WAR PRISONERS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 19 July 1943, Page 3

WAR PRISONERS

DOING MANV KINDS OF WORK IN GERMAN FACTORIES & MINES. INQUIRY OFFICE REPORT. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON. July 17. Further particulars received by the Prisoners of War Inquiry Office as to the types of work British prisoners of war are doing in various camps are:—Stalag 38, railways and road-making, making electric accumulators, carburettors, etc., digging and loading sand lignite works in open and underground. Stalag IV A.C.. quarrying, trench digging, tree felling, coal mining and mud and sewer pits, steel and iron pipe factories. Stalag Vll, A, construction of housing estate, building embankments, railway construction, dustmen and snow clearing. Stalag IC. salt and stone mines and quarries, plumbing in private houses, tree felling, building on small estates, tobacco factory, fitters and welders, erecting electric standards. Stalag XVIII B, tending furnaces, road making saw and' flour mills, farming, stone breaking, building bridge, forestry Stalag XX A, mechanical and 'blacksmith s on farms, potato sorting, road work, snow shifting, etc., repairing of houses, large factory (industry not known). , „ The only information from Italy relative to the types of work in which British prisoners are engaged is to the effect that they are employed in farming, land reclamation, road work and building work generally, including helping to build camps and barracks, gardening, plate works and waterA report has been received regarding the Stalag 111 D. work detachment 329, which was visited on May 28 by a doctor stated to be Dr. Neale., a New Zealander. There were six medical personnel and 49 n.c.o s., who were working voluntarily and were stated to be located in an excellent situation. Food was satisfactory, although the sufficiency of ration was only due to the receipt of bulk food parcels. Health was good and sanitary conditions and medical attention were satisfactory. Religious services weie held. The report concludes to the effect that the labour is hard, but the work detachment is classified as good. _ The office has received cabled information to the effect that packing centies may now accept khaki, brown or blue overalls oi boiler suits in next-of-kin quarterly parcels. They must be made in one piece only, not trousers and. blouse separately, which definitely are not allowed. The cablegram states plainly that these overalls can only be sent if prisoners actually request them. It is reaffirmed that football boots are not permitted to be included in parcels for Italy.