N.Z. PRISONERS

Grey River Argus, 20 September 1945, Page 2

N.Z. PRISONERS

Leave Singapore by Plane

WELLINGTON, Sept. 19. The following prisoners of war and civilian internees have been reported as evacuated, by air from Singapore on September 15: — Royal New Zealand Air Force. I AC E W. Dense, of Kotuku; T AC ; N. E. Doherty, Palmerston North’ L.A.C. S. E. Sergent, Gisborne;’ Flight Sergeant J. G. Vibert, AU Royal d ’New Zealand Navy: Assistant Cook D. A. Edwards, of Wellingl°Armv (Imperial Forces): Lieutenart C/R. McArthur, Auckland Civilians (including Volunteei Forces): Pte. S. A. Anderson, Dunedin’ Sgt. R. B. Andrew. Dunedin; Pte’. M.” A. Brennan, Palmerston North; ’ Regimental Sergeant-Major P. L. Cooper, Christchurch; Stalf Sgt. C R. Newton-King,* Faengaroa; Sgt. W_. R. Wetherell, Auckland; Sgt. S. W. Peers, Papakura; Sgt. R. G. Ravenwood, Dunedin; Sgt. R. O. Williams, Wellington. A list issued by the New Zealand Missing and Prisoners of War Agency of civilian internees now reported safe includes Anderson, Brennan, Wetherell and Peers, who are included in the above evacuation list, and also Captain D. Nelson, of Napier, and Lieutenant A. H. Hardirjg. Christchurch. SINGAPORE, Sept. 18. Six more New Zealand prisoners of war have been flown out of Sumatra by the Air Force Prisoners of War Flight. They are Sgt.-P'ilots R. J. Reid, C. G. Thompson, A. B. Noel C Betley, Able Seaman L. C. Hurndull and Pte. G; C. L. McLeod. Like most prisoners of war from Sumatra, they had a difficult time with the usual lack of food and medical stores. All have come through in good shape. The Air Force ssnt aircraft to-day to Batavia, where it is known there are six New Zealanders, four of them servicemen and two civilians, and in addition there are six more known to be in Sumatra. It is fairly certain now that other New Zealanders are in the camps which have not yet been reached in Netherlands East Indies, but the names are not known yet. More aircraft are due to arrive from New Zealand on Thursday when the repatriation of (.prisoners of Qar and internees will be speeded up. An officer replying to complaints of internees who walked off the troopship Almanzora, explained that they were accidentally alloted accommodation according to military instead of civilian plans. Onlv six internees walked off the ship. The remainder when asked if they wished to leave replied they preferred to see the voyage through. The third aircraft of New Zealand prisoners of war flight took off early this morning with 16 more civilians and prisoners of war, bringing the total evacuated by air to 48. The evacuees are accommodated in a comfortable’ house, while waiting for \ ; r passage and given special food, good clothes and proper medical attention. As far as is known only about 20 persons remain to be moved from Singapore, but it is expected that more will arrive from Sumatra and Java any time. SYDNEY, Sent. 19. An Australian correspondent cabled from Java: The first prisoners flown out from Java camps were 23 New Zealanders who were flown out yesterday in the New Zealand Air Force Dakota. , Women were forced to make coffins for their own dead in the civilian internment camp in Batavia. Since January this year 449 women and children died in camp mostly from starvation, dysentry and beriberi. stori ?j of new Japanese atrocities were told when Allied officials reached the Japanese prison camps yesterday. A women’s internment camp just outside of Batavia housed 10,500 women and children. The death rate reached the peak last August when 105 women and children died during the month. Each of the four-roomed cottages housed up to 30 persons, air girls and the women had to perform heavy work. Some of the Australian prisoners were imprisoned for six months of their captivity. They were classified as “bandits” and subjected to fiendish brutality; and given little iood. Australian and British prisoners were frequently bashed with the flat oi samurai swords. Surprised and involuntary visitors from Wales are Lance Bombardiers A. Adams and D. Lewis, of the United Kingdom F'orces, who reached Sydney by air yesterday from a prisoner of war camp in Japan. “We were talking to Australians in their camp and were asked where we came from,” said Adams. “We said ‘South Wales’ meaning England, of course, and here we are. We were just pushed into the plane. We did not know where we were going. It was not until we got to Darwin that we realised we were heading for New South Wales.”

A party of 18 prisoners of- war who arrived at Sydney yesterday eluded Lieutenants J. G. Godwin and F. C. Parker of the R.N.Z.N. A message from Brisbane says that 16 New Zealand prisoners of war, the first batch to arrive in Australia, are expected at Archerfield to-day. They will leave for New Zealand direct on Thursday. Five Australian corvettes have taken off 334 internees and prisoners of "war from Menado, Northern Celebes, and are returning to Morqtai. The rescued party included 145 children, 11 women and 65 men. There are 59 stretcher cases. COLOMBO, Sept. 18. The New Zealand vessel Monowai has arrived at Colombo from Singapore on the way to Britain. She is carrying 100 liberated troops and 200 civilians. The passengers received a great welcome when the ship docked late on Sunday. All on board are classed as fit to travel and are being given a special diet. FARIS, September 17.

France has instructed her Ambassador at Chungking to take up with the Chinese Government the refusal of the Chinese High Command to permit General Allessandri to enter Indo-China with the Chinese occupation forces. The issue heads the agenda fori the talks between Dr. Soong and General de Gaulle, due to begin next Wednesday. The French tend to consider the High Command’s actions as not necessarily approved by the Chinese {Government, which it is reported, assured De Gaulle that Alessandri could accompany the Chinese.