Evening star., 1944-11-02
Prisoners Pay
On Farms Nets
u. 5. y Million
Regular Scale Goes
To Treasury, Worker
Gets 80 Cents q Day
BY MALCOLM LAMBORNE, Jr.

Inc united States Treasury Is
between $7,500,OO0 and $4,000 900
richer, thanks to German and Ital-
ian prisoners of war who have
worked 4,l25,000 man days for
American agriculture since the first
of the prisoners captured in North
Africa went to work on farms in
June, 1943.
This was disclosed in figures sup
piled by the Provost Marshal Gen.
erals Office and made public for
the first time today. 1t was also
learned that many important food
crops had been saved by prisoner
of war labor during the year.
The money turned over to the
Treasury comprises checks made out
to the Government for wages earned
oy the prisoners at prevailing rates
The prisoners are paid 80 cents a
day by the Army. The farmer, who
pledges to pay for the labor at pre-
Valllng wage of civilians, sends his
check instead to the Treasury.
Highlights of Program.
Here are some of the highlights
OF prisoner of war assistance to
the Nations farm program as dis
closed for the first time by the
Provost Marshal Generals Office:
Southern Louisianas important
sugar cane crop was saved last win
ter only when some 5000 German
prisoners were rushed into the State
q n i,, Ill
This probably averted a more seri-
Gus sugar shortage in the United
States, according to one authority.
Similarly, Indiana's tomato crop
last year was saved by some 1900
German and Italian prisoners of
war who later assisted in the pack
ing of the crop which suddenly
rlpened after spell of wet weather !
German prisoners have been
termed 'lifesavers' Of the Idaho
and Maine potato crops this year
providing badly needed labor in
those two important potato-pro-
ducing States.
Widely Used as Gamers.
Prisoners have played an i'm
portant part in food processing. be-
Ing employed in canning plants
usually IN areas where they helped
harvest crops. The men have been
SO widely used in this industry that
it is better than a $3.50 chance that
the can of peas you open for dinner
has been handled by a prisoner of
war at some stage
1t is pointed out that prisoners
are not used in the actual cooking
and packing of fruits and vegetables
and therefore the danger of that
can of peas being "sabotaged" is
practically nil. Rather, the men
are employed in unloading of fresh |
produce at the plant, in labelling of
cans, their packaging into cartons
and finally the loading of cartons
for distribution.
The Army also has a policy of
feeding the men food they help
pack. Many of the prisoners take
pride In this work, officials report,
and 1t helps improve morale.
1t is estimated that about $4,000 .
prisoners among more than 300 900 .
last reported in this country en-
gagged in farming and food process
ing during September,
Aid in Forestry, Logging.
About $15,000,0O0 - including the
nearly 100000 sum from agricul-
ture-has been earned for the Treas
ury as result of labor contribu-
tions made by prisoners of war in
non-Army activities, officials dis
closed. Most important assistance,
after agriculture and food process
ing, has been rendered in forestry
and logging, particularly in supply
ing more pulpWood for the Nation.
Brig. Gen. Philip G. Bruton, head
of the farm labor program for the
War Food Administration, halls the
ma ior contribution of war prison.
erS in saving crops and points out
that the only alternative would have
been calling out American troops to
save crops.
Department officials also disclosed
that Georgia, California and Michi-
gan fruit growers have praised the
work of German prisoners who have
proved thorough in pruning and
caring for treese