ADOPTION OF PRISONERS

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2995, 5 February 1917, Page 3

ADOPTION OF PRISONERS

HOW EVERYONE MAY HELP OUR MEN IN GERMAN PRISONS. An "adopters" bureau for prisoners of war has (says the "Weekly' Dispatch") begun operations at 4 Thurloo Place, South Kensington, London, in connection with tho official scheme for tho co-ordination of rolief lor British prisoners of war. Tho bureau is an essential part of the scheme which comes into operation on December I—after which date parcels can be sent only by or Through authorised organisations. The committee is proceeding on the principle that in the first instanceRegimental Care Committees shall be responsible for supplying the needs of prisoners from their battalions. But while tho regimental tie is thus to bo maintained, the personal and individual tie is' also to be maintained as far as possible, and it is in this connection that the "adopters" bureau will have an important role to fill. A complete and detailed index of the men's names and' needs will bo kept by the bureau, and to it peoplo who wish to "adopt" prisoners will be able to apply for names. Details of adoption will ho kept in the index, and every new "adopter" will bo given a postcard to send his prisoner tolling him to expect the parcel. \ It will not be necessary to "adopt" a man to the full extent of tho parcels of food which it is hoped to send each fortnight in addition to breatf , . An "adopter" may pay for one parcel of food or bread a fortnight or more. Even if a relative or "adopter" can only subscribe a. very small sum, his or her efforts will have due effect. A subscriber of, say, only a. shilling or two a fortnight, could bo made responsible for a man's bread supply.