ANNOYING LOSSES.

Timaru Herald, Volume CVI, Issue 16309, 10 August 1917, Page 3

ANNOYING LOSSES.

PARCELS FOR PRISONERS OF WAR,

"From reports which have been received from the High Comissioncr from time to time," 6tates the Ministei for Defence, "it is clear that the present procedure respecting tho 1 forwarding of parcels to prisoners of war is not satisfactory. This is largely due to the fact that the conditions relating to the transmission of such parcels for prisoners of war in Germany are coutinually being altered. Parents, relatives, and friends of prisoners of war should in future remit to tho High Commmissioner money for the purchase or food parcels, etc. * He will then arrange to purchase only such articles as are_ providel for in tho regulations, which, if not implicitly obeyed, will cause parcels to be confiscated. '■The change is very largely attributable to the fact that difficulties have arisen with regard to sending food contained in tin receptacles, the Germans having adopted the practice of removing such articles from the prisoners' parcels. The tins are eventually opened, and the food is given out, but the tins are withheld, and, it is presumed, used by the Germans for military purposes. It will be readily understood that, as tinned food quickly deteriorates when exposed to the air, this is a. very serous matter for all prisoners of war; indeed, Sir Thomas Mackenzie, lias reported that our men have already sent urgent and repeated appeals that food in tins should not be sent to them 0:1 account, of the above-mentioned action of the captor Government,

"Diffi'.-ulties have been also experienced with respect to cigarettes ihe packets of which have been found to contain pictures and cartoons. In consequence of this such cigarettes are being confiscated."