REPORT NO. 4

on Camp No. 70 for British Prisoners in Italian Hands.

Commandant: Colonel Papa

Camp Leader: Sgt. Davies

STRENGTH

1. General.

        Some men have been transferred since our last visit. Some men have been repatriated, while others have been sent to working camps. Among the prisoners are one officer and 9 men belonging to the Merchant Navy.

        The Officers' quarters are as yet unsatisfactory. At the moment they are housed in a large hall, each compartment is separated by tent cloths. We were assured that better accommodation would be provided in the near future.

2. Personal effects.

        Nothing to report.

3. Mail.

        The protected personnel is now issued with 2 letter forms and postcards per week. Mail is still very irregular. It appears that letters from Italy take a very long time to reach their destination.

        The position as regards Red Cross parcels is satisfactory. The stock held at present is as follows:-

                Food Parcels: British -            9250

                                      Canadian -       9820

                                      New Zealand - 1184

                Food stuffs (bulk) 1354 cases

                Invalid Parcels: 1166

                Medical Parcels: 0

                Cigarette Parcels: 477

4. Clothing.

        The stocks held are: 5357 under garments.

                                       2791 pairs of socks

                                         390 pants

                                       2180 shirts

                                         480 pairs of shoes

        The prisoners of war declare they require the following:

                5000 battle dress jackets

                3200 trousers

                8000 pairs of socks

                4000 shirts

                2000 pairs of shoes (small sizes)

                5000 pants

        A shoemakers workshop has been opened and is working well. Shoes are repaired whenever possible; those that are beyond repair are unpicked and the leather is used for repairs. The prisoners of war would be glad to receive repairing equipment from the Red Cross.

        A tailors shop has also been opened for repairing clothing.

5. Food.

        Over 1000 prisoners of war receive supplementary workers' rations (cobblers, tailors, joiners, tinkers, store keepers, post office clerks, room orderlies, office orderlies, gardeners, instructors).

        The kitchen stoves have been remedied in order to save fuel.

        Canteen. The prisoners of war are finding difficulties in obtaining tooth paste and polishing material. The Commandant promised to look into the matter. He said that polishing material would be distributed free of charge.

6. Sanitary installations.

        The position has not changed, because the tank, which will improve conditions, is not yet ready. We were assured it would be completed within one month. The prisoners of war have one hot shower per week. The showers are still in a tent, but a permanent building will be put up. Its construction has not yet been begun.

7. Medical Service.

        The prisoners of war in the infirmary are suffering from malaria, dermatitis, pneumonia and beri-beri. About a dozen prisoners suffering from scabies, are in an isolated ward. The prisoners who were undernourished have been placed together and are given better diet. Their rations are supplemented by half an invalid parcel per day per man. This treatment has already had good results.

        The dental service is not satisfactory. An Army dentist comes to the camp 3 times a week, but he has not the requisite equipment (drills, chair etc.) for preventative treatment. He can only extract teeth, without anaesthetics. We are submitting this matter to the competent authorities.

        The British Medical Officers have asked for Red Cross medical parcels as they have very few medical supplies.

        Let us note the case of Sgt. Harry Butler, 857931, who is almost blind. More than 3 months ago it was suggested that he should be seen by the Mixed Medical Commission, but nothing has as yet been done regarding this suggestion, put forward by the Medical Officer. We informed the Minister for War of this case.

        There are about 100 members of the protected personnel at Camp No. 70. We were informed that 50 of them would soon be sent to Hospital 203.

        Here is the list of deaths which occurred since our last visit. The greater part of these men died at the neighbouring hospital, where, at the moment there are about 20 patients.

Deaths at the Camp

        There were 2 cases of suicide:

                1) Pte. Jack Robinson, 981674, who during roll call left the ranks unnoticed and cut the carotic artery with the blade of his safety razor;

                2) Pte. Henry Stocks, 4979769, who, following the example of his comrade, tried to slit his throat with a piece of metal from a food tin, which he had sharpened for the purpose. He was seen in time by his friends and had only succeeded in slitting the trachea. He was treated in hospital and is now recovering.

8. Religious Services.

        The chaplain to whom we spoke was satisfied with the facilities afforded him. There is nothing special to report in this connection.

9. Pay.

        Many N.C.O's and members of the protected personnel have not been recognized by the Italian Authorities as belonging to this class of men and, therefore, only receive the pay of their rank. The Camp Leader has sent a list of these men to the Protecting Power and we shall take steps to have it delivered to the competent authorities.

        The bootmakers and tailors are paid 45 cents per hour, i.e. Lit. 3.60 per day. The joiners and Tinkers, according to their skill, receive Lit. 4.50 or Lit. 6 per day respectively.

10. Sport and Recreation

        Walks are arranged regularly. The prisoners of war have a football ground in the camp. Another field outside the camp grounds, will be surrounded by barbed wire and placed at their disposal. The prisoners have built a theatre in their recreation hall. There is a good library, study courses and an orchestra of 15 musicians.

11. Discipline.

        Two prisoners attempted to escape. They had hidden in a vehicle of empty boxes which was leaving the camp. They were discovered when they tried to jump from the train.

        We questioned Prisoner of War Bowler on the death of Pte. Hayes. He could only confirm that it was a case of attempting to escape; during this attempt Hayes was killed on the spot as he was trying to slip under the barbed wire, in spite of the fact that he had been challenged by the sentry.

        The British Medical Officer asked us to bring to the notice of his Government a case when a prisoner of war, who was sentence to Disciplinary punishment, was not allowed to give any explanation until after the sentence had been served. This appeared to him to be contrary to British legal practice. We should like to state that this is, however, in accordance with Italian Military practice.

12. General Impression.

        We have noticed an improvement in the conditions prevailing at Camp No. 70. At the moment the water supply is the most urgent matter. We think that this very important problem for the general hygienic conditions at the camp, will be resolved when the new tank has been completed.

(Signed) GEORGES BONNANT