The number of prisoners on that date was 780,200, with the flow still continuing.

Some of the special problems encountered in accomplishing this mission and steps taken to solve them were :

     1.  The dispersion of the division over a front of 275 airline miles:  This difficulty required decentralizing many activities which are normally more closely controlled.  The displacing of the division command post and service area to a more central location, as northern enclosures were taken over, eased this problem to some extent.

     2.  Insufficient transportation:  All division transportation was utilized to the utmost not only in supplying the scattered units of the division, but also in supplying the enclosures, since Communications Zone agencies were unable to supply satisfactorily and otherwise service all enclosures.  The establishing and delivery of fuel and other supplies direct to some enclosures, and the gradual equipping of the enclosures with necessary facilities, eventually eased the transportation load.  Some additional Trucks had been supplied by Advance Section 9 May.

     3.  Inadequate medical facilities:  The 331st Medical Battalion allocated its own and borrowed medical personnel and facilities so as to take care of the first enclosures turned over to the division.  Additional medical personnel, ambulances and field hospitals were requested, received, and utilized.

     4.  Lack of critical items of supply and equipment:  The service elements of the division contacted all agencies involved, and collected as much material as could be transported.  Equipment was collected by the units assigned to the enclosures and other equipment was shipped in by Advance Section.  Currently this problem is greatly alleviated.

     5.  Necessity for taking over and utilizing camps prior to their completion:  Construction was continued by Communications Zone engineers after occupancy, and was also carried on by prisoner of war in the enclosures. The 81st Enginner (C) Battalion of the division assisted in this construction program with all of its own troops and equipment, and by supervising the prisoner labor.

     6.  Rapid and unpredictable flow of prisoners into the various enclosures:  Advance Section, Communications Zone, attempted to maintain contact with the Armies so as to alleviate this difficulty as much as possible.  Continental Advance Section managed to regulate very well the flow of prisoners from the Sixth Army Group.  This remained a critical problem and required the shifting of subordinate units to meet the flow and created a most difficult situation in receiving, segregating and screening the prisoners. 

     7.  Difficulties of communication resulting from the extent of the area covered by the division:  The use of liaison officers between this headquarters and other organizations and agencies concerned and with subordinate units, helped until wire communications could be established.  The liaison planes of the Division Artillery enabled a rapid messenger service to be put in operation.  Two motor messenger runs per day to all units were established.  The Division Signal Company repaired cables destroyed in combat and installed wire communications to the extent of its capacity.  Adequate wire communication was still lacking at the end of this period, but progress was being made in tying in all units.  Radio communication was utilized extensively.  The establishing and maintaining of adequate communications over such an extensive area is normally beyond the means of a division and will remain a major problem.  However, by the utilization of all facilities and the continued effort of the communications personnel, the communication problem had definitely improved by the end of the period.

FOR THE COMMANDING GENERAL:

F. I. AGULE,
Lt. Colonel, A. G. D.
Adjutant General

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