PRISONERS OF WAR

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 February 1943, Page 3

PRISONERS OF WAR

INQUIRY OFFICE REPORT

TREATMENT IN ITALY.

CONDITIONS REGARDING PARCELS'. ’

(By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. Cabled advice received by the Prisoners of War Inquiry Office states ‘ tjiat there are over 1,100 officers and privates in Camp P.G. 47, which now has a small new concrete barracks ajig vegetable gardens. The for the troops have bupks ip two tiep£ with forty men to a room. There ar’e weekly hot showers and full conveniences. A civilian dentist calls twice'a week, and the medical care is of an excellent standard. Parcels arrive regularly, but the report states that medical and invalid parcels are required, and that shoes are not in a good state owing to 'the lack of leather for repairs.

A report regarding Military Efqspital 201, in Italy, states that it houses' over 300 sick and wounded men, with five British medical officers and a chaplain The medical officers are allowed to practise under an Italian medical director. Food is described as abundant, well cooked and varied. Fish apd ipeat are served daily, and all ranks receive wine.

Cabled advice has been received that only khaki-coloured pullovers are now allowed to prisoners of war in Italy, and it is also strongly recommended that all scarves, mufflers, gloves and helmets for prisoners in Italian camps should be of khaki wool, but that grey socks will probably be allowed. The Prisoners of War Inquiry Office headquarters, on receipt of this advice, immediately cabled to Geneva requesting that representations be made to the Italian authorities to ensure that parcels already on the way, which include knitted comforts other than khaki,, may be delivered.

The report confirms that prisoners of war, whose addresses were formerly stalag XV. 11l D, should now be addressed Stalag XVIII. B. The Inquiry Office receives a number of inquiries regarding the' sending of Army hats to prisoners, and a cablegram just to hand states that the authorities are doubtful as to the advisability of sending New Zealand hats, owing to the liability of their being made unserviceable' by creasing when sent in parcels.