12 VOL. I, THE UN'VERSITY OF TEXA LETTERS Haven't had so many dr Change of Address (Continued from jJage S, since leaving the desert. Had A 2 1 1944 All next of kin officially listed for sound track is in Itali'an. We gel hair clipped off again. My prin prisoners of war and civilian internees the same pictures as Chiete, a little almost worse than my writing! H LIBHA Y have the PRISONERS OF WAR BULLETIN After this taste of being addressed to them in the Office of the town near by. We're starting a new + Provost· Marshal General. The same soft-ball league next week. We have up, I'm going to be the rna address stencils are used for the mailing to make our own balls out of scraps RI SONERS OF WAR BULLETIN of information and parcel labels from abiding citizen you ever saw. that offiC"e. Therefore, if next of kin in but some very good ones are turned (Note: Several letters from 'shed by the American National Red Cross for the Relatives of American Prisoners of War and Civilian Internees form the Provost Marshal General, Wa~ out. The game is our favorite pas Depart,ment, Washington, D. C., of ers at Oflag 64, complaining changes of address, the BULLETIN as·· time. We have some new fellows the nonarrival of relief supplie coming in this week. Maybe I'll , 2, NO.1 WASHINGTON, D. C. JANUARY 1944 well as official notices should reach them reached us. For a while this s promptly. In advising of a change of ad know some of them. I'm still look dress, next of kin should use the follow- to be the most difficult spot to ing form : • ing for my first letter. We're still getting news about strikes at home. in the whole European pictur, . "J am officially listed as next of kin of Pfc. John Smith, prisoner of war No. I hope Roosevelt sticks to his promise there were regrettably long de American Airmen In Rumania 000 (or sl(rvice serial number) held at to draft them if they refuse to re food parcels and other s Camp ______, Germany, Most of the American airmen, took their riJ. eals in the main din geons looking after the patients, the or Camp ______, .I apan. turn to work. reaching A merican prisoners a bering in all about 110 officers ing room: report stated, ·were chosen from I have moved from ______·___ _ 64. T here appears to be no Oftag 64 d among the best in Rumania; the ac to ______: ______.: ______and wish all that these delays, in part, were noncommissioned officers, who Breakfast: August 5, 1943 vived the raid on the Ploesti oil Two pieces of bread, mar commodations provided for the men mail sent to me there." by bombing operations whiZ neries last August and became were described as "luxurious." Not If it is more convenient for next of plies were in transit across Ge malade, tea. kin, noti~,\! of change of address can be Dear Mayme and Sam: ·soners of war in Rumania, are Dinner: a single complaint was made, but sent to tlje local Red Cross chapter. but reports and cables receive IV in a "permanent" camp at desires were expressed for relief sup Well, I'm still getting along fairly White cheese, tomatoes, Many Ijames in addition to next of Geneva during October sho is, near Brasov. Brasov is an old soup, meat, fritters, fruit. plies; a shipment of food parcels, ,. kin are on a separate Red Cross mailing well. Have received only two letters ntier town on the northern side clothing" toilet articles, tobacco, and list for PRISONERS OF WAR BULLETIN. 800 standard food packages, 80 Supper: th~ so far. It's hard to find something the Carpathian Mountains and be invalid parcels was sent promptly For thoslf who are not next of kin, parcels, and somemiscellaneo Macaroni and cheese, cab therefore; the following form should be to write when you're cooped up like e the 1919 peace settlement was from Geneva and reached Rumania plies were delivered to the bage stuffed with meat, Sl used' in a~vising the Red Cross (throu~h tllis. I'm studying a bit of Spanish last station in Hungary on the before the end of November. A sec the local :t)hapter or by letter addressed stewed fruit. . ~ American officer at Oflag in railroad to the old kingdom of ond shipment left Geneva during f, to PRISONERS OF WAR BULLETIN, Na aitd shorthand just to help pass the At noon each prisoner received tional Headquarters, American Red August 5. Also during August, mania. November. The unwounded prison W days and keep from being hungry half a bottle of beer and on Sundays Cross, Washington '13, D. C.) of a standard food packages were s Sixty-nine airmen, mostly suffering ers in the camp at Timis will get a s( change Qf address: all the time. half a bottle of wine. share of these relief supplies. The from Geneva to 0 flag 64, w ni burns, were wounded before P "I receive the PRISONERS OF WAR BUL We haven't received any parcels or ture, but almost all of them have All the wounded prisoners ex . men there will need additional cloth- Sl LETIN although I am not officially listed July a large shipment of cl ing, because winters in the Car as nel't ; 01 kin of a prisoner of war. I communicatiou from the Interna overed sufficiently to join their pressed satisfaction with the treat pi have ,.moved from ______tional Red Cross for two months, or toilet, and comfort articles we wounded comrades near Brasov ment they were receiving from the pathians are usually severe. Arrange la to ___ ..: ______ward from Geneva and shoul are still convalescing in a hospital doctors, the Rumanian officials, and ments have also been made so that d( ever since we have been at Oflag 64. and wi;h the BULLETIN sent to me been distributed in the camp Sinaia-Rumania's foremost health the Red Cross personnel. The sur- (C,ontinued on page 7) st: Can you report that to the American there." Red Cross? August.) ort, and the summer residence of to e royal family, on the southern in pes of the Carpathians. This hos If tal, now called the "Officers' Con ftc lescent H ome," belongs to the yo manian Red Cross and is a con- ~ iI ted ho tel occupied at present only fa: these American prisoners, the Ze Prisoners of War Bulletin .dical personnel, and Red Cross Sec. 562 P. L. & Istants. DECEMBER, 1943 U.S. POSTA Within a few days of the raid a ha Published by PAID legate of the International Com th( The American National Red Cross Washington, D. ·ttee of the Red Cross obtained en Washington 13, D. C. Perll1it No.8 rmission to visit the wounded air Lil n i~ h?spitals at Filipesti, Ploesti, car ~7 d Slllala. The one man at Fili ter Return Postage Guaranteed ti was promptly moved to Sinaia, car d at the time of the delegate's is ( test. report only one wounded man tirr al~ed in the military hospital at the ~tes~~. Although progressing satis on! Serials ACQuisit.ion only, he could not be moved. gra The University of Texas Library 1'h: delegate spent a full day at ha, Austin 12 Texas .Smaia hospital and saw the fol are . lllg meals served to the wounded Convalescing American Hyers, with International Red Cross delegate and am, Postmaster-If addressee has removed and new soners, of whom all except 12 Rumanian Red Cross nurses, in the hospital grounds at Sinaia. address is known, notify sender on FORM 3547. postage for w_hich is guaranteed. 2 . Civilian Internment ,Camps ill Germany of War Camps in Germany-Stalag VII A By Townsend Russell By Russell C. Singleton** J.
changed all this, and, bec The latest report received by cable As has already been reported in a For some months while American This particular article is about with the aforementioned bodies, and prisoners there were without their them, we could live fairly U1 Geneva gave the number of previous issue of this BULLETIN, con- nag VII, a civilian internment camp is the one who has private inter ably. The Convention provi o erican prisoners at Stalag VII A . ditions at Stalag vn A, compared own sports equipment, the British for Americans, which, with varia views with the Swiss representative facilities for the preparation being in the neighborhood of with certain other German camps, lent them supplies. tions due to local conditions, can on the latter's inspection visits. be made available. Cooking 400. This represented an increase leave something to be desired . .In In the map of prisoner of war be said to be typical, generally, of He may have one or more assistants. however, were few, and man abou t 600 during the third quar the report of last July, referred to camps in Europe, which apl?eared in all civilian camps-for British as There are also company captains contraptions were used to brin f above, the International Committee the September BULLETIN, Stalag VII well as for Americans. An intern and room seniors for each room. of 1943 .- "exotic" food concoctions. of the Red Cross delegates stated A, although correctly shown in ment camp, military or civilian, When I was in nag VII, internees stalag VII A is one of the largest mentary next-of-kin parcel that American prisoners were held should not be confused with a con lived some 30 to 60 in a room, and d oldest camps in Germany, and square C 3, was incorrectly indexed America should contain real under strict military discipline and centration camp. The latter is under slept in two or three-tiered bunks as con tained Polish, French, Yugo at the side as Stalag VIII A. Ion cubes (if available), se that special measures had been taken, the Gestapo, while the former in most with excelsior-filled bed sacks. Two aV, and Briti.sh prisoners. of war. such as onion powder (or a particularly with regard to aviators, cases is controlled by the German blankets, and one sheet and pillow he barracks mclude an mfirmary with "pep"), and biscuits 0 "who are constantly seeking in every army. The conditions under which case, these latter being changed d a hospital, the equipment of which will keep . sever.al mo way to escape." The camp com SPEAKERS AVAILABLE American civilians are h eld in in monthly, were allowed by the Ger hieh is reperted- to be satisfactory. their packages. But next mander wished at any cost to pre ternment camps are the same as man authorities. From the same his Stalag has lately been used should send nothing in tins vent these escapes. The report added, , Prisoners of War Relief of the those laid down in the Geneva source the internees each received a gel yas a transit camp for Ameri tins (not even Red Cross on however, that "the state of health American Red Cross has a special Prisoners of War Convention. The clean hand towel weekly, a four ns, most of whom were captured issued" to the internees. Tunisia and for a time were held at the camp is excellent, and, in gen section under the direction of Mrs. camps are inspected by the Protect ounce piece of "ersatz" soap and internee received his weekI eral, the authorities have shown Herman Kiaer, which is prepared ing Power, which, in our case, is about one and a half ounces soap an Italian transit camp. Noncom Cross package, those tinne proof of their good will in con to furnish speakers. for regional Switzerland. Delegates of the Inter powder monthly. There was a hot iss ion ed airmen brought down in which he did not want imm urope are also being ·sent to Stalag sideration of the prisoners." Dental meetings of Red Cross staffs and national Committee of the Red Cross shower-bath weekly, otherwise wash were stored under his numb care is said to be relatively good. also for gatherings of relatives and and . neutral representatives of the ing facilities were poor and there II A. he could withdraw the conte The Rev. Eugene L. Daniel, a friends of prisoners sufficiently YMCA and other humanitarian was no hot water for daily use. After a visit there last July, dele time to time. Protestant chaplain, has complete large in number to justify sending agencies recognized by the bellig Heating by means of pot-bellied tes of the International Commit- Sl freedom in attending his American a speaker. The speakers now avail erents also visit and report on civil stoves was fairly adequate, although e of the Red Cross, reporting on ,~ compatriots at the base camp. He able are fully informed about coal was rationed almost to a piece. e clothing shortage, stated: "It is f; ian internment camps, just as they also goes once a month to a neighbor prisoner of war relief work. Because of their status in ecessary to keep in mind the fact "\V do on prisoner of war camps. ing town to visit two American work If those interested will advise German Food Rations life, or their age, internees t more than 1,500 American pris- S( nag VII is located in Laufen, detachments (numbering about 250 ers have passed through this the nearest Red Cross chapter, Upper Bavaria, on the Salzlach' The three most important things to eral did not have to do mu men) which are billeted there. The P lag duri.ug the last months, and and the chapter in turn advises River, which formed the old boun an internee were: what to eat, what There were, of course, the u Catholics and Protestants at Stalag Sl me of the collective shipments of the area office, qualified speakers dary between Germany and Austria_ to do, and mail. The Convention tigue duties of any camp, an VII A are in about equal propor pi othing received have been taken will be furnished as rapidly as It is about 15 miles from Salzburg. provides that internees shall receive field work on the surroundin tions. The camp library is well la ay by prisoners transferred to tours can be arranged to the var d( the same rations as depot troops. and gardens, but nothing t equipped, and the YMCA has sent The internees are housed in an old ther camps." Difficulties were · also ious sections of the .country. st. castle which formerly belonged to the The Germans interpreted this to ous. Time therefore hung in a plentiful supply of recreational ing experienced around that time Prince . Bishop of Salzburg_ Before mean "troops on detached duty," and it was highly importa equipment and musical instrume\1ts. to st July) in getting sufficient sup- and after the last war, long-term which in effect meant that the in the men be kept occupied. in lies of R ed Cross parcels to the prisoners were incarcerated · there. ternees received the same as the a major concern of the camp If p to meet the steadily growing ftc In the present war (until October German civilian ration. Cooking was and his committee. At nag done by the internees under a cational classes were held in d. The men also complained, ac yo 1941) about 1,000 British officers cap ding to the delegates' report, of _ :.Sir skeleton German superv.ision. For ners' and ,adv.anced French, S tu-red prior to the evacuation from great shortage of mess kits and cook fo Dunkirk were held at Laufen. breakfast we had a weak, imitation, basic English, practical Pol' peppermint tea. Dinner consisted of German, ,algebra, trigonome gutensils. Relief supplies, however, Ze Camp Inspections potatoes and a soup generally made astronomy. A library was or e going forward to the camp reg of more potatoes, carrots, and cab with books from the YMCA. .arly fr om Geneva, and the situa- The camp is organized along semi bage. Supper-soup and potatoes, band was organized, and n by now is much better than it ha military lines, the camp senior, who with two ounces of skimmed-milk games were played. The re six months ago. is the same as the camp spokesman the cheese on Sundays. The weekly meat grounds comprised about The American prisoners at Stalag en in a military camp, being elected ration was about fourteen ounces, acre, surrounded by barbe I A occupy the six barracks for Lil by the civilian .internees. He is their including bones. To stretch this, we With a German censor presen rly occupied by Br ~ tish prisoners contact with the German authori car usually ground it up and put it into was entertainment every S o Were transferred elsewhere last ties, the Protecting Power, and the ter the soup. By saving it, we sometimes night. Lectures on various s pri!. These barracks are separated prisoners' welfare organizations. He cal had two spoonfuls of watery goulash by men who were specialis III the rest of the camp by a double is ( hears and passes on complaints, ap on Sundays. vVe were given about held Monday evenings. T IV of barbed wire which also en- tin points men and committees to handle ten ounces of black bread daily ternee ministers held church ~ es a small section of the sports the various jobs, and in general does his (substance unknown) and about five on Sundays. d. . Inside this enclosure other utmost to make camp life more bear onl ounces of poor quality margarine The internees at Laufen . s of barbed wire separate the gra able. He is at liberty to correspond weekly. There were no fresh fruits. write three letters and four tators from the prisoners of other ha, Meals were carried to the rooms in month, on prisoner of war sta III nches. Almost all the aviators last •• At the time of his repatriation to the are United States in the middle of 1942, · Mr. large pails and eaten there. They could write to next of Yoccupied one barrack (No.6) am' Singleton was camp senior at Ilag VII. There the occupied countries, and . Iposed of two large rooms with are about 1,500 American civilian internees The Red Cross packages, while Boxing at Stalag VII A. This group shows prisoners of various nai ionalities. in Germany and German-occupied coun the fare bee arne monotonous, (Continued on page 1 Ip e-decker beds. tries.-EDITOR. 4 NER50F WAR BULLETIN 5
Volunteer Workers in Red Cross Packaging WOUNDED AIRMEN Work Detachments in Gerlnany can take 2Y2 hours' extra leisure in GERMANY stead of working on and earning more money as the civilians do. Centers 'Ne work under the supervision Numerous inquiries have This first-hand account of prison By Mrs. George Garrett ( of the shop foreman and 'charge Everybody is satisfied by this: ceived by the Red Cross . f war working conditions in Ger hands' in the same way as the civil the firm, because they get the work weeks about the condition a was written by a British prison ian employees. Guards from the done more quickly, and because men of American airmen who bable that many American During 1943 Women Volunteers in men are now working under camp are formally in attendance, who are working for themselve,s reported missing during on piecework require practically no EDITOR.) both to protect our interests and to the Four Red Cross Centers Pro Europe and later listed conditions.- ensure that we don't do anything supervision; We are satisfied in being duced Over'Seven Million Standard of war suffering from June 1940 I have been em contrary to rules and regulations. able to get the job done in the short U ni ted S ta tes g-over'nnJ.erlt at almost every conceivable Food Packages for American and nonskilled, and some semi We are extremely fortunate in est possible time, and in knowing everything possible to have \ Allied PJ;isoners of War. that our employers are most reason that We have , done enough,' but taining Power-through the work. I have groomed horses, able people. Any reasonable request not too much, work. This very sub tional Committee of the cars, dug holes, filled them loaded and unloaded every is always granted, and any man has ject of how much work, what sort or the Protecting Power 'Ve have become so accustomed unteer participation. The chairmen e commodity-and hosts of access to the chief engineer for this of work, and how long to take to do to large numbers in this global war, land) - furnish rep 0 r t recruit the volunteers and train Now, in 1943, I have purpose. It is quite common for a it is the subject of endless arguments that the mention of a inere 10,000 wounded prisoners of war, them. They are e~tirely responsible 'a nice little job' for what man to ask for a change of job and amongst ourselves. parcels packed per day at each of rule several months elapse for their attendance, promptness, and of the duration. Or so I be granted his transfer. We "moan" about having to work, the four Prisoners of'War Food Pack efficiency. Their administration and ther information can be We have had a table-tennis top but it is at any rate a contact with aging Centers might not command splendid leadership have been an Seriously wounded a made in the woodworking shops and the outside world and it gives a the respect that is its due, if one inspiration to the volunteers. The are about a hundred of us usually sent to a in a large agricultural ma have ' been given permission to use semblance of normality to our queer did not know that this is the work chairman of each center appoints her means military hospital, fac tory. The total number one of the office typewriters after "life within a life." of Red Cross volunteers, vice chairman and assistants who are under the care of is well over a thousand, working hours. Prisoners of war-a phrase that are designated as overseers. These man doctors who are we are well mixed' up with the There is one great obstacle in the has ' an ominous sound to everf'one overseers walk up and down the line, by prisoner doctors capt employment of prisoner of war labor. with friends or relatives in the armed supervising and inspecting the work serving with British or RELIEF FUNDS FOR IN We, the prisoners, have little or no forces. But whatever the incentive, and workers. forces. It is customary for men work in all parts of TERNEES IN THE interest in the work we do. We are and there are many, the volunteer The volunteer workers in the prisoner of war camps in factory at a variety of jobs. Some PHILIPPINES not working to keep ourselves; we participation in the Prisoners of War packaging cen ters, . moreover, are to have a lazaret in the vici moulders in the foundry, others Sl are not working in or for our own As a result of prolonged efforts Packaging Centers has been quite making a worthy contribution to the are visited by electric welders, smiths, mill la z~ rets country. True, we are paid a small by the DepaTtment of State and the thrilling-every demand on time and solution of the nation's manpower of the Protecting Pbwer or fitters, and, of course, a '"f; amount every week and receive a American Red Cross to provide energies has been fulfilled quickly, problem. Although most of them tional Committee of the number are employed as labor- ,~ certain amount of extra food, but funds for the purchase locally of re cheerfully, and ably. have only a few hours' leisure each and also by neutral YMCA S( The four centers at Philadelphia, week, they are anxious to do their neither of these lief supplies and to extend financial sentat'ives on their rounds provides any great assistance to the Americans held by P Chicago, New York, and St. Louis utmost to help in the national effort. camps, ,Red Cross relief 51 incentive to work. the Japanese in the Philippine Is operate on a regular schedule of five If such a devoted body of volunteers regularly to the laza pi On the other lands, the Japanese government has days a week with two shifts a day, had not offered their services in the American and Allied la with additional shifts whenever packaging cen ters, the Red Cross hand, the employ granted to the Swiss Legation at dl emergency situations need to be met. would have had to compete for ers are interested Tokyo, which is charged with the st: There are 80 volunteers on each shift, workers with large commercial pack "TIMES HAVE 'U.U , r1" '. 'U'.I: onl y in their pro representation of American interests to They are at their places on · the as duction figures. in Japan and Japanese-occupied ter ers who are, for the most part, heavily A letter from flag in sembly line at 9:55 o'clock each engaged on government work. a A solution to the ritory, permission to make remit lished in the British Red If morning, waiting for the whistle to difficulty has been tances each month from United As an example of the demands on cietis The Prisoner of War s fle sound at 10 o'clock, at which mo the workers, an emergency call for found in a com States government or American Red yo ment the machinery starts. The 140,000 parcels to be delivered to " Yesterday we had about promise. Cross funds to civilian internment _ :..~il afternoon shift is at 2 o'clock, arr,iva ls-4 mericans. I b camps in the Philippine Islands. the Gripsholm in 4Y2 days was given Piecework Basis fo Each factory has a different floor in the last week of August. 'Vith have only been captured Funds totaling $50,000, furnished weeks, so am expecting to Ze plan, but the routine in all of them many volunteers on vacation, the As many men by the Red Cross, have been sent is the same. A group of volunteers task looked difficult, but, when the pretty good stories within as possible have to Santo Tomas for this purpose and fold the cardboard cartons and place appeal was made, many more vol few days. been put on a arrangements have been made to for them on the assembly line, As the piecework basis, ward, . on a regular . basis, $25,000 ha unteers answered than could be "Any new boy aniving n carton travels along the assembly whereby they stop monthly to this camp from United the placed. Young girls and boys, old could never appreciate the line other volunteer workers place when a g i v en States funds on deposit with the en women and men pleaded to do some nificance of being a 'POW in it the various food articles, each amount of work Swiss government. In addition, Lil little thing for a prisoner. The par rives, spends his first man one in its precise location. When the cels were packed in less than the going out for meals, and is, has been done. $7,410 has been distributed to the cal carton 'reaches the end of the line tel' allotted time, placed on the GrijJs living on the fat of the land For example, the smaller camps at ,Bacolod, Baguio, it is completely filled and is then fitters contract to Cebu, Davao, , Iloilo, Tacloban, and car holm, and were in the hands of most as possible in this life), gets sealed in an ingenious machine, of our prisoners of war and civilian with clothing, and people I assemble t h i r t y Tagbilaran for relief purposes. is( There is a chairman of Volunteer tiII internees in the Far East by Christ up with cigarettes and t plows a day. They These remittances will continue' on Special Services at each plant. To mas. probably thinks he is and the firm re a monthly basis. Permission has the these chairmen (Mrs, Stacy Lloyd in one Many of the volunteers have sons done by, but I wonder h gard this as a fair likewise been requested to remit Philadelphia, Mrs. Joseph Magnus and brothers in prison camps, but feel if he had to live and day's w 0 r k of funds on a regular monthly oasis gra in Chicago, Mrs. 'Frank P. Shepard ha, whether their interest is personal or same clothes for six months 10Y2 hours. If a to the Ateneo and Los Banos camps. in New York, and Mrs. Oscar Lamy general, this splendid corps of wo the same period to smoke fitter can assemble Efforts are being continued to are in St. Louis), and to their equally am, men perform their, exacting tasks cigarette, and if there were this number in make similar arrangementsforAmeri devoted co-workers, we are grateful with enthusiasm and in the traditi6n Times have changed since German guards sear~h prisoners of war eight hours, and' can prisoner of war camps in the for another splendid record of vol- of the spirit of the Red Cross. neering prisoner days of 1940. going out on work detachments. he does, then he ' Philippine Islands. 6 RISO NERS OF WAR BULLETIN 7 '
NEXT-OF-KIN PARC Joint Relief Plans for Far East The International Commi RELIEF SUPPLIES REACHED Mukden-Manchuria from the Japanese information bu the Red Cross has asked t Discussions with British and Canadians FAR EAST CAMPS FOR families of prisoners of ;war b CHRISTMAS . Only one prisoner of war camp reau has stated that health in the camp was improving, that the careful in wrapping their A joint po li ~y and plan of future dling of the several shipments to in the large agricultural country of kin parcels. The request stat Vladivostok of relief supplies which Manchuria has so far been reported. prisoners' weight was increasing, and (tion for providing relief thr~ugh Word has been received that that special preventive measures the American spokesman at ed Cross channels to Amenc
! 8 RISO NERS OF WAR BULLETIN 9
letters this week and he was sure hard [0 Red Cross really treats us good, so live with for a while. His folks got his let don't worry about me. Mom, I am n out when these cards were ter about the last of April so I suppose you ing just to cheer you up-it is the mailed? got one about the same time. Hope so any All of us sure were surprised to get (The following letters have been QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS A. Most of the cards which have way. His folks said they had to write to so well. That's all for now, so don't been received in substantial num furnished to the A merican Red Cross the national Red Cross to find out what and take good care of yourself. Give by relatives. All prisoner of war mail they could send. The Red Cross boxes have gards to all. bers from American prisoners in been misroutedsome way or other. 'We are the Far East during recent is censored by the Detaining Power.) supposed to get one once a week . but Stalag Luf months have carried no mailing they have not come in. Have news of a lot you stated in the July issue that East must be less than 25 words September 5, date. From the dates shown on Marlag and Milag Nord, Germany being sent but haven't seen anything of ' PRISONERS OF WAR BULLETIN in length. Does this include the August 15, 1943 them. Don't know what you can send but Dearest Mom and Dad: could not be sent by relatives to heading and ending: my town, some of them, however, the cards think you can send a six-pound box. You OUf athletic officer, Mr. Ashworth, has At last I have received a letter fr ' received during the summer, and don't need to send any clothes as we have American prisoners. Could I tell the date, the prisoner of war's whipped nine baseball (soft) teams into Also received one from Alva, and autumn of 1943 were written enough. Send chocolate and . cigarettes, if nice to hear from her that you a my son about it in a letter? He is name and address, the salutation shape and at present the Yanks are shading you can send anything. from late 1942 to early 1943. the Detroit Tigers, and the Phillies are up are well. My cigarettes also arriv a prisoner in Germany. (Dear Son), and the ending there too. Baseball this year is one of the same day that the parcel did. I'm s (Your loving Mother)? Q. Can I send books to my son who (NOTE: The number of American Red and getting plenty of exercise. Tell e There would be no objection to big three in sports and ranks equal with Cross standard food packages shipped from . writing your son about the is a prisoner of war in Shanghai the English soc,cer teams in fans among Switzerland to Stalag III B was 27,460 in to write often and that I'll thank t A. Our understanding is that noth the second quarter of 1943, 5,488 in July, when I get home. We had a show las BULLETIN. or would they have to be sent by aUf 29 nationalities of seamen-some 3,000 8,176 in August, and 46,964 in September. ing but the body of the letter is in all. We hope to put an American foot put on by some POWs, and it was a bookstore? Shipments since August to Stalag III B, and swell. . My brother in Stalag LUft III has . counted in the 24 words per: ball league in the camp and shall, when in fact to an German camps housing a sub A. No individual parcels are being stantial number of Americans, have been asked us to send canned meats mitted'. The instructions so far the gear arrives. greatly increased, and ample reserves should accepted for the Far East at the It is not necessary for me to describe the . now ' be on . hand.) In his next-of-kin package. Does received on this point, however, camp life and the problems of the men have not been specific. present time because of lack of this m. ean we may send them, shipping facilities. Some books who are prisoners. However, I might say Zentsuji War Prison Camp, Japan even though they do not appear that our Yanks are a sensible bunch and Q. Why have some prisoners of wf.1 r from the YMCA have been sent can weather rough going ' with much forti April, 1913 No doubt you're very much su on the list of permissible items? Dear Folks: . to hear from me after so long a tim in the Far East been able to wr~te in bulk shipments of supplies tude when they have evidence of our peo ,No. T he prisoners may believe twice while others have not bet?n ple's interest in them. The materials mean I sincerely hope that everyone is well probably imagined all kinds of thin for Far East camps, and some much less than the fact that they know and that everything is all right at home. pening to me. Well, you can set your canned goods can be sent in heard from at all? have been collected for SUdl at ease. I feel fine and dandy. Go they are teing thought of, and it's mighty I am in good health and have put on a next-of-kin parcels, but the list A. Apparently the regula-dons con camps from local source,s. fine to see them take heavy seas with a little weight during the last two months. and plenty of exer.cise every day k you have is the one to follow. All grin. The educational facilities that we are I spend a good deal of time reading. We in excellent shape, so there's no n cerning letter writing are in the Q. Do you want families of prisoners " worry about me. Check with the Re the prisoners at your brother's l' in receipt of, the books and recreational have a good library consisting of several hands of individual camp com, of war to send you all the letters and sports gear, etc., have developed their hundred books and magazines of all kinds, and find out what kind of packa camp are receiving every week a letters you can send me. Don't fo manders. Some may be more lib they receive telling about'receipt natural spirits and brought them out of and we also subscribe to several Japanese standard Red Cross food pa~k Sl answer, and above all, don't worry eral than others. One important the depression caused by their harrowing magazines and daily newspapers printed in age which contains several cans of Red Cmss supplies? . English. 'We have lectures and classes in my regards to everyone. reason for the irksome Japanese '" and tragic experiences encountered at sea of meat. A. No. We would much rather have f, and in lifeboats with comrades dying from many different subjects, taught by some regulations on POW mail, and letters telling us about other v; wounds and exposure. of our qualified brother prisoners. Once a , My husband is a prisoner of war for the extremely long delay in week we have a show, put on by some of happenings in prisoner ' of war S( (Signed) VERNON L. FRANK, the prisoners, and on Sundays we have Dear Folks: in Germany, and I am his offi handling 'such mail, is ,probably camps. Of course, if letters con . American Spokesman P services conducted by our chaplain. Some of I am a little late writing this cially listed next of kin. His a shortage of censors who under tained criticism of Red Cross Sl our other activities are cultivating a two Oflag 64 We have just moved to a new com mother wants , to send him to stand English. Another, no ' supplies, or of delayed arrival at pi acre garden, raising rabbits (we now have but still at Stalag Luft III. I'm still bacco and cigarettes, and I WQJLlld July 19, 1943 400), collecting grass for rabbits, cleaning doubt, is a lack of transportatiori. the camps, we should appreciate la Dear Folks: keeping in shape for my home-boun like to give her the coupons so up the camp, washing our clothes, makin~ which I keep telling myself wiII b facili ties. receiving them so that inquiries dl Mail has been arrIvmg regularly since beds, cleaning up our quarters, and exercis Our baseball season is over now; b that she may do so. Should she Q. My friend has been in Stalag Luft would be made promptly. St. the middle of May, but the only mail I ing. And so our time marches on. Am still down the curtain with an all-star flut her name in place of mine have received was your first letter. I got I since last April and. we still to hoping to hear from you. three games and our team took t on the coupons? Q. I was informed that my son was it June I, so there is over a month's mail of three. Football season is now a don't know if he has received missing after an air raid over in for me missing. Most of the news the offi ,Tobacco parcels are sent direct If Stalag VII A as well as home, but yours truly is any mail from us. Can you en Germany. Two weeks later he cers receive from home is about the re on the bench, as you might gue by the manufacturers, when you strictions on what you can send us, The (Undated. Received October 12, 1943) lighten us about this? was reported a prisoner of war fic years too much of that sport has m furn ish them with the labels, yo Germans allow us as many food, clothing, Dear Mom: much wiser, or older. Anyhow I'm A. All POW mail to and from the and wounded. I would like to __' ''iJ and tobacco parcels as you mail to us. Also Writing to let you know, although I guess happy to sit back and put their and the manufacturer's name we can receive food in tins and glass. There , United States is handled by the know how badly he was wounded, you already kno,,,, I am a prisoner of war. I down on drawing paper. Seems as is fille d in as the sender. and where he is. Can the Red fo are no restrictions on this side. I think our am feeling fine and can truthfully say I am the calendar has turned over the post office and not by the Red Red Cross may be a little confused about You or your mother-in-law could . Cross help me? Ze being treated pretty good. The International of my first year in Europe. I wish tell your husband in a letter 'who Cross. The post office, however, what you can send us. Here it is in the tear out a few months of next yea usually ships ordinary mail for A. Please.see the Home Service chai.r middle of July and I am sleeping under endar. I haven't heard from anyon is supplying this gift. , three blankets. Hope it's not too cold this prisoners of war in Europe on man at your local chapter. He ,way early 'last month, but I hear , J have received instructions tram will help you institute an in- winter. I have been playin~ a lot of bridge LETTERS new shipment has just arrived for neutral or. Red Cross vessels car ha lately and am pretty good at it. I am also ship, so I should be getting the the Provost Marshal Gen'eral's rying Red Cross su ppJ ies. Such quiry. ., learning German and should know it fairly thl It appears that many readers Goodbye for now and love Office stating I must have the vessels now leave Philadelphia en well when I get home, which I hope won't Q. Now that the Gripsholm has re be too long from now. I have lost a little hesitate to send prisoners' letters name of the camp on letters sent about three times a month. Mail, turned, do you know where the Lil weight and now weigh about 145, but am for publication unless they con to my son. I have only a number therefore, is now going for:ward car feeling fine. Philippine prisoner of war cami)s tain praise of Red Cross services. Mili tary Prison Cam.p No.2, promptly from this side, and is are located? My son is at Camp ter With great pleasure I write my firs We are always pleased to re Philippine Islands. Can you tell immediately unloaded and for No. 2 and I should lik.e veTV car .Have been deeply concerned ov me the name of Camp No: 2? ceive either commendation or and the children. Please send me warded when the steamer reaches much to know where' that is. ~ is ( criticism of the Red Cross, but ,"Military Prison Camp No.2" graphs. Write, wire, or send pack Marseille. Transportation condi A. Camp No.2 is at Davao; No. I at tin what we are primarily , interested cording to International Red Cr constitutes the name of the camp. ditions inside Germ;:tny, however, Cabanatuan and No. ' 11 at En the in for publication is news of gen ulations. Keep hope, faith, and Le.tters should be typed or, block have undoubtedly been affected on( and advance to the greatest extent gineers Island, Manila. We have eral interest about camp life. prtnted clearly, and contain less own real happiness. Save and pI by military operations and air not yet learned the exact location gra Stalag III B Even if space cannot be found for the great joy and happiness we have than 25 words. Unnecessary raids in recent months. . ha, July 9, 1943 all the letters sent in, they are My health is good; don't worry. of the other numbered camps in Dear Folks: Words can be eliminated by using Q. I received on September 27 two the Philippines. The Gripsholm are carefully read for any helpful in our folks and all. telegraphic style. .' am, Just a few lines to let you know I'm feel formation they may contain. undated cards from my son, who repatriates were civilian intern ing fine and hope this finds you all the same_ (NOTE: Next-of-kin parcels to .J have been informed that letters is a prisoner of war in the Philip ees. They had not been held in One of the boys from Marion got four East can be sent only when tra facilities are available.) to prisoners of war in the Far pines. Is there any way of finding military camps. 10 11
Rice and Soya for MAICTO GERMANY Christmas Gr.eetings A cable from the International From American Airmen Far East Prisoners Any person receiving a Committee of the Red . Cross sug Colonel Delmar T. Spivey, er of war card or letter gests that the mail service to all Senior American Officer at Stalag The In'ternational Committee of member of the American American prisoners of war in Ger Luft III, cabled, through Geneva the Red Cross has recently carried forces who has not been ~any ~ould probably be improved and the American Red Cross, out inquiries regarding the type of as a prisoner of war to If relatIves and friends in the United kin by the War States refrained from writing too Christmas greetings to the fami rice provided prisoners of war in the should immediately frequently and at too great length. lies of all American airmen prison Far East. There is a wide variation in ers of war. Colonel Spivey's mes original communication "Our experience shows," the Inter sage was sent on behalf of aU the nutritive values of whole, or un Prisoner of War Informa national Red Cross cable states American prisoners at Stalag Luft polished, rice and refined, or polished reau, Provost Marshal "t~at many families write very long dally letters to prisoners, and un III. rice. The investigation revealed that Office, Washington, D. C., der to have the prisoner's, doubtedly this extremely bulky cor in most areas polished rice is sup officially listed, and to respondence delays r,eception of mail HEARD IN CAIRO plied prisoners, although in Japan suance of prisoner of ~ the camps due to censorship." proper a half-polished product is structions and other !t The reason for the International Janet L. White of 8 Willow Street, used, while iLl Hong K01).g un to the next of kin. ~ommittee of the Red Cross cable Brooklyn, N . Y., arrived overseas in polished rice is occasionally ' fur appears to have been the complaints June 1943. Before joi?ing t!"te made by American prisoners over the nished. All International Committee American Red Cross, MISS WhIte CIVILIAN INTERN length of time it takes for mail from was executive secretary of the Guar delegates have been instructed to do CAMPS IN 'U'-"".L"-H'.LI1J,'; British and American aviators at Stalag Luft III. Sell't by Lieut. Ellis J. home to reach them. anty Trust Company of New York. their utmost to see that unpolished (Continued fro'rri page Sanderson, of Cairo, Ill., who is wearing his officer's cap. The names of ~ two-page letter (preferably type Now she is a Red Cross hospital sec ri<;,e is supplied in greater quantities. the other members of the group are not known. wntten) once or twice a week from retary working at a station hospital one they wanted outsi:de con family to prisoner would probably Delegates have also reported on i.n Persia'. Europe. All 'mail 'was " be regarded as reasonable by the the use of soya beans, which are rich "l' Before leaving on her assignment the Germans. . German censorship. A large volume Miss White spent a short time in in vitamins and oils and readily of letters from relatives and friends Sl Cairo. obtainable in North, China, Man· An American officer in Oflag 64 writes: coffee at the same time. It has an oven however, would naturally tend t~ "I remember something that hap churia, and Japan. Presumably be am of the firm belief that they (the Ger· in which we bake cakes. 'Ve cook our sup slow up censorship. Letters to prison '"f; authorities) make an honest effort per outdoors every night. We are being pened to me there," Miss White cause of the generally unpalatable , that all packilges reach the ad· ers of war, other than from near rel treated fine, so don't worry." atives or close friends, should defi writes. "It wasn't an impressive or dishes prepared by the Japanese from In the large British POW camp I '"S( an exciting setting-just a shoeshine (Oflag VII B) not a single offi· nitely be discouraged. soya beans, .the prisoners are said to complained of losing his package, From Stalag Luft III: "Please include in P parlor in Cairo. used were warm slippers, SI be not at all enthusiastic about this the contrary, many of the senior the ~ext parcel one belt, shoe laces, gloves, Home News Scrapbook "The soldier in the next chair, kits, food, razor blades, told me that they honestly believed penCIls and paper, and possibly a little pi a member of. the British Eighth product, and they would prefer to Germans to be most scrupulous in look· chocolate. We use our Red Cross packages la powders and soap, and after the transit of packages." plus the German ration to very good ad· A Bri ti~h prisoner of war magazine Army, asked me what uniform I was have less rather than more of it. d( oners had to deposit vantage and we devise various meals and has pubhshed a suggestion from a st wearing. Milk, or milk powder, prepared from complete silence for 20 months, the dishes." reader, the wife of a prisoner and but could draw against message recently reached Schulen to "When I told him, 'American soya beans is preferable but diffi ~he mother of two children, that Red Cross,' he held out his hand money called from an American at Fukuoka From Stalag ~II B, written on June IS well worth consideration, She in cult to obtain, although My. Egle, Prison Camp: "I am interned 27 , 1943, and receIved at Kernersville, N . C., and said he wanted to meet some ergeld. This was to obviate wri tes that every evening she goes If the International Committee dele } am in good health and work on October 25 : "So far as I know there fie one from that organization. He'd sibility of use after escape, or are 3,000 Americans here in this camp. over the local paper and clips the pic gate in Shanghai, has b'een able to A few of the boys have already received tures of daily news of the war "so yo been a prisoner of war in an Italian of guards. Clothing was obtain substanti United States Censorship THE UNIVERS,-ry Change ofAddress OF TEXAS All next of kin officially listed for All mail to and from American ture or of conditions or prisoners of war and civilian internees pri~ners of war is doubly censored of prisoners of war or FEB 261944 have the PRISONERS OF WAR BULLETIN onq,e by the United States authori ad'dresse::l to them in the Office of the ties, both in incoming and outgoing Th~ marriage of alien Provost Marshal General. The same men to United States or RI SONERS OF WAR BUh rl11N address stencils are used for the mailing mail, and once by the Detaining of information and parcel labels from Power. Many relatives of prisoners citizens by the American National Red Cross for the Relatives of American Prisoners of War and Civilian Internees that office. Therefore, if next of kin in have complained that letters have form the Provost Marshal General, War , been returned to them by the Censor Department, Washington, D. C., of . 2 WASHIN changes of address, the BULLETIN as and several times we have been asked, 1944 well as official notices should reach them in so many words, to publish "a list Enemy activities in promptly. In advising of a change of ad of all objectionable matter." It is The foregoing list dress; next of kin should use the follow neither feasible nor possible to pub ing form: be suggestive, not Reports on German Camps "I am officially listed as next of kin lish a complete list of what the Cen and the best advice we of Pfc. John Smith, prisoner of war No. sor would regard as objectionable "when in doubt, leave Stalag Luft III Stalag IV B; at Muhlburg on the and other problems, difficulties for 000 (or service serial number) held at matter in incoming or outgoing cor The following message was re River Elbe northwest of Dresden, has a time were experienced in getting Camp ______, Germany, respondence, but the following is a of home, family, friends, borhood doings-except at the end of 1943 from Colo recently been reported to 'contain adequate relief supplies to this camp. or Camp,______. ______.__ '--, .I 9r~, n s1 ~og c s !:i v=: ~!st of .>:..:t, ~ ccts that should. American prisoners transferred from ties-are the safest subjects, Delmar T .. Spivey, senior Ameri By the end of October,however, I have moved from ______------be aVGided in letters to prisoners of officer at the cen.tral compound, Italy. If any readers desire to mark these 'di'fficulties had been largely to_;- ______,~-- and wish all ably tliemost interesting to war and civilian internees: Luft III: this camp on the map, it should overcome. On October 29 the mali sent to me there. in a prison camp. ' be place9- in square D2 between Sta B If it is more convenient for next of Criticism of the United States or with the prisoners of war at AmerIcan spokesman at Stalag III Luft III in extending thanks lag IX C and Stalag III B. The .lo wrote to 'Geneva: "Just a word of kin, notice of change of address can be any other government or govern A letter from an sent to the local Red Cross chapter. ment agency of the American Red Cross. cations of other new camps for appreciation on behalf of all Ameri Many names in addition to next of prisoner of war at Osaka, iring efforts and many con Americans will be published as the can prisoners in Stalag III B for the kin are on a separate Red Cross mailing Dates of sailings or transfers of servicemen or women ceived in Arizona early have made the life of a information becomes available. kind and wholehearted efforts shown list for the 'PRISONERS OF WAR BULLETIN. vember stated: "I am in good For those "who are not next of kin, Invention details of war bearable and worth Stalag III B by the Red Cross in supplying our therefore, the following form should be Evasion of censorship being paid sante amount as None of us could, nor will we} needs in food, etc. Our supply at Sl used in advising the Red Cross (through nese soldier of same rank how much we owe to you and The largest concentration of present is .sufficient to '1ast over a the local chapter or by letter addressed Names of casualties, either dead or wounded ant) . Am sufficiently su who have met our many American prisoners of war in Ger good petiod of time. We have re f; to PRISONERS OF WAR BULLETIN, Na " tional Headquarters, American Red Quotations from books ' or other toilet articles, clothes and in the past. Best wishes from many at the end of 1943 was at Sta ceived a letter explaining the delay ~ lag III B, the number being about Cross, Washington 13, D . C.) of a writings Writing space limited. God fo r the New Year} and may in some items, particularly clothing, S( change of address: 3,000. Due to the rapid increase in due to transportation difficulties, and The use of ciphers, codes, musical all." peace that will enable us "I receive the PRISONERS OF WAR BUL our thanks for your many ' the nury,tber, of Americans at Stalag we can readily see why some ship P LETIN although I am not officially listed symbols, shorthand, marks, dots The letter contained a Sl or signs other than normal punc III B, as well as to transportation ments take longer than others." have moved from ______------words, chiefly regarding pi as next of kin of a prisoner of war. I tuation Colonel Spivey and his la to ______The use of torn paper, or crossed property at home. It was d( pnsoners generously give full and yvish the BULLETIN sent to qle out words or sentences undated but signed in his to the American Red Cross St. there." Criticism of circumstances of cap- writing. their needs at Stalag to it needs to be emphasized in that the United States War If Departments, in, very large ftc for the supplies furnished yo . prisoners of war _~il the American Red Cross, . fo t the splendid. cooperation Ze International Committee at is. most important in getting les to t)le camps and super Prisoners of War Bulletin . distribution. ha JANUARY 1944 thl en Published by Lil The American National Red Cross cal Washington 13, D. C. ter cal ~ 7 is ( Return Postage Guaranteed tin Serials Acquisition the The University of Texas Library Oll! gra AUstin 12 Texas ha, are Senior American officers at Stalag 'Luft III; Left to right: Col. Daniel 'W. Jenkins, Col. ami _, Postmaster-If addressee has removed and new Delmar T. Spivey, Col. William L. Kennedy, and Lt. Col. Robert M. Stillman. address -is known, notify sender on FORM 3547, postage '{{lr which is guaranteed.