DUTCH REFUGEES

Grey River Argus, 20 August 1940, Page 6

DUTCH REFUGEES

ROW TO ENGLAND. LONDON, July 6. Josephine, a thirteen-year-old Dutch girl, has just arrived in England with her mother, father and 17-year-old brother and 11 other refugees whom they gathered togetner as they escaped from Amsterdam. The father of Josephine feared the Gestapo so he decided to get away from Holland. He bought a rowing boat, and for seven days the little party made their way across the North Sea in this open boat. Not one of them had ever handled oars or boat before, but they took turns and managed to get along. 1 They decided to make for a Britisn | port, steering by the stars. | When they set out they were told j the boat was stocked with food and 1 water, but there was little of either. 1

At last, too exhausted through lack of food and rest to go on, they rested the boat against what they thought was a buoy, while they made continual signals to a British war-

ship, which saw them and signalled to them, but made no attempt to come to their ■■■■■ At last they decided to row to the warship, which took 7 them on board immediately. Then they understood the reason why tb< warship had not approached therrbA They were over a minefield. ,