PRISONERS FOR FIVE MONTHS

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20956, 9 September 1933, Page 13

PRISONERS FOR FIVE MONTHS

BRITISH OFFICERS BACK IN CIVILISATION LARGE RANSOM PAID TO PIRATES (U.MiTED rRF.ns ASSOC lATION-TCT ELF.CTKiO TKLKGRAT-H—COI'VJtIGnT.) (Received September 8, 9.50 p.m.) SHANGHAI, September 8. The three British marine officers, Messrs A. Blue, Clifford Johnson, and W. Hargraves, who had been held in captivity in Manchuria since March, and who were released yesterday by the pirates, have arrived in Newchwang. No details of the final settlement are available, though it ii understood that a large sum was paid the kidnappers. The captives are bearing the sig .s of tne terrible strain of their long captivity and arc suffering terribly from swollen mosquito bites. In spite of this, they are cheerful. "Are we all right? Yes!" they shouted when a large crowd greeted them at the station at Newchwang to-day, where the British Consul, Mr Clarke, awaited them, together with Japanese and Manchukuo officials. Mr Clarke conveyed official thanks to the Japanese, Captain Obata, and othcr« responsible for the release of the men.