N.Z. PRISONERS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 127, 1 June 1942, Page 3

N.Z. PRISONERS

SEVENTY IN SINGAPORE ADVICE FROM RED CROSS (P.A.) WELLINGTON, Sunday. The Government has been informed by the International Red Cross, Geneva, that there are approximately 70 New Zealand prisoners of war in Singapore, but details are not yet available. This was announced by the Prisoner of War Inquiry Office, wdiich undertakes, at the request of relatives and on payment, to forward reply-paid cable inquiries to Geneva in connection with the Eastern war theatre. Geneva is the only channel through which messages on such matters can be sent to or from Japan.

In reply to many inquiries as to whether prisoners of war have received their parcels, the inquiry office is now able to say that par eels sent from New Zealand in October arrived at Ofiag VI.B in February; sent on November 1, arrived at Stalag VIII.B in February; sent in August and October, arrived at Stalag 306 XVIII.D in February and on March 1 respectively; sent in November, arrived at Stalag lII.E in March.

Inquiries from persons who have sent details of men still missing are being sorted, and some cables have already been sent forward. Letters from prisoners are now coming through fairly freely, some having been iwsted as recently as the middle of March.

A further cable regarding complaints from men in Italian camps has been received from the International Red Cross, which says that, immediately it is informed of camp strengths, it has regularly supplied food, clothing and books to Italian camps. It cannot act until such information is received.

Excluding 30 unofficial prisoners of war, the total number now on the files in Wellington is 6129.