RAID ON SARK

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 62, Issue 306, 8 October 1942, Page 3

RAID ON SARK

SEEKING INFORMATION.

GERMAN FORCED-LABOUR PLAN.

WHOLESALE DEPORTATIONS. (N.Z. Press Association— Copyright). (Rcc. 11.25 a.m.) LONDON, Oct. 7, Combined Operations Headquarters, in a communique dealing with the raid on Sark, which throws into grim relief the German methods of wholesale deportation and forced labour from occupied territory, states: “A small-scale raid was made on Saturday night on the -island of Sark. It was one of many such operations which have been successfully and frequently carried out, and about which nothing normally is said, but since the enemy, from ulterior motives, announced the raid with the addition of inaccurate details, the facts are now issued. <* ;

“The main purpose of this raid was to obtain first-hand information. As a result, these suspicions have been confirmed by the seizure of a proclamation signed ‘ Knockfuss Oberst, Felk Commandant.’ This states- that all male civilians not born in the Channel Islands, or not permanently resident there, between the ages -of 16 and 70, have been deported to Germany, with their families. , This deportation occurred last week,' at the shortest notice, and 900 men were conscripted from Guernsey, wit’ll 400 still to go, and it is expected that there will be more from Jersey than from Guernsey. Eleven Sark men were warned to go last week, but two committed suicide. The total British raiding force consisted of 10 officers and men. There were no casualties. Five prisoners were taken. Four attempted to escape and were .shot, The other confirmed the deportations and said they were for forced labour.”—British Official 'Wireless.