ESCAPE BY NIGHT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23772, 27 September 1940, Page 11

ESCAPE BY NIGHT

MEN FROM GUERNSEY ISLANDS UNDER GERMANS LOOTING AND DRINKING [from our own correspondent] LONDON, Sept. 9 Into a small fishing cove on the j south-west coast of England crept a 20ft. auxiliary-engine cutter. She contained a man and his son from Guernsey, Channel Islands, who had decided that any danger of crossing to England was infinitely better than living on their native island under German rule. With bloodshot eyes and several days' growth of beard, they talked of their experiences since German airmen landed near their home as an advance guard of occupying troops. "I ran a largish farm," the father said, "and also had an interest in hotels. When tho 'Jerries' came they collared the lot. Potatoes, tomatoes and other vegetable crops were seized and sentries posted round the fields. In tho first week the sentries must have pulled and eaten hundredweights of vegetables—as if they had not seen real food lor months. "In my hotels and all over the island they grabbed every bottle and barrel of drink. The men were not so bad, but the officers behaved like Hun looters. For four nights every one of them was drunk, and every house around us with women in it locked its doors. "In St. Peter's, Government House Hotel was taken over by tho senior officers. In two nights hardly a stick of valuable pieces of furniture was whole. "My son and I got down to the.shore and bagged a boat anchored off the rocks. We swam out to it. The snag was petrol. The Germans had taken over every gallon. But they had overlooked some paraffin, which we got at night, carried over tho cliffs and lowered by rope. There was just enough petrol in the engine to start her up before going on to the paraffin. "We got on board the cutter and rowed half a mile before we started up the engine. When our paraffin conked out we 6et a sail."

DEBUT IN AIR RAID NEW ZEALAND PIANIST ONE O'CLOCK IN MORNING [from our own correspondent] LONDON, Sept. 9 A young New Zealand pianist made a highly successful, although informal, debut at the Queen's Hall, London, during the air raid on August 31. He is Mr. Colin Horsley, of Wanganui, now a student at the Royal College of .Music, where lie has been working for the past two years under Herbert Fryer.

After the conclusion of the promenade concert conducted by Sir Henry Wood, the audience were invited to carry on an impromptu entertainment for * the benefit of the hundreds of people who chose to stay until the raid was over. Mr. Horsley was an early volunteer. Performing at 1 a.m. he made his opening a little nervous, but soon found himself and delighted his first public with his renderings of Liszt's "Fuex Follets" and Chopin Etudes. One of his most appreciative listeners was Sir Adrian Boult, conductor of the British Broadcasting Corporation Symphony Orchestra, who had previously contributed to the early morning's music by performing with a much-reduced orchestra —on the triangle. Mr. Horsley will take part in a promenade concert at the Queen's Hall on October 2.

OCCUPATION TROOPS

YOUNG AIRMAN'S BELIEF [from our own correspondent] LONDON. Snpt. 0 German airmen landing in England by parachute expect to find German troops in occupation. They are told, apparently to give them courage, that battalions of German troops are scattered all over England. This latest Nazi ruse was revealed when an 18-year-old airman was taken to a naval hospital. While his wound was being dressed he asked the nurse how far away were the nearest German troops. The nurse was unable to. convince t.he airman that German troops had not set foot in England.