NOT RELEASED

Stratford Evening Post, Volume II, Issue 227, 24 April 1933, Page 5

NOT RELEASED

THORNTON AND MacDONALD Copenhagen Rumour Discounted REMAINING BRITISHERS ARRIVE HOME Monkhouse Thinks MacDonaid was Hypnotised Press Association —Copyright London, April 22. —A rumour apparently emanating from Copenhagen was current that Thornton and Mac Donald, the two British engineers who were sentenced to imprisonment in Russia, were released, but the rumour was dfscoyered to be unfounded. The London office of Metropolitan-Vickers conversed by telephone with the others of the party on their arrival at Berlin but the rumour was not confirmed. The Soviet Embassy in London similarly knew nothing.

Those already deported crossed the frontier into Poland at Bialystok. Their first request on leaving the train was for a healthy meal. They then entrained for Warsaw.

Monkhouse, who was very pale, spoke emotionally. He could not understand the reason of his arrest, he said, and did not believe that any of his colleagues were guilty. "MacDonald's curious conduct beats me," he said. "I believe he was hypnotised. When 1 was examined I found the same glassy eyes always staring at me. I turned away, but MacDonald apparently succumbed to the hypnotic power." At Berlin Nazis overwhelmingly welcomed the homecoming engineers, declaring them comrades because the Nazis were similarly treated in Germany. "England at last,, thank God" was the Metropolitan-Vickcrs engineers' ejaculation on stepping ashore at Harwich.

Journalists swarmed round to get their impressions, .which Monkhouse aptly coitomised. "Our feelings on reaching England on St. George's Day," he said, "can better ba understood than expressed—but there are still Thornton and MacDonald left behind."

Each of the quartette mentioned with concern their two comrades still at Moscow, in whose interests comments on the trial were forbidden. There was a great cheering crowd in the street. Many women brought bouquets and there were moving reunions upon which the movie cameras were busy. The engineers were welcomed and congratulated on behalf of the company. The crowd broke into thp National Anthem and "For They Are Jolly Good Fellows." Nordwall's Russian wife seemed to be swept off her feet with the thrill of the scenes she witnessed.

Monkhouse on behalf of his companions paid a highly tribute to the effort of the British Embassy and the warm sympathy of the public. Monkhouse took the first opportunity of calling on Mrs. Thornton.