ARMY BOOTS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 3 July 1943, Page 3

ARMY BOOTS

MAY BE SENT TO WAR PRISONERS

IF REQUEST IS RECEIVED BY RELATIVES.

TREATMENT & APPLIANCES FOR THE DEAF.

(Bv Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON. This Day,

A deaf prisoner writing from a camp in Germany acknowledges receipt of a valve amplifier and sets of batteries. He says the set is in constant use at concerts and lectures which otherwise he could never have attended. It has opened a new social life for him. The Natonal Institute for the Deaf sends, through the Red Cross and St. John War Organisation, diagnosis sheets to deaf prisoners and medical officers, from which can be decided the kind of apparatus best suited to each individual. New batteries have to be despatched at intervals. Many prisoners suffering from slight degrees of deafness are studying lip reading from textbooks.

Repatriated prisoners who recently arrived in England remarked on the splendid work of the Portuguese Red Cross, under the supervision of Colonel Darnellas. who spent three days on the quay, prior to the arrival of a hospital ship, personally superintending arrangements for tiie reception of the wounded and providing everything necessary in the way of stretchers, beds, medical comforts and' personnel. The repatriated men were entertained at luncheon at clubs and institutes, and those not able to make the journey were provided for in the Customhouse premises, on the quayside. Army boots have now been made available by the Government for inclusion in quarterly parcels, in cases where next-of-kin have received requests from a prisoner relative for a pair in addition to those provided. Next-of-kin who have received such requests are instructed to reply to the Prisoner cf War Inquiry Office headquarters, giving the date of the request and the size required. The cost is 275. The boots will net be sent to the next-of-kin, but will be added to parcels at the depot.

The Germans have issued a warning in regard to prohibited articles in parcels that not only will they be removed, but the whole parcel will be liable to confiscation. Copies are wanted by the office of recent letters from Oflag IX. A/H.