AMAZING EXPLOIT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 23954, 2 May 1941, Page 7

AMAZING EXPLOIT

BRITISH SUBMARINE NINE HOURS IN ENEMY PORT EFFORT TO RESCUE DIPLOMATS LONDON, April 30 The former British Minister to Belgrade, Mr. Ronald Campbell, and his staff are safe in a hotel at Durazzo, Albania, after the failure of an attempt to escape in a British submarine. They were at the quayside waiting for the submarine when the Italians occupied the town. Tlii! British diplomats arc now awaiting a special aeroplane from Home to take them to Lisbon. Portugal. The British submarine which attempted to rescue .Mr. Campbell was the Regent, which went to Kotor (Cattaro), in Southern Yugoslavia, in the hope of finding .Mr. Campbell and his staff there. Instead, upon their arrival they found the whole area occupied by the Italian army and navy. In spite of this they entered the port. An officer went ashore to call upon the Italian naval authorities, and an Italian officer was taken on board as a hostage. The search went on for nine hours, and still the submarine remained in the harbour. The largest White Ensign on board was hoisted. The Regent was surrounded by large forces of the Italian navy. Then, without warning, two Italian bombers came over and attempted to machine-gun and bomb the submarine. The commanding officer, another officer and a petty officer wen wounded. • The Regent had to put to sea again. On her way into the port she had had to pass through two minefields, and passed through them again on the way out. 'J he submarine reached her base with the Italian hostage still on board. News that -Mr. Ronald Syme, who was first secretary of the British Legation at Belgrade, has reached Cairo safe and weli lias been received bv his mother, Mrs. David Syme, of Eftham, in a cablegram sent by her son. Hitherto only conflicting reports have been received here as to the whereabouts of Mr. Ronald Campbell, the British Minister at Belgrade, 'to whose staff Mr. Syme was attached. Mr. Syme. who is a brilliant classical scholar, was in charge of the work of the .Ministry of Information in Yugoslavia. He is a Fellow of Trinity College, Oxford, and 12 years ago was lecturer in classics at Auckland University College.

FRENCH IN PACIFIC ARRIVAL OF COMMANDANT (Reed. 11.50 p.m.) SYDNEY, May 1 Commandant Gustav Jardin, commander of the Free French forces in the Pacific, has arrived in Sydney after a four months' tour of the French Cameroons. He is on his way to Noumea to take command and consolidate all Free French fighting men in the Pacific Islands. Interviewed, Commandant Jardin said he believed between 80 and 90 per cent of the French people in occupied and unoccupied France were silently behind General de Gaulle and sympathetic to the British cause. Commandant Jardin has been singled out for "special mention" in the blanket death sentence imposed by the Vichy Government on the Free French forces.

LONDON FIREMEN DELEGATES TO AMERICA (Reed. 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, April 30 The American Ambassador, Mr. J. G. Winant, to-day received three London firemen who will shortly sail for America to return a visit of the New York Fire Brigade which sent delegates to London last autumn, says a British official wireless message. Mr. Winant gave the firemen the following message: "Anyone who has seen you in action as I have can appreciate the help and advice you bring America. You have learned to stand up against double fire. It takes a special kind of courage to fight a fire in a blaze of light while enemy aircraft are bombing you from above. "Knowing the kind of recognition we have given men in peacetime who have accomplished some act of heroism or worth, I know that, when you arrive in New York you will be greatly welcomed for your selves and because you London fighting firemen are uniquely representative of the home defender of England."

SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH AMERICAN CO-OPERATION (Reed. 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, April 30 Replying in the House of Commons to a question, Mr. R. A. Butler, UnderSecretary for Foreign Affairs, stated that after consultation with the United States the British Government had drawn up a comprehensive scheme which had already been put into operation for co-operation in scientific matters with the United States, says a British official wireless message. Dr. C. G. Darwin, Director of the National Physical Laboratory, had been sent as director of a central scientific office, working under the direction of the British Supply Council in North America. He would collaborate with United States research bodies and act as a channel for exchange of technical and scientific information. He would also generally co-ordinate scientific and technical inquiries.

AWARD TO HOME GUARD WOUNDED MAN'S COURAGE LONDON, April 30 An outstanding example or sustained courage under air bombardment is that of a Home Guard volunteer, .Mr. \Y. T. Whitlock, who lias been awarded the George Medal, says a .British official wireless message. A building in which he was on dutv received two direct hits from high explosive bombs and he suffered severe injuries to the arm, leg, side and eyes. He was thrown more than 20 yards over a wall. Nevertheless he managed to pick himself up and ignoring his injuries made his way to_ the debris, under which was his section leader. At great personal risk and almost at the stage of complete collapse, he managed to extricate the section leader, thus saving his life. After this he had to be taken to hospital. .