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Instructions for Sending Mail to Prisoners of War Regulations Issued Also Apply To Detained or Interned Civilians Existing Post Office Department instructions on the sending of letters and parcels to prisoners of war have been supplemented so as to extend the privilege of free postage to civilians detained or interned by the civil or military authorities unless held on criminal charges , whether held in the . United States or other belligerent countries. Articles exempt from postal charges are not entitled to registration or air mail service. If air mail service is desired, appropriate postage must be paid. The address on correspondence or parcels should include the full name and rank if any of the prisoner of war or internee, his number, company or organization, name of camp, post office address and country in which the camp is located. Name and address of sender must appear on the envelope or wrapper. There should be plainly written or typed on the upper left corner of the article "Prisoner of War," and underneath "Prisoner de Guerre" "Kriegsgefangensendung" if sent to Germany or "Interned Civilian" Interne Civil, as the case may -be; followed by the words "Postage Free France de Port" CGebuhrenfrei if sent to Germany. All letters to prisoners of war, detained or interned civilians, are subject to censorship; therefore, it is suggested that they deal only with purely personal matters. On account of the long distances carried and the many handlings, the wrappings of the parcels must be strong. Packages should be made up, if -possible, in packing canvas. It is advisable that the package contain a complete inner wrapping, bearing the full address, the same as the outside wrapper. Germany Based on official reports, the German authorities have restricted mail that may be received in Germany -by French, Belgian, Yugoslav, Greek and Polish prisoners of war to letters, cards or parcels weight not over 11 pounds 5 kilograms from persons who receive required forms from the prisoners of war or internees, furnished by the German authorities. Parcels not bearing these required forms will not he accepted. These instructions do not apply to American or British prisoners of war or interned civilians in Germany. Japan While service is not now available for carrying parcels to prisoners of war or in- terned civilians in Japan or Japanese controlled countries, it is reported practicable to send letters if the prisoners name has been released by the appropriate military or naval authorities, which r ease may be reported by the Red Cross or other reliable body.. Where the prisoners name has been released, and pending complete information as to the prisoners identifying number and prison address, mail may be addressed by name, military title and branch of service if any, followed by formerly at Wake, Guam, Shanghai, etc. , American Prisoner in Japan, care of the International Red Cross Committee, Geneva, Switzerland.
