THE UNIVERSITY \ OF TeXAS NOV 1 0 1943 TH·- t '8RA~~ y
RISONERS OF WAR BULLETIN ished by the American National Red Cross for the Relatives of American Prisoners of War and Civilian Internees
1, NO.1 WASHINGTON, D. C. J UNE 1943
UR. PURPOSE in .i~suing this Bulleti~ is to .give information, consistent O with war coIiditIons, about Amencan pnsoners of war and the meth ods for providing aid and comfort to them-paramount responsibili ties of the American Red Cross. We hope that anxious relatives of our men and women who are held in prison and internment camps may find in these pages the answers to many questions. We believe it is important for them to have an understanding of the international treaties which govern the treatment of prisoners of war. The limitations upon communications, imposed by war, which cause grief and anxiety, will be better understood after a perusal of these pages. We trust it will be possible to bring comfort to many through an exchange of corre spondence from prisoners whereby wider knowledge of conditions in many prison camps may be obtained. I wish to emphasize that one of the primary services of the interna tional organization of the Red Cross is the protection of the lives and health of prisoners of war. The Red Cross, therefore, renews to you its pledge to utilize every resource to deliver to American prisoners of war the supplemen tary assistance in the form of food, clothing, and comfort articles upon which their health and welfare may depend. Channels of relief for American prisoners of war in Europe are operat ing smoothly. Despite difficulties which at times have ·appeared overwhelm ing, the American Red Cross and the governmental agencies have continued negotiations seeking to open relief channels to our prisoners in the Far East. I assure you we will never abandon the effort to reach every prisoner of ours no matter where he may be held.
NORMAN H. DAVIS, Chairman, American Red Cross.
1946 .,uMI) OCT 2 VOL. 1, NO. RISONERS OF WAR BULLETIN ------eat, sanitary facilities, space for ex their Own ?rganizations by electing camp) is known as the "Homme de cise, and canteens where incidentals r epresentatIves for dealing with camp The Rights of Prisoners of War Confi a n ce" -t~u s t e d man. Any pris: Editorial ay be purchased. Monthly medical commandants and others interes ted oner has the rIght to bring grievances II When word is received that the them know as promptly as circu spection, or oftener if necessary, in the care of the prisoners. These II to the attention of the trusted man head of a family, or a son, or a . stances permit that he has been c well as a cao:p infirmary, are pro e ~ ec t ~ d a?"ents also have charge of the brother h!ls been captured by the tured; that he is well or otherw' ·ded for: ~ serIously ill prisoner, or who has in turn the right to di s cu s~ The American Red Cross is re dIstrIbutIOn of collective shipments enem y, the first ques tions naturall y and where he is being held. Thi e reqUIrIng an operation, must be sent by the Red Cross. t!lese in private with the representa ceiving an increasing number of tI ves of the protecting Power when asked by the relatives are: How will done through the protecting Po mitted at the expense of the de . Visits to the camps by representa anxious inquiries concerning the ining Power, to a military or civil they. visit the camp. W·ith no enemy lIe be treated? What will he need and the Central Agency for Prison tl.ves of protecting Power are pro treatment of American prisoners of th~ offi Cials present, the conversation can that we m ay be able to send him? of vVar of the International spital for treatment. Arrangements VIded for m the Geneva Convention war and the measures being taken be. free and explicit. An y legitimate As a prisoner, is he wholly at the Cross Committee in Geneva, Swit r exchanging seriously ill prisoners of 1929; and the right of Delegates for bringing them such aid and com grIevances are promptly reported to me,-cy of the enem y? Many other land. The Central Agency has b e also foreseen, with inspection of the .1. R. C. C. to visit camps and fort as lie within our power under the camp commander; and, in this questions will inevitably occur to the able to notify as many as 6,000 fa mmissions of neutral doctors to be superVIse the distribution of relief the Geneva Convention of 1929 Rela connection, it should be remembered family, and I am sure it will be the lies in one day of the fate of relati reed upon between the belliger supplies is generally recognized, as is tive to the Treatment of Prisoners that Article 84 requires that a copy of purpose of this Bulletin to answer of all natiol16 taken prisoner; a ts. Official contact between the bel a.l so the of neutral representa of War. Most of these inquiries con ri~ht the C?nvention, in the language of them as far as possible. being a neu tral organization ser eren ts is maintained through pro tI ves of rehef agencies approved by cern an individual prisoner, in one A beginning may therefore be all nations alike, it furnishes thl" v cting Powers-the Government of the prIsoners held there, be posted in t~~ belligerents. R eports on these each camp. specific camp or locality, but the made with a brief statement of the · contact point between the pri ~ ) vi tzeriand being the protecting writers have an overwhelming com VISItS are regularly received by the rights of a prisoner of war-his right of war and their relatives, no rna wer fo r the U nited States in deal governments concerned. Such reports The c~ rr y i .ng out of the provisions mon interest-the well-being of our for sendll1g m parcels and relief to to r eceive mail and parcels ; to be where they are. The informat gs with Germany, Italy, and Japan. indicate where camps fall short of the prisoners wherever they are. c~mp s, and for exchanging informa fed, clothed, and housed; to be given about American prisoners gathe Food and Clothing Supplies ~ccept e d standards, and usually result proper medical care; to be paid for by the protecting Power and the tIOn between prisoners of nations at 111 prompt correction. According to The responsibility for the welfare It is specified that every prisoner of war and their own countries, is now such work outside the camp as he tral Agency comes to next of kin lates t reports, there are 63 Interna of prisoners of war rests with the r has the ri? ht to receive the quai a tremendous task requiring a large may be required to perform. Having the United States through the Pri tional R ed Cross Committee Dele governments concerned. It is the I and quantIty of food given to base force. In Switzerland there are be rights, the prisoner of war has obli ers of War Information Bureau, gates, of Swiss nationality, scattered function of the protecting Power ops of the detaining Power. No tween 5,000 and 6,000 people em gations, and one of these (which, how vost Marshal General's Office, over the world according to need. (Switzerland, in the case of the Uni II ective disciplinary measures af plo y~d by the 1. R. C. C., chiefl y on ever, does not apply to officers) is to Department, Washington, D. C. ~~ese delegates' reports upon their ted States) to see that the Geneva cting the prisoners' food are per Job-the majority of them work perform such work of a nonmilitary The prisoner has the right to VISitS to prison camps are generally ~hat Convention is properly observed by itted. All prisoners must have mg as Its mail averages character as may be assigned to him. ceive letters as well as to send th published in the monthly "Revu e" volunt~e rs . the detaining Powers. The Prisoners :eans prov ~de d for cooking supple Prisoners of war, in fact, often com and to receive parcels of food, of the 1. R . C. C. over 60,000 pieces daily; its card in of War Information Bureau in W ash entary ratIOn s. dex of 12,000,000 cards is said to be plain if they are not given work bacco, comforts, Clothing, and b The el<:cted camp leader (usually ington, D. C., under the Provost Clothing, underwear, and foot the larges t in the world. If news seems which helps to relieve the boredom He has the right to legal help in s the rankmg officer in an officers' Marshal General, is the government of camp life besides providing them ing legal papers, if he needs it; ar, ac~o rding to the treaty, must to move slowly to yo u, plea"se remem su pplIed to every prisoner. Any agency which keeps records of Amer with pocket money. to a proper trial for any serious . Prisoners of War B ulletin in ber the enormous amount of detail ican prisoners of war and civilian All these rights and obligations are fringement of camp discipline. I rsonal effects taken from him at vz tes rep ,-in ting of its articles in work involved and the difficulties of internees, and maintains contact with not left to the discretion of the de the custom for all prisoners of e ti me of capture must be saved whole aT in part. Its contents are ~ran s portation. Many people are try their next of kin. The national Red taining Power. They are covered b y nationality to share equally in d returned to him. He must have not copyrighted. ll1g ~on ~ tantl y to improve this hu Cross Societies, and other humani international treaties which have collective shipments of relief sup ~ pl ete freedom of religious wor mal11 tanan service. . tarian organizations accepted by the been negotiated during the last 70 sent to the camp by the Red lP, and provisions are to be made holding services. belligerents under the Convention, years, and which culminated in the Society and other organizations w provide the machinery for bringing Geneva Convention of 1929 Relative look after their welfare-throug P~i sone rs may be employed, but t l.n dangerous or unhealthy work, relief supplies and other aid to the to the Treatment of Prisoners of I R. C. C. prisoners. It is also a task of these War, which comprises 97 articles. In According to the Conven r 111 . a~y work directly connected organizations to serve as a means of all, 42 nations signed and ratified, prisoner of war camps must .lh mdnary opera tions. The use of lso ners. for manufacturing and contact between the prisoners and or later adhered to, this latest set of healthy places, provided with w their relatives. rules for the treatment of prisoners nsport1l1g arms or mu nitions of kind, or for transporting material of war. The participation of the r------~. y We have accordingly decided to United State/) in the Convention was Prisoner!, of War Bulletin is ended for combat units, is specifi publish periodically this Bulletin in formally ratified by the Senate in free of charge to those regist Iy prohibited. Prisoners used fo r which we shall share with the fami 1932 and proclaimed by the Presi as next of kin with the Oflic rk other than care of the camps lies of our prisoners of war, and all dent on July 4th of that year. the Provost Marshal General entitled to wages, part of which those who are less directly but none American Red Cross chapters, Y be give n them at once and the the less keenly interested in their wel Provisions of the Geneva Convention to workers engaged in prison lance held in reserve war relief. Officers are not requ·ired to work· fare, the information we gather from The treaty begins by declaring that t on tl . , many sources about them, what is prisoners must "at all times be hu If we have omitted the nam '.f leu reques t, they may do being done for them, and what they manely treated and protected, par any persons falling withw 1 suitable employment can be need. Keeping relatives of prisoners ticularly against acts of violence, in categories, they may be add n? Noncomm issioned officers are as fully informed as possible will be sults and public curiosity. " It lists the mailing list by writing to IllJ red to do only supervisory work the primary object of this publica the pri60ners' rights in great detail, es~ they expressly request remu: Red Cross chapter. ralive occupation. tion, which will be sent to all the and in careful phrases to avoid mis next of kin as soon as their names interpretation. To the family at Gilbert Redfern, Camp Visits and Complaints are given to us by the proper authori- home, one of the most important Edit risoners have the right to set up ties. . rights is that of the priso ner to let - Central Agency for Prisoners of War, International Red Cross, Geneva 4 When this fund was nearing ex ion, the American Red Cross OJ~ fJwnL Jloln/L Relief to Prisoners of War in the Far $10,000 to the Delegate By Marion Hale Britten the 1. R. C. C. and informed Ever since the ou tbreak of hostili m that this account would be re The nearest relative of each Amer before your first package can arrive, ties in the Far East unceasing efforts enished at the end of each month ican prisoner of war (officially listed you will know better what you want have been made by the United States n receipt of a statement of the next of kin) is sent the first news to send. Government and the American Red spent to meet the need of pris when word is received from the In And please make certain that the Cross, through the intermediary of ers of war and civilian internees ternational Red Cross Committee wrapping is strong and durable. The the Government of Switzerland and that area. Replenishments in the that an officer or soldier in our forces packages travel long distanc e~ and are the In~e rnational Red Cross Com nt of $10,000 are accordingly has been captured by the enemy. As subject to rough handling. [t is ad mittee, to devise channels for a regu forward. soon as the camp address is known, visable that packages contain a com lar flow of relief su pplies to our pris time of the capture of Hong the family is told by the Prisoners plete inner wrapping, giving the full oners of war and civilian internees the American Red Cross rep of War Information Bureau of the address exactly as it appears on the now in Japanese camps. By compari ntatives there were able to pro Provost Marshal General's Office how outside. Paper on which any print· son, the problem of reaching prison- - e 180,000 Hong Kong dollars to address letters to the prisoner; and, ing, other than address information, ers of war in Europe is simple. t '44,000) with which to sup if parcel post facilities are available, appears must not be used on the out The efforts to solve the Far Eastern foo d, clothing, and other neces a parcel label is then sent every 60 side or inside wrapper, or to wrap or relief problem have included the for citizens of the United Na days. Parcels can be sent to prisoner protect any articles inside the pack working ou t of various proposals and held in Stanley Internment of war and civilian internees in Eu age. The finished package must not presenting them, through the pro p. Later, the Government of the rope, but not ye t to those in the Far be more than 18 inches in length and tecting Power, to the Japanese Gov ited States sent further funds to East. When shipping routes can . be 42 inches in length and girth com- ernment or, through the Interna· 1. R. C. C. Delegate at Hong Kong established (and efforts are continu - bined. tional Red Cross Committee, to the is endeavoring to get these funds ously being made to arrange for A War Prisoner's Needs Japanese Red Cross in Tokyo. The them), the same label arrangement the hands of American nation A prisoner is most likely to be cumbersome methods, necessitated by will probably be used for our prison the purchase of supplemen taken with only the clothes he wears, war, of getting word to a belligerent ers there. food, clothing, and medical sup so ample stocks of such extra things that does not maintain the same Since all -parcels, except books, sent . The American Red Cross has as he will want are kept by us in the close contact with the International to prisoners of war from this country A list of American prisoners of war, containing about forty names, as sent by the provided the 1. R. C. C. Delegate 1. R. C. C. warehouses in Switzer Red Cross Committee at Geneva as Government's Central Information Bureau at Tokyo to the Central Agency for must carry official labels inside and Japan with a revolving fund of land. These are ready to send to the do, for instance, the British, German, of War in Geneva. out, only the next of kin can send 0,000, similar to the one which has camp as soon as word comes that a Italian, and our own Government such parcels unless they give the set up at Shanghai, to be used new batch of prisoners has arrived, and Red Cross have complicated the tions ports to Lourenc;o Marques, in labels to someone else. Using the pplies that can be -purchased and that the supplies already avail problem. From the outset, however, Portuguese East Africa, and there met labels, II-pound parcels can be sent. and distributed by him to pr:Lsona,callv for prisoners of war relief. able at the camp are insufficient. The all those who have worked on it have the Japanese exchange ships. The All the instructions about such pack and internees and to 1. R. C. C. is the first to get such been constantly trying ou t new ideas. American Red Cross was able to send ages-what can be sent, and how to providing food for refugee Grants for Philippine R elief word, so they have standing instruc In July 1942, a Swedish ship, with 20,000 standard food parcels, 10,000 send them-come with the label from Another part of the supplies tions to send along extra clothing, a neutral crew, was chartered and articles of clothing, $15,000 worth of tain medical stores of the Through the Swiss Minister in the Prisoners of War Information soap, razors, cigarettes, and other loaded in one of our western ports toilet articles, $50,000 worth of medi Red Cross were confiscated by kyo, the American Red Cross has Bureau. An ll-pound package seems comforts, as well as food parcels, im with a large cargo of food, clothes, cal supplies, 10,000 cans of tobacco, apanese authorities, 'who later the sum Qf $25,000 to be much too small if you try to send mediately. Most of the supplies re medicines, recreational equipment, and a million cigarettes. These sup J by the Executive Committee of everything listed, or everything you posited some 200,000 yen (about ivilian Internees held at Santo quired for our prisoners are fur and so forth. This was the Kanan plies were carried to Japan and there want your man to have. So the things 000) in payment in the Y~~'J"u,, __ _ nished to the Red Cross by the Army goora. Loaded and ready to sail, distributed to prisoners of war, or re Specie Bank. The 1. R. C. as, near Manila. Such expend i- must be carefully chosen to fill the and avy, since our Government de it stayed in port until early in Sep shipped by the 1. R . C. C. Delegate gate at Shanghai was au must necessarily be made under limited space. sires to continue its responsibility for tember, when the Japanese finally and the Japanese authorities to other the Red Cross to use this fu pervision of the Japanese au· For the first package, you will the welfare of the armed forces, even refused our request for safe conduct. areas where prisoners were held. Dis lief purposes. The Delegate ties. Additional sums will be surely ask, What does he need most? after they are captured. o the ship was unloaded. During the tributions were ' made in Zentsuji, able to purchase some summer in this way, if our reports show This question may seem hard to The Red Cross standard food par time it waited, the Swiss Government Osaka, Kobe, and Shanghai; and one ing (shorts, handkerchiefs, it is a successful method of pro· answer before you know something cels which go every week to prison and the International Red Cross hundred tons of supplies eventually and caps) and some winter clo what is needed by our in· about his new way of living; but if ers of war are planned to contain th e Committee handled messages back reached the Philippines. According citizens in the Philippines. It you remember that the bare necessi (sweat shirts, padded jackets, hoped that the Swiss Govern. maximum amount of nutriment to and forth between the two belliger to recent reports, plans were under ties will have been provided-either gloves) with this money. He has t will be able to work out a simi· supplement the rations supplied bv ents-but all to no avail because the way, and should have been carried by the enemy or by the Red Cross- been able !o supply regularly a 1 the detaining Power. But you rna)' Japanese Government took the posi out by now, to send supplies to ten tain amount of food and toile p an for other camps in the tion that it could not guarantee safe other camps in Taiwan, Chosen, and want to look over the list of items ticles for prisoners in the b given in the instructions sent out b; conduct through waters in which ac Japan proper. area; as well as stoves and es t that can be done by way Red Cross are therefore continuing without pause, and the Japanese au the Prisoners of "Var Information tive naval operations might take Prisoner of War Relief Activities in coal, for heating the barracks; plomatic exchange ships and thorities are being presented with Bureau, and compare that with the place. Occupied China and washing machines; medical remittances does not even begin the pressing needs of our plan after plan in an effort to find an lis~ of items in the Red Cross parcel Relief on Exchange Ships When the Japanese authorities oc dental supplies; oculist supplies in the Far East. These can be effective solution of this problem. As (gIven elsewhere in this Bulletin) to some sports equipment. The adequately only by a continuous see if we have left out some favorite The only method on which agree cupied Shanghai, the American Red these plans concretely develop, we officer .is also being given mo of supplies sent from the United will continue to inform the next of of your own particular prisoner that ment has so far been reached for Cross had stocks there which con purchase fresh eggs and ve!!"e l:Clllibtoo in regular shipments. The ef kin and those interested in the wel you can supply. Your parcel should the transportation of relief supplies sisted of large supplies of cracked directly from hucksters who visi of the Government and the was by diplomatic exchange ships, wheat, flour, and rice, and over 400,- fare o~ our prisoners. give him the extras wherever it is camp. which went from various United a- 000 pounds of farina and rolled oats. VOL. 1, N PRISONERS OF WAR BULLETIN
deep. The empty carton starts on its possible, over and above the bare Food Packaging for Prisoners of War jou rney along the conveyor line and Prisoner of War Camps in Germany necessities-the things that will make the first volunteer puts into it a one the difference between mere subsis By William C. McDonald pound packet of prunes or raisins. Stalagluft III tence and what might be called liv Director of Packing Centers It proceeds further, and the next vol This camp for Air Force officers Canadian, Australian, New Zealand, ing. It should let him know that his Now that the American public has Assembly L ine Operation unteer puts in a tin of liver pate; then and noncommissioned officers is lo Polish, Czech, French, Belgian, Neth own family remembers what he es begun to feel the impact of food ra- The basic principle involves there is tucked into one corner a tin cated about ninety miles southeast erlands, and Norwegian prisoners of pecially likes-his favorite color in tioning, they are for the first time assembly line process, where of soluble coffee, into another a can of Berlin in the direction of Breslau. war. They were all members of Brit handkerchiefs or muffler or socks, or becoming food conscious. They now is a continual movement of the of corned beef. Then there are added, It was established in the spring of ish and Dominion Air Forces except his favorite kind of pipe. If you know are feeling that which foreign popu- carton while it is being filled rapidly, a packet of sugar, a can of 1942 with the clearing of an area he likes some sort of cookies that will lations long have felt. There are none the food articles. The ass~mbly for two medical officers of the British dried milk, a can of oleomargarine, of about 950 by 650 feet in a pine last the six months or so it may take more unfortunate than the members itself consists of two roller Army, and about ten of the United a packet of biscuit, a can of orange forest near a small town. A report the paTcel to reach him, you could of the armed forces of the United each about 70 feet long. n.~LI FROM PRISONERS OF WAR AND CIVILIAN INTERNEES (Editor's Note: The following let problems and much the same organi composed of men from so many walk ters have . been furnished to the zation. Am afraid I've been neglect of life and so many races live SI A merican Red C,!oss by relatives of ing my Italian in the face of other cheerfully under such trying circum QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS prisoners of war. We shall always be duties, but I'm learning to speak and stances. The adjustability of,mankin. pleased to receive) and publish) simi understand it slowly. The camp com to a changing environment is, I b( lar letters of general interest. If you mandant, a very nice Italian colonel, lieve, one of his greatest attribute,"II-_------...... ------__---1 has just given us a gramophone and and the ability of · the Anglo-Saxo are willing to let us publish letters Q. My brother, who was taken pris a spy story or an escape story. General, which forwards the mes you have received) please send copies some records of Italian opera and race to make the best of it is quit oner by the Germans in North The sender cannot handle the sages to the next of kin. The to your Red Cross chapter; if )'OU symphonic music. What a treat to evident here. Africa, and is now in Oflag VII book so it must be ordered sent Bureau is careful to point out prefer) send the originals and they .listen to good music again. (A description of Stalagluft II B, writes that since he got to this direct from the book store or pub that the authenticity of the mes will copy them. The original letters and of some useful work Lt. Colont camp they have been giving him lisher. No official label is required sage cannot be verified. will then be returned to you. If Civilian Internment Camp, Vittel Clark is doing there) a.ppears els British Red Cross food parcels. for such book packages, which Q. Do you send prisoner of war relief you send copies of) or extracts from) (VOSGES), France where in this issue. Ed.) He says these are fine, but he may be sent by friends as well as packages only in Red Cross ships? prisoners' letters) please be sure to To the American Red Cross: Once again, we wish to express the Ilag VII, Germany wonders why he is not getting by next of kin. They must be A. W'e send mostly in ships under give the date of the letter and the American parcels. deep gratitude of this camp for the The holidays are over. Vve had wrapped and addressed by the neutral registry (Swiss or Portu name of the camp. seller, who should enter the name cotton thread we have just received number of Christmas services an A. Your brother is now no doubt re guese) . Strictly speaking, there is It is imp9rtant to remember that and address of the buyer in the from Geneva. entertainments and we received ou ceiving the standard American only one Red Cross ship at pres all mail coming from prisoners of proper place as sender. No book We cannot find words to tell you first American Red Cross packag« Red Cross food parcels. When the ent in prisoner of war relief servo' war and civilian internees is censored package may weigh more than 5 how pleased the women internees and were quite like children OVI North African campaign began, it ice. That is the Caritas I, owned by the detaining Power.) lbs., and only one package may be were when they were told that cotton them. There are eighteen in my root had not been possible for us to and operated by a subsidiary of sent to any prisoner once in thirty had arrived in the camp, as this arti but we expect six more. The dai .build up food parcel reserves in the International Red Cross Zentsuji War Prison Camp, Japan days. Books are carefully cen Dear Mother ... Wake was cap cle had been lacking for a long time routine is as follows: We get up abOl all the camps to which American Committee, but used by die prisoners of war might be sent; sored, and will be returned to tured on December 23rd, 1941. "~Ye and naturally prevented the sewing 7 A. M., make our beds and clea American Red Cross. but we have a reciprocal arrange you if not acceptable. were captured and sent here to Japan. being done in the work-rooms. our room. At 9:30 A. M. we have ro Q. Can the Red Cross obtain infor ment with the British Red Cross Q. May I send some of my son's I have received very good treatment call in the court, and at 9 P. M. l\ mation about a member of the that whenever American prison books to the German prison camp since I was captured. Once a week Stalagluft ill, Germany must be in our rooms. By birth all armed forces presumed to have ers reach a camp where the Brit where he is held? we go on a hike through the city Dear Friend: forebears we represent some twent been taken prisoner at Corregi ish Red Cross has a stock of A. o. Only new books may be sent, and up in the hills, which is very Do you know that three of your three nationalities, speaking abOl dor whose name has not been in parcels, the Americans can draw direct from the bookseller or interesting. Captain ... got letters parcels arrived on Christmas Eve just twelve different languages. We aJ cluded on the lists so far pub on them until we get in our own publisher. from his sister and one from his in time to ensure an old fashioned housed in a large block of buildinl lished of officially reported pris supplies. This arrangement, of father and he let me read them, so Christmas day for myself and the (150 or 200 years old) around t" Q. My husband is a prisoner of war oners? course, operates to the benefit of in Germany, now attached to a I got most of the news about the other seven with whom I eat ... square courts. One of the internees A. Lists of those taken early in 1942 British prisoners when the situa home town. Tell all the family hello There was a very fine Carol Service chosen as camp senior who deals wi mobile working party. Does he are still coming gradually from tion is reversed. receive a food parcel every week and that I am thinking of 'them and on Christmas Eve, then on the day the Americans. The camp senior h Japan, via Geneva, and at any wherever he is, or does he have expect to be with them sOQn, but for itself we had some beer to drink (I advisers and the camp services are a; Q. Can I be sure that my letters will time the name of someone cap to wait till he returns to his base? them to write just in case I don't hadn't had any for eighteen months) pointed by the camp senior, such reach my husband, now an in tured at Corregidor may appear. make it. We are going to get 500 and the Christmas feast. After the -postmaster, cooking staff, cante( tern ~e in the Philippines? The A. The present policy is to supply The Prisoners of War Informa books in our library in a few days New Year, we shall have a panto staff, educational director, director address given me by the Informa one food package weekly to every tion Bureau in Washington makes tion Bureau showed that he was and they should keep us busy until mime, "Treasure Island." I have a recreation, sanitary services, shoema American prisoner of war in every effort to have the family held at Santo Tomas. we get out of here. small part in it of making the noises ers, tailor, barbers, etc. The roon Europe. The parcels are for given information before it is off [stage] of Long John Silver's par hold from six to sixty, and each roo A. Conditions are now such, unfor warded regularly to working de published. Once a man is listed, P.G. 21-M.P. 3,300, Italy rot ... There are several American has a room senior who is responsib tunately, that you cannot be sure. tachments from the main camps. the Red Cross is usually in a Working detachments also receive Dearest Mother: How quickly the officers in this camp; but none of for order and cleanliness. The be The Japanese Official Bureau, position to give some information better rations from the Germans days pass; and full days they are too. them know any of my American are two or three deckers with m however, advised the LR.C.C. of to the family concerning the camp than do prisoners of war in the I'm very busy, quite happy and very friends. tress, spread, pillow case, two blan the distribution of some 230,000 surroundings, and what relief base camps. occupied. This has been turned into ets and lockers for our clothes. The letters to prisoners of war and measures are being taken. If the a permanent camp and I am among Stalagluft III, Germany are tables, stools and stove. 'Ve a civilian internees up to the end of Q. Is there any assurance that the family has any reason to believe the oldest inhabitants. Living condi (From Lt. Colonel Clark, given a fixed amount of coal each d 1942. Of these, 5,400 were dis messages sent over short wave that they have missed receiving tions have improved immensely. I Senior American Officer) according to the size of the roo tributed in the Philippines, and from prisoners on Taiwan are an official notification. of capture, undoubtedly many of them went have organized, with some opposi I, myself, have profited in many Each internee gets a bowl, cup, spo< authentic? the Red Cross chapter is always to Santo Tomas. Much of this tion, a library, having been able to ways from my misfortune. One learns knife and fork, also one towel a A. All prisoners of war messages ready to look into the case. In mail left the United States in purchase some books in the town. above all tolerance and patience. One an issue of soap once a month. , broadcast from enemy countries this connection, the family of a June 1942, by the diplomatic ex Still the number of books is less than learns how to help others and you'd get one half-pound of bread a d are picked up here by the federal man listed as missing should be two cooked meals, one ounce of m change ship, Gripsholm. the number of officers, but I'm going be amazed to see how unselfish most radio monitor system. Records of sure to keep his branch of the to improve that situation shortly. I'm people here are. There are those garine every other day, rations Q. A friend, in Stalag VIII B, has the broadcasts are then forwarded service (Army, Navy, Marine salt, sugar, jam and cheese onc« on the permanent staff here at the who'd give the shirts off their backs. asked me to send him "thrillers." by the Federal Communications Corps or Coast Guard) informed week. The work of cooking and. camp and manage to keep very busy There are others who labor unceas Is this permi tted? Commission to the Prisoners of of any change of address, so that tributing the food is done by indeed. It is quite like operating a ingly for the common good. Never A. Yes, the ordinary type of "thrill vVar Information Bureau at the further news may reach them school; the same interests, the same did I expect to see a male society internees .. er" or fiction may be sent, but not Office of the Provost Marshal promptly. 12 The Meaning of German Camp Terms Swedish Red Cross SendlJ German camps are divided into area, and the larger labor detach Writing Paper categories according to the type of ments are miniatures of the base prisoners of war they contain. They camp in their construction and or The lack of writing paper in Ge are known by the following termi ganization. The German command- . many and Italy is so great that mall I nology: ers of the labor detachments are sub prisoners of war, eager to continl] LAGER-camp ordinate to the officer in charge of their studies, have been forced 1 lish STALAG - abbreviation for the Stalag. All the administrative use the wrappings of cigarette pad STAMMLAGER - a permanent work of the camp is carried on in the ages for making notes, according camp for noncoms or privates, or Stalag. The hospital forms part of the a report by Mr. A. de Blonay, Secr a base camp from which labor de base camp. tary-General of the European Studel tachments are sent out Labor detachments vary in strength Relief Fund. ZWEIGLAGER-branch camp from 15 to as many as 300 prisoners Mr. de Blonay recently went fro OFLAG - abbreviation for OFFI for work in towns, villages, factories, Geneva to Stockholtp to seek i ZIERSLAGER-a permanent camp mines, on roads, railroads, etc. ·When creased Swedish support for stude for officers the strength of the detachment war prisoners. The Swedish R ed Cra DULAG-abbrevialiun for DURCH- rants, they are housed lI1 special responded promptly by shipping 4( 'Th GANGSLAGER-a transit camp buildings or barracks near the place 000 notebooks for prisoners of w Ja LUFTLAGER - abbreviation for of work. In such cases, the individual in Germany and Italy, and an add til LUFTWAFFELAGER - a camp prisoner has no direct contact with tional 100,000 notebooks and 200,0( anc for airmen the base camp, which may be fifty sheets of writing paper were proll ado DULAGLUFT - abbreviation for or even a hundred miles away. Com ised for early shipment to the Inte ises DURCHGA GSLUFTWAFFE munication with the camp leader at national R ed Cross Committee £ eer le LAGER-a transit camp for air the base, however, is maintained similar distribution. through the prisoners' representative di men od. MARLAG-abbreviation for MAR at the head of each working detach (Editor"s Note: Writing paper a7 tio INELAGER-a camp for sailors ment. It is this representative who notebooks cannot be included te , MILAG-abbreviation for MILI receives from the base, and distribu tes next-of-kin parcels fTOm the Unitj r TAERLAGER-a camp for soldiers among the men of his working de States. Special paper fOT prisoners arc ILAG-abbreviation for INTERN tachment, the mail and relief sup war letters is pTOvided by the Germ( ~et; plies se nt to the camps. and Italian authorities.) re IERTENLAGER-a civilian lfi- \______t>rki ternment camp A Stalag is a base camp. Many of )'1 at he prisoners carried on the rolls of Change of Address pw ~ a base camp may actually not be The names and addresses of the nearest relatives of American prisoners of war and civilian internees. to whom this Bulletin is sent. were furnished to the 1501 quartered in it but may be living in Red Cross by the Prisoners of War Information Bureau of the Provost Marshal At a dependency of the base camp called General's Office. To enable us to keep the mailing list up to date. we must rely on pu an Arbeitskommando, or labor de- our readers to advise us of any change of address. Please inform your Red Cross chapter whenever you change your address and always give the name of the ~h achment. Such detachments are prisoner as well as your own. ra usually scattered over a fairly wide ed, ild pn m ~in r------~~a Prisoners of War Bulletin Sec. 562 P. L. & R. sse Published by U. S. POSTAGE w The American National Red Cross PAID Ve1 Washington, D. C. te "Vashington 13, D. C. tal Permit No. 84 ~ 7 hs ce ar Librarian University of Texas Library Austin Texas ...... -