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New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21505, 31 May 1933, Page 8

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ENGINEERS FROM MOSCOW CROSSING THE FRONTIER RECEPTION IN ENGLAND [from our own correspondent] »LONDON, April 28 So long as they were in Russia the returning British engineers were under the eye of the secret police. Every ten minutes or so during the evening one of these agents would flit along the corridor of the train in which they were travelling and dart a suspicious glance at the Englishmen as they sat and talked. The special correspondent of the Daily Express who accompanied the party from Moscow thus describes the crossing of the Russian frontier: — The train jolted and creaked its way into Negoricoldie, the Russian frontier station. For one hour and forty minutes the luggage of the British party was subjected to a courteous but minute examination by tho customs officials. "Have you any money P" tho officials asked each member of the party, it being illegal under Soviet law for anyone to leave the country with any money in his possession, whether foreign or Soviet, except rrach foreigo currency for which he has obtained a special permit. "Yes", I have some money," Mr. Gregory said. "How much?" asked the official. "Two roubles," answered Gregory. "Go and deposit it at the bureau, over there." "I'm damned if I do," said the truculent Gregory, who turned on his heel and marched over to the refreshment stall, where he spent his two offending roubles on a cup of tea.

Across the Border The brakes screeched, and the train slowed down, almost stopping. Into the range of vision of Mr. Monkhouse and the rest of the party came a long line of drab-uniformed Soviet soldiers, armed to the teeth, and with bayonets fixed to their rifles, whose duty it was to inspect the train on its last hundred yards out of Soviet territory. Some of the soldiers were crouched, with their rifles ready to fire, so that they could Bhoot any fugitive who was trying to Bmuggle 'himself out as a stowaway under the carriages. Others were watching the roofs from towers, like so many prison warders. The train creaked and groaned, and finally stopped altogether. The nose of the was on the very lino of the frontier. The Soviet soldier guards jumped off and so did the Ogpu agents. The.a the train moved on again, passed slowly under the frontier arch, past the barbed entanglements, and into Poland.

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief. At the Hook of Holland the captain of the steamer Vienna welcomed the party warmly and placed luxurious staterooms at their disposal as guests of the company. As early as 6 a.m. a crowd had collected on Parkstone Quay, Harwich, and when the first passengers on the Hook of Holland boat came ashore men and women craned forward to catch a glimpse of the returning officials. They found it difficult to escape the well-wishers, and nothing perhaps demonstrated more strikingly the national sympathy with these men than the little scenes that occurred as the boat train sped to London. In back gardens were to be seen whole families waving enthusiastic greetings.- So did the railwaymen at various points on the Gravely contemplative, the exiles watched. They were deeply touched. - Warm Welcome in London A few hours later the party were welcomed by an enormous crowd in London. Beside the four engineers who had stood their trial—Mr. Monkhouse, Mr. J. Cushny, Mr. C. Nordwall and 3VIx. A. W. Gregory—there was Mr.' Nordwall's Russian wife, who had left her own country for tbe first time; and Mr. Robert Turner, the English solicitor who watched the trial on behalf of Metropolitan-Vickers. Although all the men—still in the clothes they .wore at' the trial —looked worn out after the terrible strain of the last few weeks, they were obviously overjoyed at returning home. As the train came to rest at the Liverpool Street Station a deafening cheer rang out. The brilliant arc lamps of the film cameras flooded the place with light, and people, standing many rows deep along the platform, and up the staircase leading to the station / bridge, waved their hats. A section of the crowd struck up "For They are Jolly Good Fellows," and when the four men entered the glare of the arcs the spectators, overcome with patriotic fervour, and standing bareheaded at attention, broke into the National Anthem. ■, •. At the close of this spontaneous tribute, the travellers advanced to greet their relations and friends, conspicuous among wjhom were Mrs. Monkhouse, her son Derrick, and her daughter Rydal, Mrs. Cushny, and Sir Felix Pole (chairman of the Metropolitan-Vickers Company). Mr. Monkhouse and his companions then walked with Sir Felix Pole and tliCs stationmaster to the Station Hotel. Bouquets of flowers were showered upon them as they passed down the platform and, when they mounted the stairs to the bridge, people lining the balustrade clapped the men on the back like football enthusiasts greeting a winning team.

Mr. Monkhouse's Thanks In an interview, Mr. Monkliouse said: "We: have been tremendously touched and .surprised by the receptions given us ori our way home, and wo appreciate greatly all the sympathy and kindness. that have been shown to us. First, ' we should like to express our gratitude to the Government and to the members of the British Embassy who made such efforts on our behalf. Mr. Strang, the British Charge d'Affaires, hardly ever got to bed before three or four in the morning, and yet he was always ready, smiling, every day when we entered the dock. "We want, too, to express our gratitude., for the confidence which tho company have shown in us and the support they have given us. And we must thank the press, particularly the British 'and American press, for the way in which they have put our case before the public and for the personal consideration they have shown to our families and relatives during a period of deep* anxiety. One final word of deep regret +kat only four of us are here, and not six. Wo hope that Macdonald and Thornton will very soon be home." Mr. Monkliouse said that while in prison ho and his colleagues were well treatbd. "But prison and the place where we were interrogated for nearly 17 hours were things apart. And you will hot get mo to speak of the interrogation yet."