PRISONERS OF WAR

Dominion, Volume 35, Issue 291, 7 September 1942, Page 8

PRISONERS OF WAR

Conditions Improve In Italian Camp

Strong protest at the refusal of the German prison camp authorities to allow British prisoners of war to receive issues of boots has been made through the protecting Power. Prisoners of war have at various times expressed in letters to New Zealand their desire for boots, though these are issued to them through the British Red Cross with battledress and other clothing. A statement was made in the House of Commons by the Secretary of State for War that he had no guarantee that boots received in German camps would be given to those .who needed them. In its weekly bulletin the headquarters of the Prisoners of War Inquiry Office said that it was obvious from letters from Camp P.G. 52, Italy, that the position regarding food and clothing, had now improved considerably. A letter dated June 3 stated that several New Zealanders had- received parcels containing clothes, chocolates and cigarettes through the New Zealand Red Cross. Another prisoner, also writing in June, said: “A lot of chaps have received letters from New Zealand written in March, and we have been receiving a food parcel from the Red Cross every week lately. They are very good. We have also received clothing from them, and quite a few of our chaps have received personal clothing: parcels through the Red Cross.” Informative letters have arrived from Oflag Vlb. The first, dated May .23, says: “Your August parcel arrived yesterday and I received a Turkish parcel, too, consisting of figs, prunes, mixed nuts and cigarettes.” Copies of letters from Stalag XVIIIa, dated not earlier than April, fire required by the inquiry office headquarters in Wellington.