Evening star., 1945-01-29
Letters to The Star
MIR. Graham Reports on Relief
For Prisoners of War
RI tbe ud,tor ~ m. s,r.

To the Editor Of The Star:
Residents of Washington and nearby
counties who contributed total of over
$4,850,O00 to the 1945 Community War
Fund campaign and who may have sons
among prisoners of war in Germany
probably will be interested to learn how
their dollars are bringing comfort and
diversion to hapless men in Nazi prison
camps.
A cabled report just received from a
representative of War Prisoners Aid of
the YMCA, whose work is financed by
the National War Fund through con-
tributions to community war funds,
gives revealing account of conditions
in German camps.
On visit to Stalag III-C, the repre-
sentative reported that despite snow
and terrific wind, 800 war prisoners
attended an outdoor boxing match last
ing an hour and half, followed in the
evening by jazz concert by the camp
orchestra playing instruments sent by
War Prisoners Aid. Health conditions,
he said, were fine, with only few men
in the hospital. Morale there was also
good and American prisoners popular
with those of other nationalities.
At Stalag Luft 4, visited on Christmas
Day, the representative reported that
since his previous visit, when the men
were playing football with an impro-
vised ball made of old shoes, and when
they had no musical instruments or
books. supplies were now pouring in
all kinds of sports equipment, three
pianos. two harmoniums, gramaphones,
records, games books, painting supplies,
etc. Seasonal sports were daily attrac-
tions, and Kinks were then being readied
for ice hockey.
In every barracks in this camp on
Christmas eve, orchestras were playing
swing music and the men were singing
carols. At midnight all the prisoners
assembled on the sports ground as "Si-
lent Night, Holy Night" and God Save
America" were sung, followed by two
minutes silence. after which the men
returned to their barracks Christmas
Day was marked by services, concerts
and shows, and the men generally ex-
pressed appreciation for help extended
by War Prisoners Aid.
Similar conditions prevailed at Sta
lag Luft 8. visited by another repre-
sentative of War Prisoners Aid and
where there were fantastic Christmas
cakes, a splendid turkey dinner, decora-
tions, paper caps, toys, and services
songs, concerts and theatrical perform
ances. At that camp, Gen. Vanaman
of Butler, Pennsylvania. and Col.
spivey of Jersey City, participated in
the celebration, and in an address to
the men expressed gratitude for ma
terials and equipment sent to that
camp.
Relatives of American prisoners of
war may derive comfort and satisfac-
ton in the knowledge that, unfortunate
as may be the lot of loved ones in en-
emy prison camps, their plight is made
much less drab and dreary by the work
of War Prisoners Aid, made possible
solely by the contributions of generous
Americans. With the increased tempo
of the war effort, it Is certain that there
will be greater number of our men
taken prisoners, and until the end of
the war. as well as for a long time
thereafter, there will be a continuing
demand for the benevolent services of
War Prisoners Aid.
E. O. GRAHAM,
General Chairman,
Community War Fund.