P.o.w.s doubt good fortune

Press, Volume CXIII, Issue 33155, 20 February 1973, Page 13

P.o.w.s doubt good fortune

Z PA.-Reuter—Copyright) CLARK AIR BASE (Philippines), February 19. The 20 American prisoners-of-war freed yesterday by North Vietnam thought at first that they were being tricked, and refused to leave their camp. Eventually, the North Vietnamese had to call in cease-fire officials to convince the officers that they really were being released.

The 20 prisoners, later flown in American hospital aircraft to the Clark Air Base, 50 miles north of Manila. did not know of Dr Henry Kissinger’s recent visit to Hanoi, or of the North Vietnamese decision to free 20 men immediately to mark his visit. They had read the terms of the cease-fire, and knew

that all prisoners would be released in four groups over

60 days, so when the North Vietnamese told them that they were being freed immediately. they refused to l>elieve it until officials supervising the cease-fire convinced them that there was no trickerv.

At America's request. Lieutenant James Bailey, aged 30. replaced another officer among the 20 released he- ' cause of a family crisis. He will be flown to California today. His colleagues will not be far behind Him. The debrief-,' Ing and medica’ examinations are being done faster, be-1

cause the number of prisoners returning is small, and because the doctors learnt much in dealing with the 142 former captives who have already passed through their hands.

The 20 officers freed yesterday, all shot down over North Vietnam in 1966 or 1967, were greeted here by a crowd of 1000.