Trench and camp. ([Admiral, Md.) 1917-1919, 1918-06-20

The following statement Is author
lied by the War Department:
Relatives Of American soldiers who
are prisoners of war are being
promptly informed of their status
and movements 50 far as il Id pos
sible to obtain the facts. This task
is being performed by the Prisoners
of War Section of the miscellaneous
division of the Adjutant Generals
office in the War Department with the
cooperation of the Red Cross.
Up to date this section has for
warded information to relatives OF
about see imprisoned Americans.
nearly zoe Of these being civilians,
including members Of ship crews who
were interned in Germany ut the omt-
break of the war. While considerably
more than 100 American E0ldiers
have been reported by Gen. Pershing
as missing, only about this number
have been located in prison camps.
No reports have been received reaa-
tive to the whereabouts Of 1913 Amer-
leans claimed by the Germans to have
been captured i'm q recent engage
ment. SEINE az these probably have
Aeen included I'm the lists Of the m1Rs-
ing.
First News In AbomE q week
As a rule, reports Of the location Of
prisoners have reached the Prisoners
Of War Section Of the War Department
through the Red Cross within n week
or ten days after their capture. Usa-
ally the first reports give the tenn
pofary camp to which the prisoaers
are taken. Often the prisoners are
moved to q second and sometimes q
third camp. In each case the word
usually comes through without much
delay.
Under the system adopted teie-
grams are sent to relatives first when
The men are reported to Con. Fersiafng
az missing. These kilograms are sent
by the statistical division OF the ADJ
jutant Generals Office. which also
handles casualties. The next tele-
grams are sent to relatives when In
formation arrives relative to their
Whereabouts in prison camps. These
kilograms go from the Prisoners OF
War Section.
simultaneously circular letters are
sent to relatives Of the Prisoners of
War Section informing them how
they may communicate with the cap
tured soldiers. As later information
arrives regarding the transfer Of prfs-
onefs from one camp to another tele-
grams are sent promptly to the rela- !
tives.
1t Is . surprise to many to learn
how easily It 10 possible for relatives
to communicate with prisoners. Prls-
oners OF war are entitled to receive
and send letters. money orders, and
n well as parcels by post
not exceeding IL ponds i'm weight.
When intended for international mail
these are free from all postal duties.
Addressing Of Mad
The mail should be addressed to
the prisoner. giving his rank, fall
name, and the name Of the prison
camp, IL known, followed by Prison
er OF War Mail. via New York" The
name and address of the sender mast
be given on the upper leit-hand COR
ner. and in the case Of parcei-post
packages the relationship Of the send
er to the prisoner also must be clearly
stated. The reason for this IL that
only one package may be sent per
month, and If greater number In
sent, the one apparently from the
prisoners next of kin is forwarded,
and the others held in New York
pending communication with the
sender, with whose consent such ex-
cess packages may be forwarded to
some other prisoner who in that par
ticular month has received no mack.
age from any source.
Subject to Strict Censorship
Letters are subject to a careful
and are not permitted to
contain anything of military nature
or to relate to any commercial trans
action. No leather goods may be
forwarded and no periodicals except
those published prior to the begin
ning OF the war. Articles which nav
be sent include sweaters, towels. an
oerwear, socks, handkerehiefs. gloves.
needles and thread. shirts, shoe laees'
tobacco, cigars, cigarettes, toilet ar
tfctes, including brushes, soap. tooth
paste, and shaving materials. hard
candy, crackers or biscuits, pens. pen-
ellis and pocket halves.
LONG DISTANCE PHOTOGRAPHY
AcCOFdiAr tn A~nwSn~m