The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1944-08-13

T. cept Sucn as the japanese censor
permits. I know definitely that eff
t forts were being made to get books
: for the prisoners of war. Some
medical attention is available for
, them"
While it is probable that next of
kin Christmas parcels cannot be
delivered to prisoners of war held
!. by Japan, the prospects for deliv-
| cry of the Red Cross Christmas
packages are much better than
they were last year. And recent
flat rate of $500 plus a 10 per
cent tax for 10-word cable to the
Far East will encourage m n y
next of kin who have not sent a
cable this year to send one through
the Red Cross. Special cards to
be used in writing prisoners OF
war in the Far East can be had
at the Red Cross office in the
Trust building.
The repatriates from German
camps, and in particular Luft III,
show much variation in their ac-
counts of life there. But the fol-
lowing account, written for h e
prisoners of war bulletin by Lieut..
Louis S. Means of Whittier, Calf,
repatriated on the Gripsholm in
March, sis full of facts. and re-
markedly free of emotional over
tones.
1.-The weekly issue of Red Cross
food packages saves the day as
far as food is concerned, and it
would be a little rough without
them. The camp has American,
Canadian, and English food pack
ages on hand, and usually these
are alternated from week to week,
allowing the boys little change
as the packages vary somewhat.
There is further an occasional
bulk issue of differ ent things pur-
chased on tie South American,
Turkish, and New Zealand mar
kets, and invalid comfort packages
for those who might be i'll or need
special diet. When I left. the
camp had four months reserve
of food packages, and il was said
that over million packages were
held in Geneva with more arriving
all the time.
"Seed parcels are also sent out
by the Red Cross, and gardens
planted in the spring yield some
good vegetables later on. The diet
is evidently adequate because you
couldn't find a bunch of healthier
lads in an America army camp.
Some of the amateur c h e in
camp can turn out dishes h
make even the mouths of their
German captors water. Personal
parcels from home might include
soda or baking powder Ito make
those homemade cakes rise a little
higher, and spices such as Gin
namon and nutmeg for flavoring.
According to the Geneva Con-
vention, uniforms cannot be con-
fiscated. This has be adhered to
fairly well by the Germans, though
any equipment that is the proper
ty of the Army Air Force, such
as flying boots. coveralls, ETC., may
be taken. Both at Dulag Luft and
Luft III adequate supplies of reg
ular CT clothing are now on hand
and are issued by our supply Of
flcers as needed; shoes, under
clothing Cloth light and heavy.
shirts, pants, overcoats, gloves and
so forth. Some toilet articles are
also issued upon entering camp
l don't think it is necessary to
send dress uniforms from home,
unless specifically asked for by
the boys. Insignia, however, are
IN demand. Besides the German
issue of two blankets, each man
receives either a good warm Red
cross blanket or regular army
blanket.
'The barracks at Luft III hold
from 60 to 80 men each, and have
been partitioned off in more or
less make-shift fashion into grouns
Tor eight or 10 men. These men
nave mess together, taking turns
at the various jobs of cooking
washing dishes, etc. There are an.
proxlmately four stoves to bar
racks, with sufficient coal for
cooking and heating in the eve.
nlngs. At present, the barracks
are being divided into rooms with
the, Germans supplying the mate.
rails and our men the labor
Sanitary facilities are quite
good, with well-built latrines wash
rooms, and so forth. The bar of
soap in the weekly food package
plus the German ration, is ade.
quate for both personal use and
the washing of clothes. Hot show
ers are allowed at least once =
week, and the hospital has tubs
that may be used by any wounded
or disabled men. There is dailv
sick CALI and medical facilities
are quite good. Three British den.
lists with excellent equipment. take
care of the dental needs in canon
even to the extent of making full
or partial dental plates.
The camp is divided into four
man compounds, two America
and two British, each of which
contained approximately 800 Off
Ger prisoners last January. We
nave our own commanding Off
GERS, block commanders etc ,nd