12
NEW CIVILIAN I NT ERNEE CAMP IN FRANCE Noles on Red Cross Packaging The German authorities ha~e In the early days of March the plant, asin the other three, closed !lag VIII, the civilian internee 10-millionth standard prisoner of of kin of American camp at Tost, in eastern Germany, war food package was produced. On March 13, No.3 and transferred to a new civilian The Philadelphia plant, of which Center at 39 Chambers + c~mp for men at Giromagny, France, Mrs. Stacy B. Lloyd has been chair York, celebrated its first RISONERS OF WAR the Americans who were in !lag VIII. man since its establishment early in and the,production of its 3 BULLETIN Giromagny is in the Department of food package. Eighty 1943, completed its 2,800,000th by the American National Red CrQSS f:'r the Relatives of American Prisoners"tf Vosges, in northeastern France. On the Queens Central Chapter the map of prisoner of war ca~ps package before moving at the end (published last September) GIro of March from 3028 Hunting Park duty for the anniversary tion, and a birthday cake magny can be added in square ~3. Avenue to 23rd and Chestnut Streets, WASHINGTON, D. C. 'VtAY 22 10 / MAY. 1944 The original group of Amencans, where it occupies the entire five Later ih the day the numbering 88 men, sent to !lag VIII floors of a former automobile-sales from the North Shore THE' LIBRARY were picked up in Belgium a~d building. The new plant is near the a similar party, and on northern France by the Germans m center of the city so that many more volunteers from the New Relief Shipments to t~e Far East 1940. Mr. John A. Parent, the Amer people will now hav~ an. opportu~ity ter, who man the assembly ican camp senior who was mo-yed to see the assembly lme m operatIOn. two and a half days a week, with the men from Tost to GIro Whenever a prisoner of war from celebration. DISTRIBUTION REPORT magny, has cabled on behalf of the the Philadelphia district is report~d, The New York Center is group to "express gratitude to all the chairman writes to the famIly by 750 women volunteers, the benefactors and staff of the Amer Preliminary reports have now been received on the distribution of the relief supplies for prisoners of waF inviting them to visit the plant. Its into twelve three-hour shifts ican Red Cross for the efforts made and civilian internees in the Far East, which were loaded, by the American Red Cross, on the diplomatic exchange output averages 12,500 packages a The volunteers are provided to alleviate their distress." iliip, Gripsholm, at Jersey City last September and transshipped at Mormagoa to the Japanese ship, Teia Maru. ,day, with about seventy women vol ous chapters 'ip. the unteers serving on each shift. There Y9rk area and northern These reports, which came by cable from the International. Committee of the Red Cros~ , are summarized below: MAIL FOR FLYERS are two vice-chairmen at Philadel sey. phia-Mrs. S. Leonard Kent, Jr., and Philippines We wish to. repeat an earlier an· In order to acquaint Japan Sumatra Tetal Mrs. Henry H. Pease. Each shift has Kerea Thailand Reperted no.uncement th at all first class mail and their community with To War To C ivi lian Manchuria Burma Dis- airmail fo.r American airmen in Ger, a captain and five line ~irectors Pris on ers I nterl1 e es Fermesa Shanghai Java Malaya Bernee tributed who help to keep the operatIOn run aging operation, the St. man camps sho.uld be addressed to. Stalag, Special 13-pound food packages __ 44,648 24,204 32,712 13,976 10,672 2,616 10,924 139,752 L uft III, where it is censo.red. If the ning smoothly. There are also groups ter arranged over a period Nledical supplies-cases ------1,297 camp where the priso.ner is held is o.ther of men volunteers who keep the sup weeks to bring groups of 685 507 188 137 25 46 2,885 than Stalag Luft III, the camp designa· bus to the St. Louis Clothing, men-sets ______1,260 1,535 7,505 1,565 5 11,870 tio.n (fo.f example, Stala!\" VII A, o.r ply bins filled with the different Stalag XVII B, o.r Stalag Luft I) sho.uld items that go into the packages. taking lunch at the Clothing, women and children-sets 4,270 15 950 15 30 45 5,325 be added in brackets. By the end of March, the output the visitors were given Overcoats ------2,070 1,800 3,870 When sending snapsho.ts, the name ground of prisoner of Shoes-pairs and number o.f the priso.ner sh o.uld be of-Center No. 2 at Chicago was close ------6,996 1,560 11,664 1,872 816 204 864 23,976 written o.n the back. to the 3,000,000 mark. A number of work and conducted Toilet se ts, men ______14,130 1,050 12,330 900 30 30 28,470 aging Center No.4. volunteer workers in the Chicago Toilet se ts, women and children __ 4,270 15 950 15 30 45 5,325 Shoe repair materials-cases-__ ___ 263 73 101 28 26 6 28 525 Tobacco assortments-cases ______143 69 73 2 3 290 Bed sheets-cases ______~ 10 41 51 Recreational supplies, YMCA- cases ______63 42 103 208 Religious materials, NCWC-cases 20 5 25
At all the points listed, distribution of the supplies to prisoners of war and civilian internees is under- Prisoners of War Bulletin IIood to have been completed. April 1944 Detailed reports have also been received on the distribution made to many of the camps in Japan. The Published by Osaka camps, for example, received 8,000 of the special l3-pound food packages, 137 cases of medicine, 1,875 The American National Red Cross tts of heavy clothing, 525 overcoats, 2,916 pairs of shoes, 25 cases of shoe repair materials, 3,900 comfort sets, Washington 13, D. C. 18 cases of tobacco. At Zentsuji, where the camp strength is much less than at Osaka, the men received 1,600
~ 7 packages, 22 cases of medicine, 375 sets of clothing, 105 overcoats, 588 pairs of shoes, and 600 comfort sets. tion on approximately the same basis was made to all the camps in Japan proper. Return Postage Guaranteed British and Canadian Red Cr~ss Supplies Ser ials Acquisition ~ In addition to the supplies sent by the American Red Cross, the Canadioan Red Cross sent 24,240 standard The University of Texas Library parcels, 60 cases of miscellaneous food, 74 cases of medical supplies, 13 cases of miscellaneous supplies, and Austin 12 Texas British Red Cross sent 891 cases of medical supplies. These supplies were off-loaded at Singapore for distribution ]a the surrounding areas and N etherlands East Indies, and at Yokohama for distribution in Hong Kong' and l~~ · The sup~ li e s ,for Hong Kong are still being held at Yokohama awaiting opportunities for shipment to Hong
Po.stmaster-If addressee has removed and new ad dress is knewn, notify sender on FORM 3547, pestage fer which is guaranteed. 2 3
East Prussia near the Lith~a n ian LIFE IN TOKYO CAMPS AMERICAN INTERNEES IN German Camp Notes and close to the. BaltIC Sea. The letter below is from a mission SWITZERLAND Stalag III B urnes which had been donated by the Have spoken highly of the Luft VI is a new camp, German commander. As in the case attention they received there. June 1943, for noncom- ary who returned last December on The American airmen interned in 'Fhe youngest prisone: of war at officers of the Royal Air of the church, most of the library'S Stalag Luft ITI ;'.I!.I::" tOlm:lCUany of whom had been trans- the Gripsholm after 34 years' resi Switzerland have been transferred Stalag III B is the Amen~an spokes interior fittings had been made from from Macolin to Adelboden, where The strength of Stalag L from Luft I and Luft III. At dence in Japan. His home was in man for this camp, accordmg to a re Red Cross boxes. The work detach- , they are livi~g in "Camp Maloney." cent report. He is Sgt. Clyde Bennett, continually increasing, the of February, the number of Tokyo. ments were supplied .with Red Cr~ss port available giving the at StaIag Luft The camp, which is installed in the -age 22_ "He has a~,su~ed his t~sk," packages and books from the mam It was impossible for us to visit the Hotel Nevada Palace at Adelboden, the report stated, WIth enthusIasm American officer-airmen 200, but the British camps where the prisoners of war 2,000. The spokesmen at them at that/ was named Maloney in honor of the and ability, and has found capable ca~~. orchestra of 21 men had been were kept. My wife and I were free first American aviator to lose his life assistants_" formed at the base camp, the musical camps. into wh~ch Stalag it was a new camp, much for the first year of the war. After on Swiss soil. divided, accordmg to a rece to get it organized There were about 2,700 American instruments having been furnished that, we were interned for a year prisoners at Stalag III B at the en~ of were: East Compound, entertainments, and edu- until the time of our evacuation. The A recent report from a Delegate of by the YMCA. Sgt. Boettcher, a pro the International Committee of the February, a large part of them bemg fessional organist, was the conductor. tain Kellett (British); N activities. As most, if not all, two types of camps, civilian and away from the base camp on work de pound, Group . prisoners there are noncoms, pTisoner of war, were quite distinct. Red Cross, who had visited the men He also conducted the choir at re at Adelboden, stated that he had tachments. One detachment recently ligious services. The orchestra was (British); Middle . so not required to work outside The civilian camps were visited had a strength of about 700 men. onel Spivey (Amencan ; camp, idleness has been a con- periodically by a representative of found "an atmosphere of order and permitted to visit the work detach organized activity." The mornings While the American section at ments once a month. pound, Colonel threat to them. The men trans- the Swiss Legation in Tokyo. I un Stalag III B was numerically. the can). The South from Stalag Luft III brought derstand, however, that it is difficult were given over to study and lectures, strongest, the camp also con tamed Kloster Hilina Lazaret (Stalag IX A) is all-American and has quantities of materials for e7.Jen for the Swiss Legation to make the afternoons to sport, laboratory work, and hobbies. There were mo French, Russian, Yugoslav, Dutch, The Kloster Haina Lazaret near plactically every 'state, music, and entertainments. contact with the war prisoners' and Italian prisoners of ~ar. The re opened last September. brought about 6,000 books, camps. tion pictures on two evenings a week, Kassel, dependent on Stalag IX A, and lectures on other evenings. All cent arrival of a substantIal number was closed a few months ago. Of the weeks the men there had for educational needs. of Italian prisoners is said to have build'a new theater, and to However, it so happened that a internees had to be in camp by 9:30 SIck and wounded American prison a playing field by digging Stalag XVII B Roman Catholic priest, who came to P. M. Captain Kramer, the Swiss caused overcrowding at the camp. ers of war (numbering about 40) in The German commander's office was SLUmps and roots. They were The following letter from SjSgt. our camp in the spring of 1943, had commander of the camp, com Kloster Haina Lazaret at that tIme, ted to use the fire service Kenneth J. Kurtenbach, American • been a chaplain in the Philippines mended the conduct of the Amer reported to have been "4e~pf~1 and a few have been repatriated, several sympathetic" in the orgalllZatlOn .of as a swimming pool. an at Stalag XVII B, dat,= and was taken to the camp in Japan icans under his charge. were sent to Bad Soden, and the re r eI U~-LTlleu',eudorf , Austria, with the regular. prisoners. From him camp life at Stalag III B, and, de?plte Stalag Luft VI Two club lounges had been in mainder transferred to Lazaret Ober I was able to gather a little informa oYer crowding, the huts ,were saId to 11 , 1943, was received by stalled, and tastefully decorated, in rriassfeld. Obermassfeld, which is de Recent reports have International Committee of the tion which may be of interest to you. be clean and orderly. the hotel-one for officers and the pendent on Stalag IX C, is in arrival of a sulbstallltIaJ Cross at Geneva: Camp No_ 1, Tokyo area, it what There was no chaplain for Ameri Thuringia, in central Germany. American other for noncoms. There were can prisoners, the YMCA has re e received on November 1 a car we knew as the Shinagawa Camp. Prisoners of war repatriated from at Stalag Luft VI, Shinagawa is in the southern end of private rooms for those studying ported, until last September, when a of clo thing, shoes, cobbler's Kloster Haina and Obermassfeld Hey~ekrug, in the nor Tokyo and lies along Tokyo Bay. music; a well-equipped photographic Catholic priest was transferred from and equipment. It was trans - laboratory, and another section for IJag VII Z, a civilian inter~ment to us from Stalag Vll A, our I imagine that their main problem courses in radio construction and re camp. He was F~ther ~a~olewIcz, an dress. is proper food. The priest reported pair. The men were required to take American of PolIsh ongm. He began cannot express the apprecia that the boys get japanese food, courses filling three hours each morn by holding two services. every Sunday, the men of this Stalag feel which consists largely of rice. They ing, ana a wide range of subjects was and short prayer meetmgs every eve th e Red Cross for the ship receive bread once in about ten days. available to them. ning. His assistant was Sgt. John It means that every man of Of course, there are the foodstuffs Professor A. Velleman, of the Pacholsc. l~e Stalag , numbering two thousand, which the Red Cross provides, and 1 University of Geneva, has been en Although about one-half. of the lln ow all equipped warmly for the understand that the boys had re gaged as director of education for the American prisoners at that tIme (last win ter. It was our foremost need, ceived some of them. internees, and he is assisted by Cap Ind now, thanks to' you, our n e, eds _ September) were Protesta~ts? they T he boys in the camps are expected tain Lloyd Free of the American Le been fi lled. We have an excel had no chaplain. Two lay mIlllsters to do some work on the outside. Some gation staff at Berne. Lieut. Andrews cobbler's and tailor's workshop, Sgt. Gray and Sgt. Berger-w~re hold handle freight; others work on roads. is the camp's educational officer. The !o those supplies were also helpful. ing regular Protestant serVIces. S~t. I undeTstand from the priest that the senior American officer is Captain Gray stat,ed that he pr~ached tWIce . Our organization is now entirely boys are not driven very hard. In fact, 'Woodward, the recreation officer every Sunday to an audIence of sev ~depende nt, as we also have our own there seems to be no actual mistreat- ' Lieut. Oakes, and the executive offi eral hundred men. Two other lay com munity co okhouse. If there is any ment. As long as the boys behave cer Lieut. Geron, the report stated. preachers ' also administered to the . in the A merican Red themselves, the men in charge seem needs of the men in work detach organ iza tion for bulk food to to be kind enough. The fact that the MAPS ments. These men had begun last . d us, it would be greatly men have work is really a blessing, Since the publication in Prisoners September to build their own ~hapel. W e have one week's sup for life in a camp can become very of War Bulletin last August and Sep The urgent need of the pnsone!s ;f P~ckages left, so any help that boring. tember of maps showing the approxi for Bibles, prayer books, and worshIp eceWe on standard food parcels be mate locations of camps in the Far East materials was being met from Geneva \V greatly appreciated. The boys may get the two English and Europe containing American prison by the YMCA and the National ~n e Of the American Air Force dailies which are still published in ers, many changes have occurred. In Catholic Welfare Conference. 10 cerely appreciate the help given japan,andthey may have a radio, but stead of trying to keep the old maps up The library, in the other half of the A~s.bY your organization and the they cannot get any news except such to date, it has been decided to prepare ncan hut which houses the camp church la R ed Cross. as the japanese censor permits. 1 new ones. The new map ShOWing' c amp with its 350 seats built by American rge shipments of Red Cross know definitely that efforts were be locations in Europe will be published in prisoners, had over 6,000 volumes foo d packages have gone ing made to get books for the prison the June issue. The new map showing last September. Several months 'Home" at Stalat Luft [/1. By Lieut. Leonard E . Hamaker, cartoonist from Geneva to Stalag XVII ers of war. Some medical attention is Far Eastern camp locations' will appear earlier the camp had only 200 vol- produced fortnightly by American prisoners of war at Sagan, G the above letter was written. available for them. in July. NERS OF WAR BULLETIN 4 5
smoothly in this camp, in * * manner as in the-numerous Repatriation from Germany A First Contact Across Barbed Wire prisoner of war camps with Visit to an American Prisoners of War Camp (Stalag III B) the E. S. R. F. is in touch. The By Marion Hale Britten of university students is not The main thing which has ly high. For this very . The camp was clearl~ to be se~n in his camp, such as the intricate mat Since the return of the Gripsholm cient to qualify a prisoner of war from the train, approachmg the qUIet ter of classroom space, I am intro done during my actual visit all efforts must be made to in the middle of March, with 35 for repatriation. little German town of Furstenberg. duced to the American spokesman, draw up a preliminary e students out of their intel- seriously sick or seriously wounded The Department of State is mak The charming and peaceful-looking and his personal assistant. The programme. Sergeant \Jt;'110'm~Ih~(tulation among the mass of American prisoners of war from Ger ing every effort to see that the names landscape . on the right-hand side of spokesman, Flight-Sergeant C. Ben all titles ready at hand of fellow prisoners and to offer many, government departments and of all United States prisoners in Ger the railway line suddenly flattened nett, is a newspaper man in civil , which.will be most urgen the material necessary for con- tbe American Red Cross have re many who might be eligible under out and changed into an endless, row life, and his assistant, Sergeant R. for thIS purpose. Two educational work. ceived many inquiries concerning the the terms of the Geneva Prisoners Gollomb, is a lawyer, B.A. and L.L.B., 01 wooden barracks. 'Why, this was for the study of French Meeting Fellow Students possible repatriation or exchange of of War Convention and the model not a camp; it was quite a city of its of Wisconsin University. They are will be fonned as soon as other prisoners and civilian internees. agreement atta~hed. thereto are pro own! Barracks in all directions, sepa keen and fine young men, enjoying ful textbooks arrive. Both Wha t this personal approach There is no one answer that applies posed for exammatIOn by the mixed raled by streets and squares and sport the full confidence of their fellow b e led by Gollomb, who to countless individual stu- to all such inquiries, but they can be medical. commission. The depart grounds, where occasional games of prisoners. markable command of was made very clear to me, divided into various categories. ment wIll be glad to receive from volley-ball were taking place. But When I explain to them that I am we ended up by making a visit- The first and largest group are families any names of seriously sick Not only does he speak G tour around the camp to see how most dominating of all was the here as a representative of the able-bodied prisoners of war. There or seriously wounded prisoners of barbed wire, surrounding every inch E. S. R. F., of fellow students who French without difficulty, boys were getting on in their dif- is, at the present time, no arrange war, together with the evidence in of this vast area; endless miles of ugly want to help and to show their feel when h earing that I am a barracks. Every now and then ment between nations for the ex each case which demonstrates the looking barbed . wire, _only inter ing of responsibility and student greatly surprises me with OV'"I;':Ia""p:~n t Gollomb picked out a stu- change of such prisoners. The ex possible e!ig~bility of the prisoner rupted here and there by the threat solidarity, Sergeant Gollomb quickly phrases-in Swedish. Be' the grey and inquisitive change recently completed between for repatnatIOn. If the evidence is ening silhouette of a watchtower. replies with obvious signs of happy consin, where Swedes surrounding us and introduced this country and Germany, and the adequate, the department will for These are the daily surroundings excitement: "Well, sir, this is exactly next-door 'neighbours, him. I fully realised, as in a two Gripsholm excqanges between ward the .names to the Swiss govern of millions of young men at the pres what I have been longing for during one can hardly avoid p fl ash, what the E. S. R. F: this country and Japan concerned ment, whIch represents American in ent moment, in various parts of the these first months of settling down. It certain amount of Swedish. this and to that individual chiefly civilian internees, diplomatic terests in Germany, with the request world. Those are also the actual sur would do a world of good to us all if less, I am duly impressed . when I was led up personnel, newspapermen, and Red that they be proposed for examina roundings of over 2,000 American we could soon start an organised edu pleased indeed. ed young man with the Cross workers. The 14 seriously sick tion by the medical commission. prisoners, mostly taken in Tunisia, cational programme. But all we've WordH:-scmrldIng name of Linder. I or seriously wounded American pris Adequate evidence from the next who suddenly and bewilderingly have got are a few tattered novels whi~h a brief chat with this lonesome oners of war who returned from of kin would include such state had to adapt themsel.ves to th~t mysteriously were brought along in somewhat bewildered looking Germany last fall, and most of the ments as: strange and restricted hfe of a pns uniform pockets all the way from ' However, we have to get student and told him that we 35 who Were repatriated in March, "My husband has tuberculosis." "My husband has been blinded." oner of war. This being a recently North Africa!" serious work. We note aown.1U""Ir1 be glad to give him every pos- had been examined by mixed medi of textbooks which wil p to continue his studies.dur- cal commissions -which had certified "My son's arm (or leg) was amputated." erected camp, the prisoners had not Such evidence, however, would Organizing Work for a group of second tivity. Like most of his fellow them as seriously sick or seriously yet been. able to establish a regular need to be substantiated by giving dents. A happy this student had not yet wounded. contact with their own people at With no more formalities, we walk the source of the information. It is brought about that this a single communication Article 68 of the Geneva Prison home. For this reason, the European straight down' the camp street to the 11.0t sufficient to present statements Student Relief Fund was particularly neat little office, which is the daily 'which Sergeant Gollomb is since being taken prisoner ers of War Convention of 1929 pro larly well qualified to than four months previously. like: proud and grateful fo~ the opP?r residence of the spokesman and his vides that belligerents are bound to "My husband is in a hospital." tnnity given to one of Its secretanes small staff. I am placed in an "easy resented by the lar here he was unexpectedly ap- send back to their own country, re "My son was wounded." students in the camp. by a fellow student from to visit this camp of American pris chair" made out of wooden packing gardless of number or rank, "serious "I have not heard from my brother for cases from the American Red Cross field the great problem offering personal and in- ly sick and seriously wounded prison months." oners, to get in touch with lonesome Protected Personnel students cut off from any kind of in which have recently arri~ed with sup hold of the recognised ce for his particular ers of war after having brought them plies to the great joy of everybody. thorities as quickly as needs. "My, this was a to a condition where they can be Another group of detainees who tellectual life, and to give them new are not strictly prisoners of war but hope for the future by offering them We get down to the first organising European authors I must say!" was his transported." Article 69 of the Con the same value for ing reaction. "I thought are often captured with servicemen edw;ational help and support. work without delay, for the time is vention p~ovides for the appoint precious and all too short. Here is a can students their this camp was going to be ment of mIxed medical commissions are medical, sanitary, religious, and In the company of a Delegate of volunteer aid society personnel. The - the International Red Cross, I ar pioneering task which the E. S. R . F. law cases and juridical wasted!" His eyes were each to be composed of three mem: has always regarded as one of its most arrange that the E. S. R. 'ng behind his spectacles bers, two of them belonging to a Red Cross Convention of 1929 for rived at the desolate little railway tIle Amelioration of the Condition st LETTERS PARCELS rei a t i v e sand problems. They weigh from one-quarter of a pound to Be careful to follow mailing instructions exactly. Foliow carefully the instructions given in the of American pris- a pound or more and range "Gift Parcels to Prisoners of War and Interned war in Europe do in price from 2.5¢ to $1. Do not use V-Mail forms. ~l ·VIU" I"n nw that it is possible issued by the Foreign Economic Adminis direct from the If there are any patriotic Be sure that the address is correct; letters should not slogans on the covers of sent out by the Provost Marshal General's Office , 60 pounds of be sent in care of the American Red Cross or the Inter these paper-backed books, ington,D. C. ' a year (at the rate be sure to remind the book pounds a month) to national Committee. seller to take them off. ~ Put something personal in each box, something United States prison- Perhaps you would pre It is essential to print or type letters for prisoners held has a meaning to that individual man. war and civilian in- by Japan. For Europe, if it is not convenient to type fer to send some book you Plan and assemble your gifts in the 60-day held by Germany. yourself have discovered re ...uc.. 10'" n' "tely, however, it letters, they should be written clearly. cently, or maybe relished between mailing times. , because Letters to Japanese-held prisoners must not exceed and laughed over years ago. 24 words in the text. To prisoners in Europe it is prefer Provide things that will be appreciated and transportation T he first thing you have to seasonally about four months ahead, which is to send individual consider is whether that able that they should not exceed one typewritten sheet. to J apanese- good book will pass the mately the time it takes (or delivery to German ~~ r)r iso ners. Avoid the use of slang expressions (for example, German censors. It's no use "Can't get to first base"). Th~y confuse censors and de Be sure no patriotic slogans or other printing one package of to a prisoner of war if it lay mail. your box or on the containers of anything you each 30 days will be never reaches him. So by the Censor's here's a rule-of-thumb ques Because of censorship and distribution problems in A useful item to include is a set of name tags, ew York to any tionnaire. If the answer is e!1emy countries, families should not write oftener than prisoner's name embroidered on tape. He can of war. A No, in every case, the book _ twice a week, and· once a week is preferable. There is no them on handkerchiefs, socks, etc. Other sUl~g(:stiIBllltt tul record is kept there stands a 99 percent chance limit, theoretically, to the number of letters a prisoner peanuts; seasonings (pepper not permitted); each package sent out, of getting through: may receive. Experience has shown, however, that too tea; dehydrated or dried fruits; toilet expenda that this shipping rate t h bl d no t be exceeded. If Is it political? (Avoid even great a volume of correspondence slows up delivery at d'oot paste, soap,I' razor ds a es,d towels, . and shaving packag·es arrive for the nonjJolitica l books which the other end. As the number of prisoners grows, and ommoes, p aymg car ,an a cnbbage board. prisoner in one n oiticize the Axis or ex- the traffic dislocations caused by bombing and military prisoner recei'ves unneeded supplies, he , one will be held tol the democratic ideal operations increase, the strain on the postal service will range trades with fellow prisoners. Censor's Office 1m- and the century of the not diminish. Fuel for heating is now very scarce in f O lIp°:C~agg;o:~~. ~ Most Bl"itis;~~~f:t~:e ~~~:~~~en~:e !~VSta~::I~~c!~d librm·jes. Hascommon it maps man.), charts, travel Prisoners much prefer letters to greeting cards, for if the war in Europe lasts another winter, package could not be sent through books he can escape into information which might conceiv- one reason because the arrival of seasonal cards can be glad to have extra sweaters and large, same month, as the rule is another world. His intellect, his ably help a prisoner to escape? (Even never be accurately timed. The past winter, fortunately, was a "one package a month" with imagination, or his emotions are such innocent-seeming books as one in most of Europe. weight of ~ pounds. stimulated by what he reads. Even Richard Halliburton's are banned.) Prisoners of war, and especially if they were farmers, books that he had read before may like to hear about weather and crop conditions at home. There is a great lack of eating utensils in be enjoyable, not only for their con- Does it deal with the war? Unmounted photographs may be sent in letters but man camps. Plastic utensils are convenient to is surprising how many books tent but for their reminders of the Does it contain information on f k about the war still con- times and places where he has read not in parcels. The prisoner's name and complete ad radio, espionage, technical or mili next-o - in parcels. '''Cl. cle: UClt:~ and allusions to which them in his old, free days. dress should always be written on the back of the photo tary or naval matters? The American Red Cross has constantly in authorities might ob- If your prisoner is a voracious Is it by an emigre from enemy-held graph. Prisoners' barracks are drab, and the men like to need for variety in the standard food. or are by authors who have reader, the Pocket Library reprints have pictures and ornaments to help relieve the dreary "black-listed." Our own cen- are much lighter in weight, and territory? monotony of their sUrI1oundings. every American prisoner of war in Europe IS. m. cl' me d to.a11 ow anyth' mg you could therefore send m.any more These conditions have been laid a week-unless transportation disruptions, or by the German censors, books in a 5-pound package. They Many relatives and friends put postage stamps on down by the German authorities. dents of war, retard deliveries to the camps. the one exception of material are also much less expensive. Your letters to prisoners of war. The United States Post Office six to nine months must necessarily elapse would give important informa- bookseller will show you catalogs of wishes it to be made known as widely as possible that decision to make changes in the contents of to the enemy. . the Modern Library, Penguin, Every- all mail (except air mail) is carried free to prisoners of d h . I f · h . nonfiction books written in man, Grosset, and Garden City pub· BACK NUMBERS age an t e arnva 0 t e reVIsed package at I li~hers . war. The charge for air-mail letters is now 6 cents for I h . ast three or four years are about The reserve supply of Volume I of n t e meantIme, the next-of-kin parcel These reprints have a wide choice, Prisoners of War Bulletin is now al· each half-ounce, to European countries. • War, directly or indirectly, as most use~ up. The· few hundred copies vement means for the prisoner to obtain some also a good many novels. from Shakespeare and Homer of each issue still available are being Recent letters from German camps indicate that air variety in his diet. through Mark Twain, Thornton books that it is possible to "Vilder, Jack London, Raphael Sa- held for area and chapter use. mail letters arrive about one month quicker than ordi Chapters which do not have a com· If a full-size package every 60 days is hard interest a prisoner most? batini, John P. Marquand, and nary mail. Mail for prisoners in the Far East goes by plete file of the Bulletin, or two a small one each time is better than a larger answer to this is fairly easy: Daphne du Maurier, to mention only complete files in the case of the larger air, free of charge, to Teheran. chapters, are urged to write to their area expensive one at longer intervals. The love k that is sufficiently well a few. and that has enough body B k bl' h d' h 11 office for the missing numbers. Remember that prisoners of war need the expression Until recently, a complete set of Bul in the package are much more I·mportant COnt ent an d purpose to hold. h 00 s . hpu d"IS e In t ese smab , of their families' love and feeling for .them, as well as r letins was sent to the next of kin of than the money value of the contents. ~eader to the world the author ;~oJwr~fdi~: ~~~a~sea~~ e ?~a~~ af each newly reported prisoner of war, but news of home. Let them know that they are not for Unfortunately, no route is available for It ready survived the test of a first pub- those desiring to see back issues will now gotten and that their place in your lives is waiting scr~bin g . need to consult their local chapters. ages to the Far East at this time. ~ pnsoner of war lives in mo- lishing. They are also almost all for them. nous and drab surroundings, but prewar, and so avoid censorship 9 8 Supplies For Shanghai Camp Holmes Internment Camp Trinidad, Philippines . Camps Dear Folks: ' August 23, 1943 Dear Daddy: The Imperial Japanese Army has given Hope your health and the ily's is good. You probably Substantial amounts of food were us permission to write to you. We have distributed during the month of not heard from you since we were interned, have been doing for the past (The following letters have been tho we received one cable message from Dr. Really it hasn't been much. February by the Delegate of the In furnished to the American Red Cross Aasgaard, and the Hinderlies received one our camp and farm. This ternational Committee to civilian in me in good health. The Red by relatives of prisoners of war. All from Rolf SyrdaL us several prisoner of war ternment camps in Shanghai, accord We were interned .in Baguio, December ing to cabled advices. Tbese supplies mail is censored by the Detaining 28,1941. At first we were at Camp John Hay, equipment, and dothing. Power.) in Baguio, but on April 23, 1943, we were appreciated very much by the included: food boxes are all gone, but moved to Camp Holmes, five miles north of Canned fish ______6,765 tins From Far Eastern Camps Baguio. Here we have more barracks space and hope there will be more in Camp Omori, No. 373, Tokyo and more extensive grounds. The view from Weare livil}g the same as Meat ______.______6,139 cans August 30, 1943 our mountain home is beautifuL To the diers, and governed by Jam ______4,700 japs (Received at Washington, D . C., March north are ranges of · pine dad mountains. discipline. I can hardly Dad, will you please send Maltose jam ______45 ibs. 18,1944) Below us, a wide valley runs in a nor.th: Cocoanut oil . ______. 2,400.lbs. Dear Dad: westerly direction to the sho:es of the Ch~na the family and tell me Best wishes to everybody at home. 'Vish I Sea. Behind us are green hIlls, from whIch I am anxious to know. In the Cracked wheaL ______6,800 lbs. knew how you all are doing. This is my we get our firewood for the camp. 'Ve are a half I have only received second letter along with two cards_ No word cool here, for we are a mile above the sea. home. Would like to hear and such miscellaneous items as soap, from you yet, tho some of the men got radio While · you are sweltering in summer heat, your business is flourishing. finur, peanut butter, vegetables, messages from home. 'Ve expect U. S. mail we put on sweaters to keep warm. We are for sister, mother, and rest (The above prisoner, a fruits, salad oil, fresh pork, and milk fairly soon. I am well and health is much quartered in three barracks. As the women ~ captured at Tientsin, China, has prisoners l"om a camp for airmen go for a swim u'nder guard. better than this time last year. We've moved are in the majority among our 500 internees, ported transferred from Shanghai G~rman powder. Toilet articles, medicines, here to a nice camp. Naturally, we spend they occupy two of the barracks, while the Osaka, Japan.) sports equipment, cigarettes, and to lots of time talking and thinking about life men are in the third. alongside my off,ce (bunk). I'm expecting to bacco were also distributed_ These in peace times. We have lots of plans and Our diet has been quite varied, and in From European L.illID11IU ....,' ~::~l c:l~i~,~C ~;~~nqt~~~· ; f~~~l'~ ~:~~t~n~~ receive your September parcel any time now. supplies were purchased by the Pro hopes for the future. I am sending a photo many ways has been adequate, with plenty IWO letters li~ this and four post It will be a swell Christmas present. The tecting Pow ~ r (Swiss) representatives along and hope you like it. Keep up your of rice, which sometimes reminds us of rice a month . Got some amusements. We pipe and tobacco you sent were very timely. courage. This war can't last forever. and curry. On the whole we have been in a library, a band, and sporting equip I had just started smoking a pipe. How did from funds provided by the United ' (The above prisoner was captured at c;or g·ood health. We have not yet had to be We are making plans now for the you know? States and Allied governments. regidor. His mother had prevtOusLy recewed I'm now spending a little time on the a card from him dated March 11, 1943, and a hospitalized in our small but efficient camp show and holidays. Would sure From funds furnished by the Amer hospital, staffed by a number of capable ca.mp biweekly newspaper as a cartoonist. Letter dated December 22, 1942, when he mas home, and my every prayer is that ican Red Cross; the International at Camp Shinagawa. She wrote: "He win be doctors. be long. Mondays are all Christ- The paper, all done in pencil, is a one copy 28 on ApriL 15 (1944), but from his picture he issue and hangs on the cookhouse. I re Committee Delegate at Shanghai also Looks Like 50. He did not Look as thin as I had Time does not hang upon our hands. We to us for we get a Red Cross parcel expected.") do all our own work in camp. Each of us IIIan. Never fail to give to the Red Cross ceived the drawing paper that you sent purchased during Februarv, for the is assigned to a particular detail and spends they sure have clone a lot for me. \-\'iIl through tbe YMCA, and my winter days and prisoners of war camp at Kiangwan, Tokyo, No.5 Camp between two and five hours a day in camp goodbye for this time. evenings should be well spent in cartooning. Kawasaki, Japan work. I've washed dishes, gathered firewood, And it's just the paper I need , too. I hope a large assortment of supplies which September 29, 1943 cared for camp goats, and helped serve Oflag 64 . that we all have a happy New Year and ipclucled: Dear Mom, Dad, and Family: meals. I've preached at our Lutheran serv January 2, 1944 that your chicks can soon flo ck back to our Hope you are all in good health. I am ices every second or third week, so sermon Mom : Dad and Mother. Lima beans ______4,000 lbs. feeling as good as possible. My time is well preparation takes a good deal of time. I I 1944 is here upon us. I hope all the (The above Letter is from Lieut. Leonard Rolled oats ______2,000 lbs. occupied here. I have not as yet received any also taught a 15 weeks' course in Romans, are well and will have a prosperous E. Hamaker. His latest cartoon is published Corn flour ______2,000 lbs. answer from you. I miss you all very much. using the Greek text, and a Norwegian com happy New Year. I still haven't received eLsewhere in this issue.) Barley ______1, 000 lbs. Contact Red Cross and send what you can. mentary. So you see I've learned a little mail from home, but I hope to before Noodles ______2,000 lbs. Give my love to the relatives. I am think Norwegian too. When you send me a book parcel, see Stalag II B ing of them all the time. Also give my re can get hold of a Spanish-English December 26, 1943 Fresh beef ______500 lbs. gards to Bob, and the rest of the fellows. We had a beautiful service on Dear Family: Bacon ______1,500 lbs_ Give my love to Betty also. I hope to see you Eve. We have a choir that can I didn't tell you this before, but I'm Corned tongue ______600 lbs. soon. My love to all of you. We have no Protestant chaplaios, working on a big farm with 12 of my bud Lard ______500 Ibs. Catholic chaplains hold a gen dies. I'm not working very haret I'm get Hoten Prisoner of War Camp for the Protestant officers. I have Peanut butter ______160 lbs. Mukden ting .enough food and we didn't. have such Bible which was given to me by a a bad Christmas. We got lots of new clothes (Undated. ·Received at Chicago, Ill., chaplain in Italy. March 17, 1944) and Christmas food parcels from the Red Cross. Besides this, we get food packages Dear Mamma and Dad: Dulag Luft pretty regularly, so please don't worry. Be CHESS SETS FOR AMERICAN This is the second opportunity I've had to December 26, 1943 lieve me, I'm okay and in good health: write. I am still in the best of health and at Chicago, IlL, March 1, 1944) PRISONERS getting along fine, but of course am very and All: The Department of Agriculture homesick. I haven't heard from you as yet Stalag Luft III guess I've caused some anxious December 25, 1943 Post No. 36 of the American Legion but am looking forward to it soon. I hope around home. To start off, we were (Received at Richmond, Va., has arranged to send 1,000 complete that you are both well and . that everyone over Germany a few days ago. else is O.K. at home. Please don't worry any, we are all safe and sound. March 7, 1944) chess sets for American prisoners about me-just be patient as I am trying to got a lot to be thankful for. I'm Dear Dad: held in Germany. Arrangements have be. Time passes quickly. Take care of your prayers helped us all. As yet we Merry Christmas (just a month or so late), also been made by Mr. Herbert H. selves and write. . at our permanent camp. Will write . but what's a month? One thing I've learned Holland, Chairman of the War Serv Love to you both. , my address as soon as possible. here is that rushing was unnecessary. Ne'ler (The above prisoner was captured at Cor until you get.dt. By the way, the again do I intend to get excited when things ice Committee at Post No. 36, to ob· regidor. His first card was received on Octo don't go off on time. It takes letters about ber 19, 1943.) is sure treating-us bl Ys O. K. tain gratis from publishers in the · three months to get here, but Clipper mail United States sufficient books on arrives abo].lt a month ahead of free maiL No.5 Camp, Tokyo Area Stalag Luft III chess so that every camp or hospital Kawasaki, Japan December 8, 1943 Last wee'<' we saw Hepburn and Grant in September 25, 1943 "Bringing Up Baby." It was new to me. The ill G ermany containing American Dear Mother: your Septembe~ 11 letter. With sox are beautiful; the scissors, na il fil es, Q' um, prisoners will obtain at least two. and candy very good. Parcels are co~ing May I take this opportunity to wish you home like you and Dorothy The Special Services Division of the coming holiday greetings and hoping cheerful and encouraging let through in about sixty days. · Would like this New Year will bring us together. life isn't altogether hopeless. more shirts like this green one, or some of the United States Army has also sup The letters I received from you and several you sent are really swell, but myoId green cadet shirts and slacks. plied recently, through War Prison friends made last Christmas a delightful one, can find the darndest con trap- We have a beautiful Christmas tree ers' Aid of the YMCA, 1,200 chess (srruce, I think) glistenin Aid for French Noles on Red Cross Packaging Prisoners Red Cross Center No.1 at Phila another told how the in Canadian .Cooperation delphia completed its transfer in made Christmas mince April to newly leased premises at mince meat from corned The Canadian Red Cross has read 23rd and Chestnl!.t Streets and has raisins, apples from over a OF WAR BULLETIN ily agreed to cooperate with the been producing p~ckages at the new wall, and a crust made from American Red Cross in a clothing location since April 10. The present izcd biscuit and 01 published by the American National Red Cross for the Relatives of American Prisoners of War and Civilian Internees program for French prisoners of war Philadelphia plant has a floor space Red Cross packages. In in German camps, whose number ex of about 60,000 square feet, which is standard food packages, ceeds 800,000. Practically all of them double the size of the previous plant. York Center during March are in urgent need of clothing. Philadelphia produced its three mil invalid food packages and Major General B. W . Browne, As lionth package in April. medical kits. sistant National Commissioner of the Center No. 2 at Chicago appro The Honor Roll of Centef Canadian R ed Cross, has been desig at St. Louis now includes y nated to handle this matter on behalf priately celebrated its first birthday One Year Old HELl on March 8, nearly 400 workers at mately five hundred names of the Canadian Red Cross; and the teer workers who are Canadian Army, on the initiative of tending the occasion. Work con tinued throughout the day, however, . prisoners of war. Each A year ago the first number of and as promptly as the information uable cooperation of the Russian gov General Browne, has made availa.ble and n,841 packages were turned out. the volunteers has five PR ISO NERS OF WAR BULLETIN was is could be gathered from responsible ernment, an expeditious mail chan a large amount of clothing '1. nd Service pins were presented by the s~ r vice. Six young women lued for the relatives of American ~ources . The aim throughout has nel to American prisoners in the Far shoes for this joint operation. T he packaging center chairman to the larly work in a St. Lou rrisoners of war and civilian in been accurately to inform, help, and East has been .opened about first shipment went forward from ten women volunteers who had com plandrom midnight to 8 a. ternees. At that time Mr. Norman advise the families , at home, and which the families have been prompt- Philadelphia to Marseille t his pleted 288 hours or more during the promptly for the morning H. Davis, Chairman of the American not simply to console or comfort 1y informed. Through reports, ar month, and will be distributed in the ,year. One volunteer headed the list shift, which begins at 9 a. Red Cross, in an introductory state them. ticles, and photographs they also camps under the supervision of the ment set forth the purpose of the know of the Red Cross fleet which lnternational Committee of the Red with 829 hours. From time to time the BULLETIN A number of repatriates who re new publication. It would serve, he has also served to publicize impor shuttles the Atlantic, and they have Cross. (Continued from page ilid, "to give information, consistent the assurance that we will not rest Count Henri d'Ornano is now in turned in March on the Gripsholm tant governmental rulings concern from civilian internment camps in of the International with war conditions, about American ing the sending of cables, letters, until a similar fleet carries relief Washington charged by the French the Red Cross, indica rrisoners of war and the methods for supplies over the Pacific. Committee of National Liberation Germany have visited Packaging and packages to American prisoners medical care is being providing aid and comfort to them." with looking after the interests of Center No.3 at New York and were of war. It has faithfully and succinct able to give the workers at the cen American sick and The issues of the BULLETIN which ly attempted to report the various Keeping Relief Channels Open French prisoners of war. In addition held in Germany or in to clothing, large purchases of stand ter vivid pictures of life in German have since come regularl y each steps taken by the United States Of all the manifold activities of trolled countries. These month from the press !:Lave tried government through the Protecting ard food packages, medicine kits, and camps 'and of the importance of food the Red Cross during war, none is been substantiated by faithfull y to achieve the original pur Power, and the American Red Cross comfort articles have been made, packages to prisoners of .~ar and pElrhaps so complex and yet so im civilian internees. One VISItor de of seriously wounded rose as set forth by the Chairman. through the International Commit through the American Red Cross, the armed forces who have portant as relief to prisoners of war. for French prisoners in German scribed how every scrap of material The first .number, for instance, had tee of t.he Red Cross, to implement Important it is too that the relatives patriated to this country. 31 its principal feature a concise sum the ArtIcles of the 1929 Geneva Pris camps. in the packages was made use of, and of these prisoners be reassured about oners of War Convention which mary of the rights of prisoners of this relief and made aware of the war. Other articles from time to goyern the treatment of military pnsoners. many intricate problems facing the time have given helpful advice to Red Cross in keeping open channels . fue next of kin and detailed infor mation on what they could do, Our Prisoners in the Far East of co~mu?ication and supply to those 111 pnson camps overseas. through the sending of supplemen tary packages and special parcels of It is a matter for profound regret In the months that lie ahead, there lxioks and tobacco, to alleviate the that the American Red Cross, in co fore, when the total number of moral and physical distress of their operation with other interested agen prisoners ' will undoubtedly increase CIes, has so far been only partially ~ved ones. with each new step along the road successful in persuading the Japanese leading to our country's final and Factual Reports on Camp Condi government to conform to the rules laid down in the Geneva Conven most certain victory, there will be tions tion. But this vital matter will not much for PRISONERS OF WAR BUL Prisoners of War Bulletin LE;TIN to do. Guided by the experi BOther outstanding features of the be allowed to drop. Readers of the ence of the past twelve months, I am May 1944 ~LL~TI N have been the pages of in- BULLETIN have been kept informed Published by esttng quotations from personal of all the efforts unceasingly made sure its editors will continue in the to send relief to American and Al future to publish with accrued The American National Red Cross written by servicemen and held in European and Far lied prisoners held in the Far East. sagacity the information and guid Washington 13, D. C. camps and the columns of They also know that the British Com ance to those for whom the publi ~7 and answers where some monwealth and American Red Cross cation was founded one year ago soci:ties are striving, through diplo the relatives of our American pris"'on Return Postage Guaranteed problems and rulings wor the anxious next of kin have matIC and Red Cross channels, to ers of war and civilian internees. solved or clarified for them. cpen a route along which relief sup RICHARD F. ALLEN note~,. and ' detailed reports plies may be allowed to pass freely. Serials Ac qUis ition condItIOn of camps in Europe With the active support of the Vice Chairman The UniverSity of Te Far East containing Ameri- Air Transport Command of the Insular and Foreign Operations Austin 12 Texas xas Library have been published regularly United States Army and the i,nval- A merican Red Cross Postnlaster-H addressee h as removed and new ad dress is known, notify sender on FORM 3547, poslage for which is guaranteed.