BELGIAN OFFICER

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 85, Issue 31, 6 February 1941, Page 8

BELGIAN OFFICER

ESCAPE FROM GERMANS ADVENTURES IN EUROPE HOPES OF SERVING AGAIN. AUCKLAND, Feb. 5. A fruitless air journey to rejoin his regiment in invaded Belgium and subsequent adventures when escaping from the Germans were described byCaptain Julien J. Grunberg, a Belgian Army officer, who arrived from Los Angeles by the California Clipper on Sunday. Prior to the invasion of Belgium Captain Grunberg was in Alexandria. He is now returning there and, after attending to business interests, hopes to join the Allied forces. When Belgium was invaded Captain Grunberg, a member of the Belgian Army reserve of officers, immediately flew to Paris. He then made his way to Calais and later to Ostend, but the Belgian Army collapse occurred before he could rejoin his regiment. He returned down the coast and after being in Dunkirk during the evacuation, escaped with others in a motor-boat to Brittany. Across the Pyrenees. Captain Grunberg then went to the south of France, where he assisted in an attempt to reorganise the Belgian Army. The capitulation of France then occurred and the demobilisation of the Belgians and their return to Belgium were ordered by the Germans. Through a technicality Captain Grunberg was not sent back and found himself more or less at liberty in unoccupied France. Aided by smugglers he crossed the Pyrenees on foot and escaped into Spain. Although many escaped in this way, Captain Grunberg said yesterday that there were thousands of people in southern France, holding visas, particularly for the United States, who were not allowed to leave the country owing to German pressure. Joined a British Pilot. In Spain Captain Grunberg joined an escaping Royal Air Force pilot

and, without much difficulty, they secured a motor-car and travelled to Portugal. In Lisbon they joined a vast crowd o£ refugees, some of whom had escaped from four countries in succession, always managing to keep clear of the invading Germans. The plight of many of these people was desperate, but Portugal had done much to assist them. Large numbers had gone to Brazil, but many others were unable to do so and were haunted by the fear that' Germany might invade Spain and Portugal in turn. On November 19 Captain Grunberg left for the United States, and his adventures for the time being ceased. His great hope now is that he will be able to do something to assist the Allied cause when he reaches Egypt. Captain Grunberg left for Sydney on Monday morning by the Awarua.