WAR PRISONERS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 October 1943, Page 4

WAR PRISONERS

TREATMENT IN GERMANY SOME STILL CiiAINED REPURTEu EXECUTIONS BY NAZIS. CONDITIONS IMPROVED LATELY. (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 10.55 a.m.) •LONDON, October 19. British prisoners are still chained in Germany, says Reuter’s Gothenburg correspondent, after interviewing British wounded and protected personnel on their arrival from Germany for repatriation to Britain. “I got the general impression that their treatment had been decent,” the correspondent acids, "and that conditions gradually are improving. Most oi tne men attriouied me improvement firstly to a cnange oi guarus, wno m tne early days were alien rumless troops, out now are ooys aged 16 to I<, sometimes even 15, or complete invalids, aged from 50 to 55. Secondly, the Germans openly admit mat they have lost all hope oi victory and seem to be currying British favour. Cases of brutal treatment still occur. More than a thousand Canadians and R.A.F. N.C.O’s. were still chained three weeks ago in Salag 88, ‘in reprisal’ for Dieppe. An undetermined number are still chained in that camp and also in Stalag 9C. A Glasgow soldier who spent 18 months in Stalag 208, at Marienburg, estimated that the Germans in that period executed about 60 prisoners for attempting to escape, or for refusal or incapacity to work. The last case occurred five weeks ago, when a guard shot on the spot a prisoner who refused to work.” Over 100 British women, mostly elderly and ailing, who were interned at Vittell, in France, arrived with the British repatriated personnel at Gothenburg, says the Associated Press. The hospital ships Empress of Russia and Empress of the Atlantic were over 24 hour overdue in reaching Gothenburg. EXCHANGE AGREEMENT MESSAGE FROM THE BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY. (Bv Telegraph—Press Association.) WELLINGTON, This Day. A mesage received by the Prime Minister (Mr Fraser) from Mr A. Eden (British Foreign Secretary) gives full details of the arrangements for the exchange of prisoners of war. Mr Eden explains that the agreement for the exchange provides for the mutual repatriation from both sides, regardless of their rank or numbers, of all seriously sick and seriously wounded prisoners of war who have been recommended by medical authorities. Doctors, chaplains, medical orderlies and stretcher-bearers in excess of those needed for the care of their fellow prisoners are also being repatriated under the agreement.