The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-04-28
-ARE WE coDDLINc PRISONERS OF WARI-lII-
Army Praises Italian Prisoners
For Aid In u. S. War Output
BY S. BURTON HEATH
NRA Staff Cnrraannnhent

Washinton, April 26-There has
been much criticism Of liberties that
the Army has granted : Italian
prisoners OF war in this country.
These are in addition to and quite
apart from the criticisms discussed
in previous articles. They come
from persons who live near camps
housing Italian prisoners, and from
soldiers who have been told that
while they fight, their girl friends
are dancing with Italian prisoners
in the safety Of the United States.
With reservations, and subject to
their background, many OF these
stories are true. Here are the back
grounds and the reservations as CIV
en- by Spokesman for the Army"
AS Of April l there were 50,549
country. Approximately $4,000 Of
Italian prisoners of war in this
these were in special service units
which are not under jurisdiction OF
the Provost Marshal Generals Of
flee, which looks after all other
prisoners except in theaters OF war
fare.
The $4,000 not in such units are
treated exactly like the German
prisoners Of whom I have written.
The complaints center about the
Service Units.
he ISUs are made up Of Italians
who, in view Of the changed status
Of their country. now a co-belliger-
ent against Germany, have volun-
teered to waive certain provisions OF
the Geneva Convention.
All have signed agreements per-
hitting their employment on direct
war Jobs thet we cannot legally even
ask prisoners to do. A few, in sign
ing, have scratched out the prohibit
ton upon combat duty, but these
have not been taken up on that OF
fer.
Mai. Gen. Archer L. Lerch, Pro-
vost Marshal General, says that
these italians are used exclusively
to supplement American civilian Ia
Dor where an acute shortage has
threatened to disrupt operations es-
sential to the war effort.
MILLION MAN-DAYS
"Officials have declared fatty"
he says, chat without the serv-
ices of these men their shipping
schedules Of critically-needed ma
terial could not have been met, that
bottlenecks could not have been
overcome, that production could not
have been increased"
It is estimated that at present
the ISUs are providing million
man-days a month at critical points
in our war effort. They can stop
whenever they choose, and go back
to limited tasks not directly con-
nected with the war.
Perhaps some Of these Italians are
doing this work for love OF this
country or Of democracy, or out OF
hatred for Germany. Most Of them
are doing it for the extra pay In
volved. That pay is the privilege OF
taking So a month - one-third OF
Of their entire wage-in cash, in
stead OF canteen checks, plus the
recreational opportunities whic h
have caused public criticism.
They live in camps. They work
under supervision but not under
armed guard. They can visit PXS
theaters and chapels in camp. They
can have relatives and friends WISH
them.
Under military escort, when In
vited, they can make limited trips
outside the camp, including attend
ance upon entertainments and a,
parties arranged by nearby civilians
but only If the government OF the
community has given its sanction
If they travel by special bus they
must pay for it themselves-the
Army does not provide it.
Except that they get some in
cash, their monetary pay is no
more than as If they were doing
regular prisoner of-War work. Their
real reward is the privileges men
toned. For this, in many places
they work So hours week-some-
times plus another eight hours OF
orientation, training and drill-at
anything needed to help beat Ger
many or Japan or their North Italy
1
Fascist countrymen, except actual
combat or the handling OF explo-
SiveS.
LOW-PAID WORKERS
"They are the lowest paid class
of workers in our war effort" Gen
eral Lerch says.
They wear American Army uni
forms, usually Glass B, with plain
bone buttons instead Of the regula-
lions military button. A shoulder
patch, easily readable at some dis
lance, says ITALY" They are per-
mitted, under the Geneva Conven-
ton, to wear insignia Of their rank
in the Italian Army.
That is the Army's explanation
Of why Italians, captured fighting
against our men in North Africa
and Italy, are granted privileges
unusual for prisoners-of-war IN any
country.