WAR PRISONERS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 18 July 1942, Page 4

WAR PRISONERS

INQUIRY OFFICE ADVICE. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. Although there are some exceptions, the Prisoners of War Inquiry Office in Wellington has been advised that it is not the custom of the Italian authorities to give men prisoner of war numbers. Next of kin, therefore, are informed that they should mot hold up any parcels or correspondence simply because they are anticipating getting a number. The Inquiry Office particularly desires that provincial offices should be given any recent information, of parcels being acknowledged by the relatives, either of men in Italy or on the Continent generally. There are still 500 New Zealanders the permanent addresses of whom the office has not yet received. A list of internees and prisoners of war held by the Japanese in Hong Kong has been sent to the secretaries of the Joint Council of the Order of St. John- and the Red Cross in the provinces and is now open to public scrutiny. Information has been supplied to the Inquiry Office of personal parcels having been received at Stalag 88, 18D, 18A, 18D, 9C, 58, PG7B (Italy), Stalag Luft 1 and Oflag 68. The total number of prisoners officially reported is 6,182, with 15 unofficial.