CAPTURED AIRMAN

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23870, 22 January 1941, Page 8

CAPTURED AIRMAN

LETTER FROM RAIDER GOOD TREATMENT RECEIVED RELEASE URGED IN VAIN Before civilians from, the ill-fated liner Rangitane were landed by the Germans on Ftnirau Island, one of the Now Zealand Air Force men who had been captured on board the. ship, Mr. Geoffrey F. Sommerville, handed one of tlvm a letter to his mother, Mrs. Edward Somerville, of Ore Ore, Raetilii, who has since duly received it. "Wo are very well treated, and we have no legitimate cause lor complaint," staled the letter, which was written in pencil on the fly-leaf of a book. "The Germans are behaving iiko real gentlemen, and treat us with great courtesy. We are supplied with tobacco, tooth brushes, towels, etc., and conditions are as hygienic as possible. We get quite enough to eat, though the food is rather coarser than we have been used to. Much Time on Deck "The quarters are rather cramped at present, but when the crowd goes we will have more room. Just, lately we have boon getting anything up to six hours on deck each day, and these are the best times of all. \\ e are in tho best of spirits, though suffering from the extreme humiliation of being prisoners of war within a couple of days of dear old Now Zealand. "I hope you will hear of our safety before Christmas comes on you. For our part, we are beginning to look forwa:d to a German Christmas, and then, some time soon, to dry land, lor u<> :we to he interned in some decent neutral country (Ave hope), where perhaps we will ho well treated and given facilities tor following a .more normal life. Religious Services "Every evening we have been having a short service on board, and that has been a comfort to us. Wo have only one Testament among us. Mine is at the bottom of the Pacific, I regret to say. "Captain T'pton, of the Rangitane, who is an exceptionally fine man, has done his best to secure our release, but without success. The German commander has made up his mind which way his duty lies, and nothing will change his decision. "I think 17 of us will remain on board. Wo have been promised a little work to do. and generally our lot should be easier. By the way. we are all growing excellent beards just now, and I should say there is not a more vil-lainous-looking crew of pirates in all the Seven Seas."