Release First Bomb Crews To Fall Into Japanese Hands

Northern Advocate, 22 August 1945, Page 3

Release First Bomb Crews To Fall Into Japanese Hands

<11.45 a.m.) CHUNGKING, Aug. 21. The "humanitarian team" has released the Doolittle airmen whom the Japanese had charged with murder. One was in such a serious condition from beriberi that he was unable to travel by air. Brigadier-General George Olmstead said that humanitarian teams at war prisoner and internee camps so far had found that the prisoners had adequate medical attention, with a low incidence of hospital cases, but generally were underweight. Empire Repatriates.

At a conference at General lVlacArthur's headquarters in Manila yesterday, American and Australian Red Cross and Army officials worked out plans for the repatriation of Australian, Canadian, United Kingdom and Indian prisoners of war in the Far East.

A ship with 1200 people aboard will leave Australia in the next 24 hours to assist in the return of Australian prisoners in Japanese hands. Announcing this, the Minister for the Army (Mr Forde) said this reception group would go to Singapore and some to the Philippines.

A message from Manila reports that Australian ships have been requisitioned to repatriate Australian prisdners of war from Japan. Most of the prisoners and civilian internees are expected to be steaming home not more than a month after they reach the Philippines from Japan.