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SCENES OF ENTHUSIASM GERMAN MINES EXPLODED MEN TAKEN TO HOSPITAL (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, Feb. 18 H.M.S. Cossack and over 300 British sailors rescued from the Altmarck came home in triumph yesterday with an escort of Royal Air Force aeroplanes, which had been responsible in the first place for locating the prison ship, and which co-operated with the warships throughout. During the passage from Norway to Leith the aeroplanes sighted four German mines directly in the path of the Cossack, and exploded two with their machine-guns. A destroyer disposed of the other pair. A great crowd had assembled at Leith and provided a mighty welcome. The majority of the men from the Altmarck were taken to hospital in a fleet of waiting ambulances. Fifty of the British ex-captives are suffering from stomach trouble owing to the bad food during their three months’ imprisonment, and several of the sailors of H.M.S. Cossack were . wounded in the hand-to-hand fight- ' ing with the Germans. Immediately the boarding party got on board the Altmarck firing broke out on both sides, and Mr J. J. Smith, the gunner, who was in charge of one of the parties, was severely wounded.
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Waikato Times, Volume 126, Issue 21042, 19 February 1940, Page 7
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199WELCOME HOME Waikato Times, Volume 126, Issue 21042, 19 February 1940, Page 7
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