MEN RETURNED FROM GERMANY

Press, Volume LXXX, Issue 24272, 1 June 1944, Page 3

MEN RETURNED FROM GERMANY

PARTY REACHES ENGLAND (Special Correspondent , N.Z.P.A.) • LONDON, May 30. The latest repatriated prisoners of war to arrive in England, in addition to Group Captain John Grocott. of Auckland, include Captains W. M, Clarry (Wellington), 'and G. B. Peacocke (Auckland), both of the N.Z.E.F., Petty Officer E. A. Fraser, R.N.Z.N.V.R. (Lower Hutt), and Dr. A. H. Hallen, of the Merchant Navy. -v Group Captain Grocott was not al.lowed to give an interview on his experiences in Stalag Luft 111, His only comment on the shootings was: '“I knew many of the fellows." Dr. Hallen, who is aged 76 years, and comes from Waitoa, south of Auckland, was captured when the ship in which he was doctor was sunk by an armed merchant raider. Dr. Hallen said: “When we first arrived in camp, at Bremen, the Germans were very cocksure of winning the war and they did not forget to tell us. Now they are not so sure. "Some say that they will never give in while Adolf Hitler is alive. I am convinced, however, that Hitler has been dead fpr a long time and that he is being impersonated by other people who have been trained to take his place. I think that he probably suffered from cancer of the throat.” Dr. Hallen added that some of the air raids on Bremen were terrific.