MISSING SOLDIERS.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 17 July 1919, Page 4

MISSING SOLDIERS.

What is the Imperial Government doing—or is it doing anything —in the direction of ascertaining whether any prisoners of war still remain in the hands of the Germans ? According to a recent cablegram from Paris the r Germans have given their word of honour that there are now no war prisoners in Germany, " except a few wounded and sick men." Are the Allied Governments satisfied with that assurance ? —are they content to accept Germany's " word of Monour"? Why the Germans have shown a thousand times over that they do not understand the meaning of the word "'honour." They have proved themselves as cunning and crafty as they are cruel and treacherous And what of the wounded and sick men whom they admit are still in their hands ? Is anything being done to succour these\l 1 unfortunates, and to chqer them j to jchee'l them with thQ assurance that they are not forgotten, and will as soon as they can bear it be restored to their country and those to whom they are dear ? Apropos of this I happen to know of a woman resident not very far away from Auckland whose son has been posted as " missing " for four years. "Is his fate to remain uncertain for ever?" asks the mother who is pining for news of him. Try to put yourself in imagination in that poor woman's place and to picture to yourself what she must be feeling when she reads of the comipg peace rejoicings. There should be no public rejoicings until at least an effort has been made to clear up the fate of those listed as "missing," and until every sick and wounded soldier belonging to the Allied armies has been removed from Germany.