WAR ITEMS

Grey River Argus, 25 March 1943, Page 1

WAR ITEMS

LONDON, March 23. The Anglo-Italian exchange of prisoners began early: on Sunday, savs an Ankara message, and wascompleted at 6 p.m., when the 'last lighters left with the final batch ot prisoners. Red Crescent delegates visited the British and Italian slips and offered presents of oranges, figs; grapes and cigarettes. Both vessels have now left Turkish waters. ’■ The Talma and the Italian sh’p Gradisca anchored in Mersin yesterday, but the exchange was postponed until to-day because of bad weather. The British prisoners include Admiral Cowan, who was taken prisoner just before Tobruk fell last year. . Most of the British prisoners were naval personnel, including some from I-I M.S. Sikh, which was lost in a • British attack on Tobruk. It was thought at first that the casualties were heavy, but actually casualties were light and move than 200 of the destroyer’s complement were rescued.