THE EMPIRE'S WAR ACTIVITIES

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 05, Issue 86, 3 August 1942, Page 3

THE EMPIRE'S WAR ACTIVITIES

PRISONERS OF WAR

IN JAPANESE HANDS

RED CROSS DELEGATES AT

WORK

The International Red Cross at Geneva has appointed delegates, all of Swiss nationality, to control tlie distribution of relief for all prisoners of war and civilian internees in Japan and Japanese-occupied territories. according to a cable received in Wellington by the Prisoners of War Inquiry Office. The Shanghai delegate has acquired from the stocks of the American Red Cross .■>o,ooo bags of wheat, (lour and rice, and from Shanghai 2000 tons of similar goods, and assorted medical supplies have been made available to meet urgent needs. Although negotiations for regular relief shipments to Japanese-occu-pied territories have not yet been completed, the International Red Cross slates that large consign men Is of ::ll forms of relief are going forward in diplomati;- exchange vessels from the United Kingdom, tht United States and Canada, accompanied by a representative of the protecting Power acting as International Red Cross convoy agent. Owe ship had already sailed with 280 tons of food, clothing and medical puppl'.es. Lourenco Marques is the transhipment port for goods into Japanese vessels under the supervision of a Red Cross delegate. The only information regarding prisoners of war and internees covers Japan and tile China coast, no details being yet available lor other regions. Delegates have already visited several camps, where the con-j ditions arc reported as satisfactory. No parcels have yet been accepted for prisoners of war, and mail facilities are restricted to letters forwarded by way of Siberia to Japan, with eventual extension into Japan-ese-occupied territories.