FORCED TO WORK

Otago Daily Times, Issue 25964, 3 October 1945, Page 6

FORCED TO WORK

AUSTRALIAN SOLDIER TREATMENT BY RUSSIANS (By Tasman Air Mail) (0.C.) SYDNEY, Sept. 25. The Australian Government Is making an official protest to Moscow on the treatment by the Red Army of Private Colin Hales, of New South Wales, who, a prisoner of war in Germany. had been forced by the Russians to work after he had escaped, instead of being evacuated. In its protest to the Soviet, which is believed to be supported by the British Government, Australia points out that Article 6 of the Crimea Agreement of February, 1945, provided for the employment, on a voluntary basis only, of liberated prisoners of war. Australia made a reservation that Australian prisoners should not be allowed to work even on a voluntary basis. Australia, therefore, protested against Hales having been forced to work side by side with German prisoners, and against the Soviet’s failure to evacuate him in accordance with the Crimea Agreement. Hales escaped from a German work detachment in April this year, and made his way to the Russian lines near the Hungarian border. Instead of being evacuated he was made to help in handling ammunition, digging trenches, and erecting barbed wire in forward defended localities. His protests were ignored. When fighting ceased with the German surrender on May 8, Hales was allowed to go to Red Army headquarters at Radkorsburg. The Soviet town commandant told him he would be repatriated, but would first have to work. He was made to hand over his watch and a valuable ring, and was then set to work with German prisoners lifting mines. On May 30 Hales was allowed to go to Graz, but could not get permission to cross to Britishheld territory. Eventually he made a dash across.