PRISONERS OF WAR

Timaru Herald, Volume CLIII, Issue 22474, 8 January 1943, Page 5

PRISONERS OF WAR

Many in Far East

RUGBY, January 6. The War Office, in a statement on prisoners of war in the Far East, says that it is understood that there are. i some 10,000 such prisoners now interned in Japan, 5000 in Korea, and 5000 in Formosa. It is believed that about half of these are Americans and the other half are British, Canadian and Australian. The protecting Power has received permission to visit certain camps in these areas, also in Hong Kong and Shanghai, but no reports of these visits have yet been received. The International Red Cross delegate in Tokio has visited three prisoners of war camps, of which two are at Yokohama and one at Shishotogaw. Conditions in these camps appear to be comparatively satisfactory. The standard of living to which prisoners of war have had to adapt themselves is that of the Japanese troops. The food consists largely of rice, though some bread is issued and a fair quantity of vegetables. The meat ration is extremely small. Outbreaks of Disease A number of prisoners are suffering from tropical diseases. The most serious cases are treated in Japanese military hospitals and other cases are tended by British doctors in the camp infirmaries. Treatment is handicapped by lack of medicaments, which appears to be general throughout the Fir East. The prisoners in Japan are employed in factories and on the docks. It is believed that 2000 British and Canadian prisoners of war remain in Hong Kong, also a number of Indian prisoners. There is evidence of considerable outbreaks of disease periodically and many suffered from dysentery and diphtheria in these camps during the summer of 1942. .; The majority of United Kingdom and Australian prisoners are still in camps in Malaya, Siam and Indo-Chlna. No visits by the Red Cross of the protectting Power are allowed there, and the work in these areas is understood to be . very severe, while the rations apjSekt to be just sufficient to maintain health.