for information about friends or relatives in the war zone. The Inquiry and Information Service, assured of cooperation by the International Red Cross Committee and the State Department, received these requests and transmitted them to the agencies best able to secure information. By June 30, 1941, Polish inquiries totaled 28,318, and 21,085 replies had been re¬ceived. As country after country was drawn into war, the service expanded. Forms recommended by the International Red Cross Committee were put into use. On such forms the inquirer in a local chapter may write a message in his own handwriting. Through the world-embracing network of the Red Cross, the form finally reaches the friend or relative abroad. Reassured by the Red Cross symbol and the handwriting of the inquirer, he writes his reply on the reverse side and back comes the report through the same Red Cross channels, bringing news of one thought to be lost in the maelstrom of war. Most of the inquiries—the total of which had reached over 80,000 by June 30, 1941—are sent to the International Red Cross Committee. The Committee attempts to obtain reports either by checking available lists of prisoners of war or refugees, or by referring the case to a Red Cross society. The American Red Cross also refers inquiries to the United States De¬partment of State, other Red Cross societies, and cooperating agencies. Reports in many languages flow back through the chapters to the inquirers. They are translated at National Headquarters by a volunteer staff and the translation accompanies the original report so that if necessary the chapter may help the inquirer. Approximately 48,000 reports had been received by June 20, 1941. In addition to the handling of inquiries of this kind, the service also carries a large volume of corespondence regarding the sending of money and packages to persons abroad. Prisoners of War Protection and relief for prisoners of war are more readily available in the present conflict than in previous wars. Sponsored by the International Red Cross an international treaty regarding war prisoners was drafted in 1929 and later accepted by most of the nations of the world. This Conven¬tion established standards for the treatment of prisoners, guaranteed privi¬leges of communication and receipt of parcels, and provided for neutral observers to check on the maintenance of the terms of the Convention. Dele¬gates of the International Red Cross Committee visit the prison camps and talk to the prisoners in private, report on conditions in the camps and check on the receipt, or observe the distribution of prisoners' parcels or relief sup¬plies. After prolonged negotiations with the International Red Cross Com¬ 30 mittee and the British Ministry of Economic Warfare, the American Red Cross was able to complete arrangements for the shipment of relief supplies in bulk to Allied prisoners of war. The first shipment was made in January 1941 and by August 31, 1941, there had been shipped 140,000 standard food packages, 296,400 bars of soap, 46,400 woolen garments, 7,000 pairs of shoes, 7,000 suits of underwear, and 6,000 pairs of socks. These have been received by the International Red Cross Committee at Geneva and dis¬tributed among prisoners of war of British and Allied nationalities, under the supervision of delegates of the International Committee. A shipment of relief supplies was also made to the International Red Cross Committee for distribution to Allied women and children interned in prison camps in Ger¬many and German-occupied territory. Within this general program there has been provided a service whereby relatives and close friends may send packages to fully identified prisoners of war at a cost of $2.40 per package. This price includes only the actual cost of the contents of the package, as the American Red Cross assumes all handling and transportation costs. In addition to the above supplies, which were purchased with American Red Cross funds, the American Red Cross has also forwarded from New York to Geneva large shipments of relief supplies for prisoners of war, do¬nated by various relief organizations in the United States and in Central and South America. The American Red Cross, upon the request of the International Com- Food Parcels For Prisoners of War