The inexplicable detention of two million French prisoners in Germany is keeping their anxious kin in an agony of suspense. It is possible, however, to buy French prisoners out of German camps. He knew of a friend, a lieutenant in the artillery: who was released after five weeks of negotiations for 20,000 francs. The price was a little high because he was a Jew.
The Gestapo are even more corrupt. from setting an example, they are more accessible to those with money. although their prices are higher. Contact is established circumspectly, for obvious reasons, often through telephone girls, most of whom are now Germans. and sometimes through Italians.
Petrol, officially, is strictly rationed, but in August: could also be had for payment. The family mentioned above who travelled to Occupied France was able to obtain enough petrol to drive from Dinard to Vichy, a distance of more than 300 miles. The situation is now probably more difficult, owing to general gasoline shortage.
Private cars cannot operate except with a special permit. In August, there were 17,000 permits for private ars in Occupied France. The number has now been reduced to 7,000. It has become most difficult, even for large sums of money, to buy car permits.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.