NO EXCHANGE

Grey River Argus, 8 October 1941, Page 5

NO EXCHANGE

WOUNDED PRISONERS Hospital Ships Not Sailing r Aus. & N.Z. Cable Assn.] (Rec. 5.5). LONDON, October 6 A British statement on the exchange of prisoners is considerably ahead of the facts, says the Berlin radio. Only a partial exchange has thus far been considered. Germany declared she was ready to exchange about one hundred prisoners. These are aboard the hospital’ ships at Newhaven. If they are brought over, Germany is ready to return an equivalent number. Diplomatic negotiations are progressing regarding further developments. The following is the text of the message sent bv the British Government to the German Government: “Thp British Government has received the German Government’s message, broadcast this morning. For the sake of clarity, the British Government restates the arrangements which it is going to carry into effect Two hospital ships will sail from the anchorage off Newhaven at 5.30 a.in G.M.T., on October 7, arriving off Dieppe at 10.30 a.m. G.M.T. They will carry all the German sick and wounded prisoners of wa r cue for repatriation, numbering 13 officers, 43 other ranks, and protected personnel numbering 28 officers, including a chaplain, and 19 other ranks. For the return voyage, the ships should move from the anchorage off Dieppe during the night high tide. This is in order that they may I sail in daylight-and reach Newhaven. at 12 noon G.M.T., on October 8. They will b e loaded to full capacity 1 with British prisoners of war and protected personnel eligible for repatriation. The ships will return to Newhaven on October 10. loaded to full capacity with British sick and wounded prisoners of war, and protected personnel. Thereafter the ships will make such further voyages on successive days as may be necessary to complete the repatriation of all the remaining British sick and wounded prisorers of war, and protected personnel eligible for repatriation. In this connection, the ! British Government points out that, j in view of the substitution of Dieppe, the times make it possible if necessary to continue sailings up to and including October 14. The above arrangements will be put into effect provided no message to the contrary has been received bv wireless from the German Government before 8 p.m. G.M.T., to-day, Octobe r 6.. The British Government reaffirms its readiness to agree to the mutual repatriation of all British and German civilians and internees other than men between th e ages of 18 and 60. The British Government will be glad to negotiate arrangements with the German Government, through the intermediary of the United States Government, immediately, in order that the repatriation of civilians may be carried out with the least possible delay.” . The latest message received from the German Government concerning the repatriation of sick and wounded prisoners, was received at 4.50 o’clock on Monday evening, and stated: “The,zones of barrage proposed by the British Government for the course from Newhaven to Fecamp are also valid for the course of hospital ships from Newnaven to Dieppe. The German Government asks if the hospital ship Dinara or St. Julian will make the course. A pilot will be taken on board at 39 degrees 50 minutes north, and nine degrees 42.5 minutes east. Together with the pilot, a surveying detachment will go on board. A complete list of every person on board, Including the crew, is Immediately to be handed over to the surveying detachment. The carrying of cameras is not allowed. The German Government expects the British Government to take measures in this direction.” The following reply was immediately dispatched from the British Government: “Your message received. Both ships, St. Julian ana Dinard, will make the course.” For what was probably the first time fop many hundreds of years, two belligerent governments communicated directly with each other, during the actual course of war. This occurred on Monday at 12.30 8.5. T., when the 8.8. C. “monitoring” service picked up from Germany a message relating to the repatriation bf prisoners, addressed to the British Government on an overseas wavelength. Five minutes later, the 8.8. C. broadcast, on behalf of the War Office, that thev were prepared to receive the message, and half-an-hour later. Germany stated: -“The German Government to the British Government: Hospital ships having orp board German prisoners of war and German civilians can leave from Newhaven harbour on Tuesday, October 7. Please indicate the correct time of the departure, the total number of sick and wounded prisoners, the number of German sanitary personnel, and the l number of German civilian women and children on board. The time and departure of tbe hospital ship from Dieppe will be announced to-morrow.” The British Government replied that the ships would sail, and details would be given as soon as possible The receipt of this message was knowledged, and details of sailing later broadcast bv the War Office. While the German sick and wounded prisoners were rehearsing disembarkation, this afternoon, a gift of .100 packets each containing 10 cigarettes, was taken aboard. the Dinard, and handed to Major Hackbarth. leader of the prisoners, on behalf of the Red Cross. The German. who is a major in the Luftwaffe, expressed sincere thank’ for the gift and asked that the President of the British Red Cross should be thanked for all that the organisation has done for wounded German prisoners. (Rec. 10.30). LONDON, October 6. The Wa r Office has announced that, in view of the statement made on the German wireless to-night on the subject of a repatriation, the hospital ships will not sail. (Rec. 11.40) RUGBY, October 7. Since an official statement, was issued in the early hours of this morning to the effect that the hospital ships would not sail in view of the attitude expressed earlier in the evening by the German official wireless, nothing further has been made known of the position concerning the repatriation of sick and wounded prisoners of war.

(Rec. 11.45). LONDON, October 7. Immediately the War Office announced that the hospital ships were not sailing, the harbour lights were switched off. This is the second lastminute hitch in arrangements since Friday night. Germany had broken a silence of two years to call Britain direct on the Calais radio vesterday, re-opening- negotiations, and, after an exchange of wireless views, the sailing was announced.