Wairarapa Times-Age TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 1943. WAR PRISONERS IN ITALY.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 28 September 1943, Page 2

Wairarapa Times-Age TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 1943. WAR PRISONERS IN ITALY.

QNE effect of the victoriously extending campaign in Italy in which Allied forces are acquitting themselves so valiantly is to create new problems where Allied prisoners of w.ar who are or were lodged in Italian camps are concerned. The problem is of serious interest.to this country, since the prisoners in question include some thousands of New Zealanders. At the moment only incomplete and fragmentary information as to what has happened is available. The Italians appear in general to have done what, they could to liberate Avar prisoners, but to have been unable to deliver any of them safely to the Allied invading forces. Some of the liberated men are said to have been assisted to make their way to Switzerland. Others may be co-operating with Italian units which are reported to be fighting against the Germans, particularly in northern Italy. The Germans on their ’part claim to have, rounded up considerable numbers of the Allied prisoners lately in Italian hands, and conveyed them to Germany, The situation is one that cannot but be regarded with anxiety by the people of this country and particularly by the kinsfolk of men now exposed,to new dangers and hardships. Unwelcome as the conclusion may be, the outcome, in the extent to which it is dependent on Avar dcA’clopments, must in the main be awaited with patience and with whatever hope may seem to be warranted. Every effort certainly should be made, however, to ascertain whether New Zealanders, amongst others, have been transferred to Germany, and if they have to facilitate the dispatch to them as speedily as possible of necessities and comforts of which they are likely to stand greatly in need. The transmission of next of kin parcels to men held prisoner in Italy was in some instances at least 11 very slow and uncertain process and new difficulties will arise in the ease of any of these men avlio have now been moved to Germany. The Government should regard it as an imperative duty to see to it that everything practicable is done, through 'the High Commissioner’s Office in London and the International Red Cross, to locate Ncav Zealanders who have been transferred to Germany, or have escaped to Switzerland, to supply them with necessities and to facilitate the dispatch to them of letters and parcels for their kinsfolk. It is, of course, to be taken for granted that Allied land and naval forces will make every effort to get into contact with former Allied prisoners now at large in Italian or neighbouring territory. Any of these men transferred to Germany may benefit to some extent under standing arrangements for the transmission of food, clothing and other supplies to British and Dominion Avar prisoners in that country. The procedure, however, under which it has hitherto been possible for people in New Zealand to send parcels to kinsmen detained in Italian, prisoner of Avar camps has now .fallen to the ground. Information is available that parcels in this category conveyed to many of our men clothing and other things of which they had great need and that other men had long and anxiously awaited the arrival of such parcels. It is of great importance that information should be obtained as speedily as possible regarding the location of any New Zealanders who may have been transferred to Germany, so that the relatives of these men may be enabled to dispatch parcels with some hope of their reaching the intended recipients.