Evening star., 1943-06-18
Army Asksn1 Million
To Support and Pay
355,8OO War Captiyes
Pay Alone Is Estimated
At S. Million, Under
Geneva Convention

Housing, clothing, feeding and
paying the 300 prisoners of war
the Army expectes to capture before
June, 1914, is expected to cost the
Government $27l .402,213, the House
Appropriations Committee reported
to the House today.
Payment of prisoners alone, in ac-
cordance with the Geneva conven-
ton, will cost more than $4,000, 900,
the House was told.
While some committee members
protested during hearings on the
Army supply bill against paying
prisoners in the light of the execu-
ton of American aviators who
bombed TOXIC, War Department Of
ficials insisted that they must abide
by the Geneva convention.
Germany, Italy Observe Pact.
Germany and Italy are generally
respecting the provisions of the
Geneva Convention on treatment of
prisoners, the committee was told.
American soldiers held in Ger
many, Army officers said, get the
same ration as provided the Ger
man Army and is better than the
civilians receive. In answer to a
question about Germany "chainlng
prisoners" War Department
spokesman said, I'VE have had no
reports that they have shackled any
of our prisoners"
The United States, Undersecretary
Of War Patterson said, has abided by
the agreement and I'VE intend to
adhere" to it, including provisions
for the payment of nominal sums to
war prisoners and for furnishing
adequate food rations.
Hospital Ships Reported.
Testimony that the Germans and
japanese have respected hospital
ships transporting wounded soldiers
home from the far-f1ung war fronts
was given by Maj Gen. James c.
Magee, until recently Army surgeon
general, who declared that the re-
cent sinking of an Australian hos
pital ship was "a departure from
japanese practice"
Earlier, in response to a question,
Maj. Gen. Larry B. McAfee, new su-
geon general, said fatty that the
Germans have respected the hos
pital ships.
Other high lights in the $50 pages
Of testimony included:
During the first year of the war
the Transportation Corps shipped
overseas six times the volume of
supplies and two and one-half times
as many men as were transported in
the first year Of the World War.
S1,S66, 100000 Saved.
Renegotiation of contracts saved
the War Department $1,S66, 900 900
from April %, 1912, to April 30, 1913.
All United States troops overseas
have full equipment and, in many
cases, have had full equipment
supplied twice.
1t Gen. Brehon B. Somervell,
chief of the Army Service Forces,
believes the United States tank MA
lis the best tank on the battle field
today" superior to the big Ger
man M-6.
Army expenditures will reach a
peak Of S60OO,0OO,OOO monthly along
about the end of this year.
The Quartermaster Corps buys
100000 pounds of food every day;
the Ordnance Department has pro-
duced enough ammunition to supply
1000 30-caliber and 50-caliber bull
lets to every soldier in the Army.
During the coming fiscal year, the
Air Forces program calls for an out
put of 10000 pilots, $4,000 bombar-
diers and $4,000 navigators.
BY the end of next year, the Quar-
termaster Corps hopes to have
about 10000 dogs in service, so we'll
pleased are Army officials with the
showing made to date by some 5000
already on duty.
An item for SO ,595, ,7os for dog food