IN JAPANESE HANDS

Timaru Herald, Volume CLVIII, Issue 23288, 25 August 1945, Page 4

IN JAPANESE HANDS

New Zealand Service Personnel (N.Z.P.A.) WELLINGTON. Aug. 24. The Minister of Defence (the Hon. F. Jones) gave details to-day of the numbers of New Zealand Service personnel and civilians who, according to the latest information, are understood to be in Japanese hands, or who have been classified as missing following operations by or against Japanese. Mr Jones said that although the details were the latest available, they, in many cases, were far from up-to-date and should therefore be treated with considerable reserve. It should especially be borne in mind that very little recent information had been received about the actual location of many of those understood to be held by the Japanese. Furthermore, there are included in the present figures a few civilians who were last reported as being interned in- the Philippines and who. although no official information had been received about them, probably already had been liberated. Mr Jones said the total number of Service personnel from New Zealand believed to be held by the Japanese at present is 92, while the missing number is 163. In addition, there were 30 men of the New Zealand Merchant Marine and 339 other civilians held by the Japanese, while 31 civilians were classified as missing. Of the numbers of prisoners of war and civilians held by the Japanese 64 are located in Japan, 132 in Malaya, 67 in Shanghai, 44 in Thailand, 37 in Hong Kong and 117 in various other places. The civilians include those having a connection with New Zealand through their next-of-kin.