PRISONERS OF WAR

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 January 1942, Page 4

PRISONERS OF WAR

INQUIRY OFFICE ADVICE REGARDING PARCELS & OTHER MATTERS. INFORMATION FO RELATIVES. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. The Prisoners of War Inquiry Office has received labels which have been sent to next of kin in New Zealand from prisoners in camps in Germany. The labels are printed in German and French and the instructions are that they must be used for forwarding parcels to prisoners. One has a broad pinkish band and is.supposed to be used when sending clothing parcels. One, with a blue band, is supposed to be used only for food. The Prisoners of War Inquiry Office immediately cabled to the International Red Cross at Geneva and the British Red Cross and, on account of the replies received, advises next of kin to completely ignore these labels, as their use is not intended for British or Dominion prisoners, but only for Continental prisoners.

Because considerable numbers of officers and men being transferred from various camps, many next of kin became anxious as to whether parcels would be forwarded on. The Prisoners of War Office has received a cable from the International Red Cross stating that next of kin in New Zealand could be assured that the detaining powers were re-forwarding individual parcels to the best of their ability; also that the international convention regarding prisoners of war was generally being duly observed.

Information from a reliable source indicates that there had been considerable improvement in conditions at Oflag Vi B. Two hundred senior officers have been transferred to the new camp and 400 airmen are to be transferred in the middle of January. New brick barracks are under construction. The present reserve of food parcels totals 18,000. There is a large sports ground for prisoners, who are stated to be looking very fit. Those who arrived from Greece and Crete are very much improved. The International Red Cross also cabled this week that supplies of collective consignments of food parcels are readily maintained and also that all camps hold ample reserves of food parcels for prisoners, who are being transferred to them. The next of kin are advised that the issue of the next quarterly Red Cross label, with instruction sheet and full details, should be in'their hands by Monday, January 19, at the latest. During August the International Red Cross at Geneva received signed receipts from prisoners, acknowledging 264,506 parcels. Letters from prisoners reflect much healthy activity in the camps, to which a supply of sports materials and books materially contributes.

The following are the details of prisoners officially reported and on files of the Prisoners of War Inquiry Office:—Army, 3,592; Air Force, 111; merchant seamen and civilians, 20; Navy, 7, and miscellaneous, 15. These are New Zealanders in oversea forces, but whose next of kin reside in New Zealand. In addition there are 98 men who are known to be prisoners and have communicated with their next of kin, but have not yet been officially reported. The next of kin of men in this category are asked to send full details to the Prisoners of War headquarters, with the date of their letter. The information will benefit both the prisoner and the next of kin.