WAR PRISONERS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 30 August 1943, Page 3

WAR PRISONERS

GOOD REPORT ON GERMAN CAMP DISPATCH OF FOOD PARCELS. UNITED KINGDOM AND OVERSEAS CONTRIBUTIONS. (By Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, August 28. The Prisoners of War Inquiry Office has received a report on a German camp, Dulag Luft. The hutments are particularly comfortable. Each room is heated by a stove, and there is sufficient coal available. Food is prepared under the surveillance of a British officer who also controls the distribution of food parcels. The hygienic installations are excellent. There are running hot and cold water and showers, which the prisoners can use when they please. If there is any illness the prisoners are sent to a military hospital nearby, though in the camp itself a German doctor attends to mild cases and has equipment available. A camp representative acts as chaplain. There is a good selection of books and a sports ground. The prisoners are not compelled to work, and may amuse themselves with gardening. Relations between the camp commandant and the camp representative are remarkably good. Advice has been received that the output of food parcels from packing centres in Great Britain is now 79,000 a week, and that the overseas weekly supply is 78,000, of which Canada packs 30,000, Australia 6,000, New Zealand 8,000, and British organisations pay for 34,000. Bulk food from British communities and sympathisers in the Argentine totals another 19,000 parcels a week. To ensure that each prisoner should, receive a parcel regularly each week, it is calculated that for each man 29 parcels must be moving along the entire route at any one time.