C 6 p 5 — SPQDU 383.6-Ex SUBJECT: Utilization | of Italian 15 December 1943 Prisoners of War. | Winth Service Fort Douglas, Command Utah A Condiderable discussion has arisen as to whether it is . proper to call upon Italian prisoners of war to handle boxed motor vehicles within the Ordnance Supply Section at this installation. . @e The pertinent vehicles are neither armored nor equipped with arms. They are received here for storage with unknown future destination and unknown future using activity. “hen issued, they are invariably shipped to other supply installations for redistribution by such agency. 3. There has been some difficulty with prisoner unwillingness to handle this item and the Commanding Officer, Prisoner of War Camp, this station, has indicated his belief that "motor transport vehicles, boxed, consigned to a port of embarkation" fall within the provisions of par. 104, Fi 27-10 which prohibits the employment of prisoners of war for transporting materials intended for combat units. I do not concur in this view. | | | & Am average of 30 carloads per day of this type of material is now scheduled to arrive at this Depot for unloading and storage. It is imperative that labor be available to handle this activity from day to day to prevent freight yard blackage. A decision preventing the use of prisoners of war from being required to handle this material is expected to necessitate request for troops to provide necessary labor to bridge the gap between available employee personnel and the tonnage to be handled. ! | 5. Prompt action is requested. Copy of this communication Ae being furnished to the Commanding Officer, Prisoner of War Camp. Brigadier General, Command: ; U.S. Army | is