Notes

Abstract

THERE have been much overlapping and unevenness of distribution in connection with the food parcels sent to British prisoners of war; and little scientific guidance has been sought or given as to the food-values of the things included in the parcels. The first of these defects will be remedied by a scheme which is to be brought into effect on December i. It is announced that the Central Prisoners of War Committee, recently established by the British Red Cross Society and the Order of St. John, has, with the authority of the Government, now made the necessary arrangements for co-ordinating and controlling the work of the various associations and individuals at present sending parcels to British prisoners of war in Germany and other enemy and neutral countries. These arrangements have been made with the view of securing:- (i) That every prisoner shall receive an adequate supply of the comforts in the form of food, etc.; (2) that the excellent work being done at present by associations and individuals shall be disturbed as little as possible; (3) that overlapping and consequent waste shall be reduced to a minimum. In order to attain these objects the following arrangements have been made:—(1) All parcels must be sent through the Central Committee or an association authorised by it; (2) individual senders are requested not to send food parcels, but to arrange for this to be done by a recognised association. It is hoped that individuals and organisations now collecting funds for prisoners of war will continue their efforts, and will send the money collected either to the Central Committee OP to such recognised association as they prefer. Subscriptions and donations should be sent to” the Right Hon. Sir Starr Jameson, Bt, C.B., 4 Thurloe Place, London, S.W. All other communications should be addressed to the Secretary, Central Prisoners of War Committee, 4 Thurloe Place, London, S.W. We suggest to the committee that guidance is needed as to the most suitable things to send from the point of view of food-values. A prisoner of o war doing moderate work requires a daily ration which has an energy value of 2500 calories, and may be made up of proteins, 100 grams; carbohydrates, 400 grams; and fats, 50 grams. It is possible to combine all these constituents in a single foodstuff, or to see that the ratios are roughly supplied by the combination of several things in a parcel. The British Science Guild has appointed a committee to make suggestions relating to food parcels, and the Central Prisoners of War Committee should enlist its aid or that of other food experts in order to advise associations as to the most suitable constituents of the parcels.