PRISONERS OF WAR.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 May 1919, Page 5

PRISONERS OF WAR.

TO BE REPATRIATED. By Telegraph.—Press Association. Auckland, Last Night. A party of 108 prisoners of war was despatched for Wellington by special train to-night to join the Willochra en route to Germany. The party comprised 71 German men, 3 women, 13 children, and 80 Jugo-Slavs, who desire to be repatriated, and one Austrian. The party includes Dr. Sehultz, ex-governor of Samoa, Count Von Luckner, and Lieut. Kirclieiss. No crowds .gathered to witness the march through Devonport, but small boys took evident relish in "counting out" the prisoners as they passed. (From Our Own Correspondent.) Wellington, May 12.

The steamer Willoehra,' which is to take a cargo of German prisoners of war and internees from New Zealand and Australia, is dife to leave Wellington With some hundreds of enemy subjects on Wednesday, There are about 242 prisoners to come from Featherston internment camp, and others are to be collected by the Willoehra from Auckland. Arrangements are being made'tb prevent public curiosity taking an aggressive form when the men are being taken aboard the ship'in Wellington. The Willoehra will proceed to Australia, where a large body of Germans will bo embarked; The ship is bound for Rotterdam.

Since the original arrangement for the repatriation of the internees was made, a few of the men held in the internment camps have been released. These men were Poles, who were technically Germans until the new Polish State came into existence. The authorities here have not attempted to define nationalities, and the men released are those for whom passports, recognised by the Foreign Office, had been issued by the Polish Committee in London. ( There are still men of doubtful nationality among' the prisoners set down for repatriation, but apparently the men are content to accept the, free trip offered them to Europe. The New Zealand Government; -is very glad to provide them. qfa ----- --*- ------