SHOOTING OF AIRMEN

Manawatu Standard, Volume LXIV, Issue 146, 20 May 1944, Page 6

SHOOTING OF AIRMEN

GESTAPO. ACCUSED. (N.Z. Press Association.—Copyright.) (Rec. 12.50 p.m.) LONDON. May 19. The shooting of the Allied anforce officers by the Germans took place, it is believed, when the officers were found away from the camp and not at the time of their attempted escape, says the Daily Mail, quoting reports reaching London. The reports add that Gestapo agents when the escape was reported were ordered to stop the officers, 47 of whom were later found and all died. Letters from Stalag Luft 111 since March 22, the day on which the killings occurred,. have not mentioned the incident. The Gestapo appears to have taken the matter from the German military authorities' hands. Any Government holding prisoners of war is required under the Geneva Convention to notify the Government concerned as quickly as possible if a prisoner dies from any c'adse. It is still a mystery why the German Government did not notify the Swiss Government immediately the. shootings occurred, but left it to be discovered by Swiss inspectors. Stalag Luft 111 accommodated 4000 to 5000 R.A.F., Dominion, and Allied pilots, many of whom have been behind its barbed wire for nearly three years with barely half a mile of grounds in which to exercise. None of the pilots have at any time been allowed outside Stalag Luft 111 on parole or wndcr escort. Officers twice previously tried to escape from the camp. Those trying in the" first attempt tunnelled their way under the camp, only to be frustrated at "the last moment. Ninety men on the other occasion joined in the escape, but all were recaptured. The matter is being treated as one ot extreme urgency, pays the Daily Mail's diplomatic correspondent. "To save the relatives unnecessary alarm and worry, it may be said that there is nothing in the reports so far received to suggest that the shootings were carried out as a .punishment or reprisal. Severe punishment for trying to escape is not permitted under the prisoner-of-war convention. Every prisoner who has not given his word of honour that he will npt try to escapo is entitled to do what he can to get away. The British Government and the other Governments concerned will want to be assured that the German guards at the camp have done nothing illegal. A Swiss official will have access to the prisoners at the camp, who will be able to make a statement to him about the affair."

The Daily Express's aviation corres r pondent says that the shootings occurred at the time when the R.A.F. and U.S.A.A.F. blitz against German industrial cities was at its height. Frankfurt and Berlin were being heavily attacked at the -time the officers escaped The news of the shootings has deeply shocked the It.A.F. flying personnel. They regularly attend private lectures on how to behave in the event of beinj; taken prisoner. Tho Daily Express, in a leader, . says: An ordinary battle does not produce such a casualty rate, certainly not a contest between fugitive men and an organised army. -Where arc the wounded ? If there was a fight, it must have been followed by murder. Here is a shameful and discreditable episode, even under the standard Gocbbcls glorifies. The Daily Mail, in an editorial, says: At the test of opportunity the- true ratiire of the beast emerges. The lconard cannot change his spots. The. Nazi wiir- be a Nazi to the end, and in this case he lias added to his crime by trying to conceal it. We even now have every reason to believe that, the very darkest chapter of this story has not yet been told. There are interrogation marks against the name of every victim. There comes into the story the name of the Gestapo. The Gestapo officials were never good soldiers, just assassins.

Two New Zealandcrs are included in the list of the names of the 47 airmen shot. The others comprise three Australians, 25 members of the R.A.F., six Canadians, three South Africans, one Fighting Frenchman, four Poles, two Norwegians, and one Hellenic airman. Tn til." House of Commons, Sir J. M. Lucas (Con. Portsmouth) asked if Mr Eden would find out. the name of the camp commandant, and anyone else responsible. Mr Eden. We have asked the House l"o wait until I get a reply from the protecting Power. Mr I".. Granville (Ind.-Lah.. Eye) said ho was. sorry to press the point, but the 1 datives were most anxious. When tho list was first published it was five. Now Mr Eden said there were 47, and all the relatives of officers in this- camp were wondering whether that was the total'. Mr Eden: As far as I am aware my statement, which is the only official statement issued, contains all tho facts in the possession of tho Government.