New Zealand

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXI, Issue 12, 12 August 1916, Page 3

New Zealand

COMMUNICATION WITH PRISONERS OF WAR INTERNED ABROAD. 1. Letters, post-cards, parcels (up to 11 lb.), and money orders may bo sent free of all postal charges to prisoners of war (of whatever nationality) interned abroad and to British civilians interned in Austria-Hungary, Germany, Turkey, and Bulgaria. 2. Method of address.—The address must be in the following form and must be written very distinctly in ink. FORM:— Rank,* initials, name, ■"Regiment (or other unit) British (or French, etc.) Prisoner of War Place of internment Country ... - ... Cure of General Post Office, London, E.C., and (in the case of Prisoners of War in Turkey only) Ottoman Red Crescent Society, Constantinople. *ln the case of military or naval prisoners. EXAMPLE:— Private A. G. Thomas, 2nd Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, British Prisoner of War, Doeberitz, Germany, Care of General Post Office, London, E.C., and (in the case of Prisoners of War in Turkey only) Ottoman Red Crescent Society, Constantinople. Parcels, but not letters, for prisoners of war in German East Africa should be addressed care of Naval Officer in Charge, Zanzibar, and General Post Office, London, E. C. The place of internment, if known, should always be stated. 3. Letter post.—(a) Only letters and post-cards may be sent by letter post. Anything else must be sent by parcel post, except that newspapers and magazines for British prisoners of war in neutral countries must be sent by printed papers post. (b) ft is best;to send post-cards, as they are less likely to bo delayed. Letters must not in any circuiiisiiuices exceed two sides of a sheet of note-’ paper and in the case of Turkey must not exceed four lines of correspondence. The writing must not bo crossed. Nothing should be enclosed with a letter. Post-cards containing views of warships, camps, docks, bhdseye views and any conspicuous landmarks must not be sent. (c) Correspondence should be liinited to private and family news, and to necessary business communications, and should not be sent too frequently. No references to the naval, military, or political situation, or to naval and military movements and organisations are allowed. Letters containing such references will not bo delivered. All letters must bear the name and address of the sender inside. 4. Parcel Post.—Parcels cannot bo accepted unless the address includes the name of the place of destination. ) (a) Packing.—Parcels for prisoners of war must be very strongly packed Ordinary thin cardboard boxes, such as shoe-boxes, and thin wooden boxes should not he used; nor does a single sheet of ordinary brown paper afford sufficient protection. Parcels which are found to be inadequately protected will not lie forwarded. Even where proper materials are used, it is important that the contents should be tightly packed so as not to shake about during transit. The following forms of packing are recommended;

(i) Strong double cardboard or strawboard boxes. Those made of corrugated cardboard and having lids which completely enclofj the sides of the box are the most suitable. (ii) Tin boxes such is are used for packing biscuits. (iii) Strong wooden boxes. (iv) Several folds 6f stout packing paper. Butter, margarine, dripping, etc., should be several folds ci' grease-proof paper and enclosed in a tin which should be sealed or have a tightly fitting lid; the tin should be enclosed with any other, articles for in an outer box. The address must be clearly written in ink in at least two places on the outer cover of each parcel. All parcels should be packed in such a way as not to impede examination by the censors. (b) Despatch notes are not necessary ; but the name and address of the sender must be clearly shown on the covers of all parcels for prisoners of war. Customs declarations, which must be prepared in ink in duplicate, are only required for parcels addressed to Holland. (c) Letters must not be enclosed in parcels, but must be sent separately by letter post. (d) .According to present information prisoners of war and civilians interned abroad are allowed to receive | any articles of food and clothing,, as well as tobacco, if sent from the United Kingdom. Mo Customs Duty is payable. Information as to any special restrictions that may be imposed from time to time at particular camps, and also as to articles of clothing which it is desirable to send can bp obtaippd;, from the Prisoners of Wpr... Help,..Committee (see para- • graph 10). ' (e) Foodstuffs of a perishable nature must not bo sent. ' (f) Matches must not be sent. 5. Newspapers, newspaper-cuttings and magazines must on no account be sent either by letter, printed papers, or parcel post to prisoners of war in enemy countries. They may, however, lie sent to British soldiers or sailors who are interned in neutral countries, but newspapers and ruaga- , izines must ba sent by printed papers prist.'- i; .c.;' i I h6J '’Registration and insurance.— Letters to prisoners of war may ho insured under the usual conditions, except to Turkey and Bulgaria. Let- ( tens addressed to Holland only may i also ho registered. | Parcels may he insured (except to Turkey and Bulgaria). Insured boxes may lie sent under the usual conditions to prisoners of hvajj SffeSuM iiHHenAany and Holland. No charge is made either for rogis-j tration or for insurance; but the fact j of registration or insurance does not necessarily give any claim to compensation for loss or damage. , Letters and parcels cannot be ac- , cepted for insurance unless adequately packed 'and securely fastened with a seal hearing a private mark ol , the sender. 7. Remittance of money.—Remittances to prisoners of war should he , made by means of money orders, which are issued free of commission. Telegraph money orders are not allowed. Remittances of money to Brit- , hdi prisoners of war in Germany and Austria only can also be made through the Prisoners of War Help . Committee free of charge (see para- , graph 12). Postal orders Treasury notes and j , bank notes should not be sent. The transmission of coin, either in letters or in parcels, is prohibited. 8. No guarantee of the delivery of either parcels or letters can be given. Considerable delay may take place; and failure to receive an acknowledgment need not bo taken to moan that letters and parcels sent have not been delivered. 9. Prisoners of war abroad are allowed to write letters or postcards from time to time; but they may not always have facilities for doing so; and the fact that no communication is received from them need not give rise to anxiety. 10. Prisoners of War Help Commit-tee.-Persons seeking information and advice with regard to British prisoners of war are invited to apply to the Prisoners of War Help Committee. 39, Russell Square, Bloomsbury, London, W.C. 11. Packets weighing more than 11 lb. or exceeding 34 feet in length, or 6 feet in length and girth combined, cannot ho sent by post, but can now be sent free of all charge for conveyance through the agency of the Prisoners of War Help Committee, except to Turkey. They should lie

addressed to the American Express Company, 6, llaymarket, S.W. Special labels must be used for such packets. These can be obtained iree of charge from the Prisoners of War Help Committee, who will also furnish full particulars of the conditions to he observed in the case of such consignments. 12. By arrangements with the American Express Company, the Prisoners of War Help Committee will remit sums to any amount to British prisoners of war, naval, military, or civilian, in Germany, Austria, or Holland, for individuals or tor distribution at the Camps. Forms for the purpose cair he obtained from the Committee. 13. Useful articles-The Prisoners of War Help Committee suggests the following articles as likely to be most useful to prisoners :—*• (a) Articles of Food: — Biscuits, butter, cake, cheese, chocolate, coffee and milk, cocoa and milk, dried fruit, golden syrup, jams, meats, prepared oats, sardines, sug.u. ' (b) Underclothing, (c) Packs of cards and games, (d) Tobacco.