Evening star., 1943-05-03
Reports Reveal No
Americans ShackIed
In Nazi Camps
Dota on Conditions
Up to ; Months Ago
Received in London
BY THOMAS r. HENRY,
Star Staff Correspondent.


Star Staff Correspondent
LONDON (By Maid Reports of
conditions as late as three months
ago have just been received from
International Red Cross inspectors
on the condition OF German prison
camps where American prisoners of
war, most of them airmen, are con-
fined.
These reports come to the British
and Canadian Red Gross headquar-
ters here. There are a relatively
small number of American prison.
ers and no special camp has been
provided for them. They are i'm
prisoned with the British.
The reports show little to which
serious objections can be raised. In
some camps, selected British prison.
ers are placed in irons part of each
day, but this appears to be only a
gesture on the part of the captors.
No Americans, so far as known, have
been subjected to this.
Little Change Envisioned.
There Is no reason to suppose that
conditions have changed either for
better or worse since the inspectors
visited the camps. Red Cross officials
say. About the only reason for such
changes would be the appointment
of new German commanders who
were especially lenient or especially
hard boiled.
The reports:
Stalag, Luft Three, at Sagan,
half way between Berlin and Bres-
lau. Here probably the largest num-
ber of captured American air crews
are confined. The latest report was
that there were ITO officers and 1877
enlitsed men here. the majority
members of the Royal Air Force.
Here is the latest report on it to
reach England, but it describes con-
ditions as they were nearly six
months ago:
This camp is built in a pine
forest and consists of new barracks.
Indoor space is somewhat restricted,
especially among the non-commis-
stoned officers, but there is no lack
of outdoor space and the camp is
said to be a real athletic training
camp where all sports-boxing
fencing, footban-are keenly prac-
tised. Several qualified teachers
organize intellectual activities.
Not Enough Stoves.
I'm each hut there are stoves for
private cooking, but not enough for
tho loron rol,vphor 1f
take their meals in their dormi-
tories. Clothing is said to be in
fairly good condition, each prisoner
of war having at least one good
uniform and one pair of shoes. The
canteen now is almost on-existent,
owing to the great difficulty in pro-
curing necessary articles.
"A we'll equipped infirmary is
under the care of a German doctor
and two British army doctors. A
German military dentist works for
the prisoners of war Sanitary ar
rangements are not very good.
Water does not flow away quickly,
owing to the very fine, sandy soil
which quickly becomes impermeable
to soapy water. Cold water is
plentiful and prisoners are able to
have hot showers at least once
week"
Several letters have been received
here from Air Forces prisoners in
Stalag Luft One, above Rostock on
the Baltic. but the latest report
on it IS almost a year old. Most
of the men probably have been
transferred to the newer Luft Three
at Sagan.
Condition Corrected.
Some write from Stalag Eight B,
the location of which is not stated
but which is probably the largest
British prisoner of war camp in
Germany. Many complaints were
received about conditions there un-
til the German commander was re-
moved in December. Since then
there has been considerable i'm
provement. There is hospital
there with resident staff of eight
British medical officers, one of them
an eye specialist, and a diet kitchen
where special diets ordered for the
sick are made up from Red Cross
parcels.
There are four work camps at
tached to this camp. At one the
prisoners operate paper mill. At
another they work in cement
plant and live on the factory prem
ises. Two other detachments are
engaged in building railway
bridge and their living conditions
are not very satisfactory.
Some Americans at Milax.
Some American prisoners are
known to be at Milag and Marlag
Nord, not far from the North Sea
coast. The latest report:
There is plenty of free space.
In some of the rooms the light was
said to be rather poor, but stronger
bulbs were procurable in the can
teen. There are no bathing facili-
ties, but officers and men have
separate washrooms with running
cold water and hot water can be
had from the kitchen. There are
two British doctors and a dentist
In attendance in the infirmary."
Ber|e Declares Invasion