ILL-TREATMENT OF BRITONS

Southland Times, Issue 24565, 14 October 1941, Page 5

ILL-TREATMENT OF BRITONS

VICHY AUTHORITIES IN WEST AFRICA MEN FROM TORPEDOED SHIP (Rec. 6.30 p.m.) LONDON, October 12. Four English youths, who were seamen in a ship torpedoed in tire Atlantic, have reached Scotland after four months in a Vichy concentration camp. They are all under 20 years of age. “We and seven others in a life-boat were cast ashore in French West Africa,” said one. “Native police kept us in grass-covered huts throughout the tropical rainy season. Life was absolute misery. Our diet consisted of bread, rice and water and occasionally goat’s meat. We bartered clothing for scraps of food smuggled into the camp. Native troops kicked us and butted us with the ends of their rifles when we complained. “Four of us escaped and followed the railway for several miles to the coast. We found a canoe and waited for more moderate seas. A French padre found and fed us, but native police arrived and marched us back to the camp. Our punishment was to carry water for four days, hatless in the blazing sun. The strain was too much and we were sent to hospital. We were finally taken to the frontier in a lorry and dumped on British territory.” The youths added that conditions in West Africa generally were very bad. Food was scarce. Bread was rationed and butter, cheese and wine were unobtainable. The Germans had worked the people up to expect a British invasion. The police and military were anti-British. The total number of Britons imprisoned in French Guinea was 42, from two ships. 15 DAYS IN OPEN BOAT (Rec. 8.55 p.m.) LONDON, October 13. Nineteen of 22 U-boat victims landed at Keeraun, near Clifden, after sailing more than 1000 miles in 15 days in an open boat. Three died of exposure. The life-boat was beached in high seas and fishermen waded out and carried the survivors ashore. Nine were taken to hospital. The survivors had one biscuit daily after they were torpedoed.