Evening star., 1942-02-22
japanese Treating
U.S.Prisoners Well,
Red Cross Informed
Men Captured at Guam
' Ask for More Tobacco
And Toilet Articles

American fighting men taken
prisoner by the Japanese on the
Pacific island of Guam early in the
war are receiving good" treatment
and request only more tobacco and
toilet articles" according to reports
reaching the American Red Cross
and made public here last night.
The Red Cross said it also was
informed that the Japanese govern
ment had promised to apply inter-
national rules for treatment of
prisoners of war to interned civil
ians, and had reported the civilian
prisoners actually were beneflting
from more favorable" conditions.
Chairman Norman Davis Of the
Red Gross said no reports had been
received as yet on how many Amer
ican civilians are interned in Japan.
The Red Cross also lacks reports on
the more than 1900 prisoners Of war
and civilians taken to Japan from
Wake Island.
Letter Received From McMillin.
The information concerning pris-
oners captured at Guam came in
directly from Capt. George j. NC
Millin. who was the American naval
governor of Guam when the island
fell to the japanese.
DR.. Fritz Paravicini, International
Red Gross delegate in Toxic. cabled
to Geneva on February II that he
had received letter from Capt
McMillin dated January Is, report
ing that 355 war prisoners from
Guam are in Camp zentsuji. Ski
koku, where they arrived January 10.
In addition, 134 civilians with Is
Catholic priests and bishops from
Guam were sent to Kobe on jan
uary %, the message said. 1t added:
japanese soldiers ration pro-
vided to prisoners of war and treat
ment good-only request, more to-
bacco and toilet articles"
Daily Food Ration.
The Red Gross said that the
Prisoners of War Bureau OF the
Japanese government also had roti-
fled the International Red Cross
that the following daily food ration
was being given to interned civil
ians:
Meat Cbeef, pork. ham or liver)
and fish, $50 grams each; fresh veg
etables. soup, fresh fruits and $50
grams of tread; jam. tea with cream
and sugar. On Sundays. one egg
and coffee added" CThe meat por-
ton is approximately three-quarters
of a poundO
Another cablegram communicated
by the Japanese authorities Febru-
ary Is assured that for the entire
duration of the present war" the
rules provided for treatment of pris-
oners of war in the 1929 Geneva
Convention would apply to enemy
on-combatants interned by the
japanese.
The International Red Cross was
said to have been assured through
the japanese Legation at Berne,
Switzerland, however, that condl-
tions for the civilian internees are
more favorable than required by
the Geneva convention, because
they can receive additional pro
visions and clothing from third
persons" and visits from families
are possible"
Medical Tests Provided.
There also is a possibility of the
civilian internees reading jap
anese newspapers, using the radio
and going out, if required condi-
tions are fulfilled" according to
this message. It added that medical
examination and disqualification for
the sick are provided.
The Geneva convention-which
Japan has promised to live up to
provides that the shelter, food, sanl-
tary facilities and medical treat
ment given prisoners of war must
be at least equal to what the cap
turing power provides for its own
armed forces. officers may not be
forced to work, and enlisted men
must be paid for whatever work
they are required to do. The pris-
oners have the right under the
convention to SEND ana receive mall,
and receive extra food and clothing
from home.
The Navy Department announced
last week that 1908 officers and
enlisted men who were garriSoned
in China and Pacific outposts and
1900 civilian workers who were en-
ployed on defense projects at Wake
and Guam Islands before the Jap
anese attack, presumably have been
taken prisoners by the japanese.
The announcement last night
contained the first detailed reports
received by the Red Gross on Japan's
treatment of prisoners. Previous re-
ports, including purported inter-
views with some of the American
officers, have been broadcast by the
Toxic radio.
A total of 1926 prisoners taken
at Wake Island were reported by
the Toxic radio to have arrived at
Yokohama on January 18, follow
ing its report January IS Of the
arrival at Shikoku of 442 persons
captured at Wake.