PRISONERS OF WAR.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume III, Issue 866, 18 November 1916, Page 6

PRISONERS OF WAR.

I AND WAYS OF HELPING THEM. (Contributed..) A conversation with an exchanged prisoner of war from Germany is an experience that it would be very difficult to forget. To commence with, the only prisoners exchanged for German 'prisoners in England were those who were disabled, or suffering from an incurable complaint—in any case considered unfit for further service. That in itself is tragic, but in addition there is the sense of powcrlessness to help which is hard to bear when one is personally interested. On two occasions, over a year ago, the writer of these notes had the opportunity of hearing at first hand details of some of the prison camps in Germany, and the articles most urgently needed. ■ These details have been kepi, in view of | future need*, and now that 11 of our boys are in the hands of the enemy, the time has come to send them assistance. By far the most perfect scheme of dealing with the subject'of supplies of food and clothing for prisoners is that carried out by a department of the > Swiss Red Cross, esublished at. Berne. From here 25,000 parcels of bread and 'other comforts are sent weekiy over the , border to German prison camps. Every parcel contains a receipt postcard, and it is estimated, from the return of these, : that !)8 per cent, of the parcels reach their destination. One section sends 'bread alone. As far as our men are concerned smi mediately word is received at the office of the High Commissioner of New Zea- ; land in London of a man in captivity, I an order is given for a month \s supply of I bread. Other steps are taken to secure ! assistance for the men through some of ! the organisations at Home, but it is .about the businesslike system in Switzer- : land that the writer of these notes < wishes to tell relatives of prisoners beI longing to the New Zealand fighting ■ forces. The, Berne Bureau has standardised the parcels as follows: — 1 Parcel A, 4/-: 1 Alp milk chocolate, 1 condensed milk. 1 jam, 1 cheese, 1 block j chocolate. L' packets tobacco, :! packets eitrol, 2 handkerchiefs, or 1 hand towel lor 1 housewife, 1 tin Liebig. I Parcel B, 4/-: .',lb tea, 1 condensed i milk, .{lb lump sugar, 1 jam. lib bisj cuits, 1 block chocolate, fi Maggi soups, I 1 packet tobacco. 1 towel. j Parcel 0, 6/-: 1 day shirt, 1 vest, 1 i underdrawers, 1 pair socks, 1 towel, 2 j handkerchiefs, 1 wash rag, 1 soap, 1 I toothbrush, 1 tooth powder. Parcel D, <>/- (for invalids): lib tin i condensed milk, lib cocoa, lib sugar, lib Quaker oats, lib cod liver oil capsules, 1 box extract of malt, or Ovomal;tine, or .Mellin's Food (according to | special requirements). If desired, the department will send la 10/- parrel combining A and C, or B land C.

These parcels take from two to six ■ lays to reach the prison camps, according to the distances at which they are situated, a distinct improvement on the time parcels take to reach them from England owing to the many difliculties of transport. The bread sent from Berne ( not included in the standardised parcels') is specially baked and arrives in good condition. On receipt of -I/-, the bureau supplies a prisoner with 41b of bread wceklv for one month.

Headers will see, \>y the particulars given above, that there are various vvav.s of helping prisoner relatives. In fact, the iletails of the contents of the parcels might he kept, in case of needing them in the future. The local Inquiry Bureau of the Boil

j Cross Society lias for some time been in correspondence with the Swiss Red Cross, and has already forwarded money ; for the prisoners of war department, for ; the relief of our unfortunate men. This lias been in some instances subscribed jby the relatives, and the secretary of | the bureau is anxious to give il 'l ,n,> i help she can. The secretary of the I bureau will always be only too glad to answer inquiries made personally or by i letter. There is one section of the Swiss organisation the existence of which will ; be a great comfort to those who cannot afford to subscribe to supply a prisoner | relative. This is the ''Friendless Prisoner's"' section, and is well support!ed in England and France, not only by money sent through the Red Cross, but by private individuals, who send I subscriptions at regular intervals for ! one or more prisoners.