PRISONERS OF WAR.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 January 1917, Page 6

PRISONERS OF WAR.

l.\ r TURKEY AND GERMANY. HIGH COMMISSIONER'S REPORT. In a report to the Minister of Defence' (Hon. P. Allen) regarding prisoners of var in Turkey, the High Commissioner mentions that he has received a posteawi from 10/1830 Pte. George Gunn, Wellington Battalion, prisoner of war No. W, Bilemedek Pozanti. Pie. G'uim was snf' fcring from rheumatism, and asked for medical comforts, which were dispatched. A postcard wasAeecived also from 10/ MS Pte. T. Gafl'ney, who was interned «t Hadji-Klri, Bilemedik Pozanti. Pte. Gafl'ney mentions that four out of i!ir ; six men at Hadji Kiri were suffmnj from fever at the time of writing. The High Commissioner quotes from the report of an official statement in the House of Commons on November 15 to the effect that, only incomplete lists of war prisoners had beeti obtained ' fro:n the Turkish Government. Apart from (he men taken prisoners in the Gallipoli operations, some 12,530 soldiers, including Indians, were believed to have been taken prisoners at Kut-01-Amara, but tlii information furnished by the Turkish Government served to identify only and to this must be added 764 men wim had been reported by means of private letters and other unofficial communications. The statement added that the Turks had resisted inspection of the prison camps by American representatives, and the coitions were believed to be far from satisfactory. Every effort was being made to improve the position through the agency of (lieUnited States Government.

Another document quoted by the High Commissioner was n report by the Aine'ican Embassy in Constantinople to l.lie effect that prisoners of war in the interior were .ihfe to purchase certain foodstuffs ii Mr possessed money. Tin prisoners hj: 1 .-r) that tea, sugar, tobacco, am! -Ups should be sent tfcem. Apparent !.v 'he articles of food most needed were beef extract, 000.1,1, arrowroot, cornflour, rolled oats, jam, ar,d other nourishing foods.

THOSE IN GERMANY. Willi regard to prisoners of war in Germany, it is mentioned that I't* Poole, of Latrobe. Tasmania, states that he is being treated well. Food and comforts which he had asked for have been dispatched to liim. He had been previously reported as killed. Ptc. Ciivran, of Wiidbush, Rivert.m, was wounded before capture. A postcard from John Boifon, 31st Battalion Australian Force?, sofi of Mr. Charles Bolton, Wellington, gives the information that he was taken prisoner and interned at Minister. Westphalia He was suffering from rhcnii.ntisrn a?d heart trouble, and nimh in need of boots and clothes. Ho has been consigned to the care of the Australian Red Cross Society. Owing partly to the increase in food prices, and partly to the fact that under the new regulations made by the Central Prisoners of War Committee, whereby "adopters" parcels to prisoners of war are likely to be more restricted, the High Court , has decided to increase the value of food parcels to 7s per week for each man. It is proposed to take advantage of the facilities for study offered to prisoners of \-ar by the British prisoners of war book scheme (educational) of which Mv Davies, of the Welsh 'Department of tin Board of Education, is lion. secretary, and the High Commissioner is eireularving all our prisoners inviting them to take up some form of study, so that their time may be more fully occupied. The High Commissioner has received a letter from the Central Prisoners of War Committee informing him that *'■» Now Zealand Prisoners of' War Dep' .i----r-.ent will be recognised as the "pa 'A Parcels Association" of the New Zeahnd Expeditionary Force. Regulations have been issued with the sanction of the War Office which will enable the High Commissioner to continue the work ol looking after the welfare of all New Zealand military and civilian prisoners interned in enemy countries. At the last meeting of the executive of the New Zealand War Contingent Association, it was reported that the month's expenditure under the heading of General Fund (comforts) Acwunts was £1024, and the balance £1024. The Red Cross Funds account, with an expenditure for the month of £44, stood at £4397. The balance in hand of "Speeta.l Objects Fund" was £304.