Reserve Lazaret Cosel

German Chief Physician:

Accompanying Officer from OKW

British Medical Staff:

Stabsarzt Dr. Preyss

Hauptmann Jeske

Capt. R.F. Kaye-Webster, RAMC (S.B.M.O.)

Capt. W.T.T. Atkins, RAMC

Capt. B.J. Smith, RAMC

Capt. Rose, AMC

Capt. L.G. Tudor, Padre

The following details regarding the number of patients at the lazaret and its medical staff were given to the Delegate of the Protecting Power:

The influx of Russian patients suffering from advanced T.B. continues, their state of health when arriving at this lazaret is most shocking. Every attention is being given to these patients.

Shortly after our last visit the slight misunderstanding between the British Senior Medical Officer and the Stabsarzt with regard to the 18 self trained orderlies has been settled. 4 out of these 18 were returned to their respective camps and permission was given to train 4 patients, who were cured, to be used as medical orderlies. The Stabsarzt had been away for over two months for a rest cure after a very serious operation, during which time the British were left alone without any interference from the Germans, even to such an extent that the German Feldwebel, who was somewhat troublesome before, took his orders from the British Senior Medical Officer.

Capt. Kaye-Webster informed the Delegate that neither he nor any of his medical officers are allowed to attend to the American airmen who had been shot down in the vicinity and brought to Cosel lazaret. They are being kept in the German part of the lazaret and, according to the S.B.O., receive the best possible attention from the German physicians. One of the British Medical orderlies is allowed to visit these airmen from time to time with a German dolmetcher for the distribution of the Red Cross parcels and cigarettes. He has been able to get a full list of these patients, which is being forwarded to the American Government. The American airmen assured the British medical orderlies that they receive every attention, and have no complaint whatsoever. According to an order from the OKW no British POW is allowed to visit any British or American airman after they had been shot down and before they have been through one of the Dulag and properly registered as POWs.

Some of the patients have come from different working detachments in the region of Blechhammer, suffering from nerve shocks after the heavy bombardment of that region. These working detachments are situated too close to the I.G. Farben factory and are within the smokescreen area. A separate report with conditions in that area is being made. The OKW has already been requested to withdraw these working detachments.