GERMAN THREAT

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

GERMAN THREAT

BRITISH PRISONERS IN IRONS.

ALLEGATIONS ABOUT RAID. WAR OFFICE DENTES REPORT.-. (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright). (Roc. 11 a.m.) LONDON, Oct. 7. The Germans’ threat that they would put all British officers and men captured at Dieppe in irons from noon tomorrow as a reprisal for the alleged tying up of prisoners captured bv the British during the recent raid on Sark, Channel Islands, was swiftly countered by the War Office with a categorical denial of the terms of the allegations.

“Inquiries we.ro instituted after the raid on Dieppe,” says the War Office. “All the German prisoners brought back to Britain were interrogated and unanimously declared that they had not had their hands tied, and that they were given humane treatment. This statement can be proved by the German Protecting Power. Any v of the prisoners can be seen by the representatives of the German Protecting Power to confirm this. The evidence the enemy adduced rests on their unsubstantiated assertions. If the German Government carries out the threats mentioned in its communique the British. Government will have to consider future action.”—British Official Wireless. THE GERMAN STATEMENT. ’’MEN TIED UP IN SHIRTS.” REPORTED KILLING OF TWO.

(Rec. 12.15 p.m.) LONDON, Oct. 7. A German communique, after revealing that a small British party raided Sark on Sunday, stating that the raiders tied up German prisoners, • announced: “From noon to-morrow all British officers and men captured at Dieppe will he put in chains, this measure to remain in force until the British War Ministry proves that in future it will make true its statements regarding the binding of German prisoners er that it has succeeded in having its orders carried out by British troops. Henceforth all British terrorists and sabotage troops and their accomplices who do not behave like soldiers but. like bandits will be treated as such and ruthlessly mown down wherever they appear.” The communique adds that 16 British fell on a, German working party on Sark, the party consisting of one non-commissioned officer and four men. The British tied up the Germans in their shirts with very strong cords and prevented them putting on more clothing. The British led the Germans to the beach and when the prisoners resisted this improper treatment the British killed the non-commissioned officer and another man with bullets and bayonets and wounded a third, a sapper, who escaped and confirmed these facts. .