of those returning home. PRISON CAMPS IN FAR EAST Conditions Reported To Be Good (Rec. 7 p.m.) LONDON, August 27. The War Office has announced that Allied representatives who were sent to Moukden, Weihyien and Peking have reported that the general condition of the inmates of internment and waxprisoner camps was good, although all were under weight, and about 10 per cent, were requiring hospital treatment. Allied representatives had also reached Shanghai. They could not, however, function freely in areas still under Japanese control, pending the final surrender of the enemy forces. The first Allied war prisoners to reach Rangoon from Bangkok arrived by air on Saturday. The first plane carried six Americans and seven British. All appeared to be in good condition. Then men were brought from Bangkok in a Japanese “Sally,” piloted by Americans who went to Siam several days ago. The Japanese have apparently completely lost control of war prisoners’ camps and the prisoners have seized control, according to pilots flying over Siam. The prisoners at three camps were seen cheering outside the compounds. The rescue of prisoners is given top priority in consolidation of the four original surrender proposals into two agreed articles under which the Japanese agree not to molest medical units dropped by air tomorrow over East Burma, Siam and Indo-China from Indian airfields where at least 20 teams have been ready for days. A Chungking report says that Sir Shenton Thomas, Sir Mark Young and Mr C. D. Smith, Governors of Singapore, Hong Kong and . North Borneo have been evacuated from prisoner camps.