OFFICERS HELD BY JEWS

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24910, 25 June 1946, Page 5

OFFICERS HELD BY JEWS

TWO MORE SAID TO BE FREED

ANONYMOUS TELEPHONE MESSAGE

(Rec. 7 p.m.) LONDON, June 23. A mysterious telephone caller notified Reuter’s Tel Aviv correspondent that two more of the kidnapped British officers»had been released. He added that one officer was still held by the Jewish “Irgun Zvai Leumi” organisation. It is officially stated in Jerusalem that there is no tangible proof of the report that two of the three British officers* still held as hostages by Jews have been freed. The secret radio of “Irgun Zvai Leumi’’ has threatened severe reprisals if death sentences are passed on the 30 Jews whose trial on charges of sabotaging railways and bridges last April opens on Monday. “We are unwilling to leave our soldiers to the mercy of the British hangman.” said the radio. “There is no price we are Dot ready to pay to save our brothers.” The broadcast accused Britain of breaking international rules of war. It denied that the release of the two kidnapped British officers was a sequel to the ultimatum broadcast to Irgun Zvai Leumi” by the Jewish resistance movement radio. “Irgun Zvai Leumi” said that this radio had no authority to give “Irgun Zvai Leumi” orders. “The officers were released on our own decision," it said. The two officers released on Saturday. Captain D. T. Rae and Flight Lieutenant T. A. Russell, told military headquarters that they were chained hand and foot for four days in a cellar in a Tel Aviv house. Flight Lieutenant Russell said that he was about to enter the officers’ club on June 18 two men rushed across the road anH forced him at the revolver point to enter the dub. in the dining-room of which he found officers and staff held up bv armed Jews. After a few irinutes the raiders gave orders, in Hebrew and left the room. Flight Lieutenant Russell imagining that the raid was over, moved towards an exit.. Two of the raiders prodded revolvers hi his back and ordered him to walk outside, where his cap was replaced with a white oanama and he was Pushed into a taxi holding four men. A fifth man i n and told Flight Lieutenant Russell: “Don’t worry, vou ore a gentleman and I am a gentleman You are being held as a hostage.”

The raiders tied Flight Lieutenant Russell’s hands behind his back and atouped the taxi after five minutes hear a small green lorry on which there was a large green crate with a hinged lid. Flight Lieutenant Russell Jras nut into the crato and there he found Captain Rae. who was gagged Jnth adhesive tape and bleeding from wounds. Several hours later Flight Lieutenant Russell and Captain Rae were dumped m a cellar. A man wearing a black mask ordered their bonds to be removed and replaced vfith chains on the grists and feet. There was nmole food In th? cellar and nightly at 8 o’clock the guard commander, who was invariably' masked, brought more food, m?d also, at Captain Rae’s request, a Bible and shaving gear. At 8.4-5 p.m. on June 21 the comJSffider entered and returned our pos■®®sions, except my identity card,” said

Flight Lieutenant Russell. “He gave an order and we were unchained. He pushed one Palestine pound into my pocket, saying that it was for wear and tear and any inconvenience suffered-. He insisted that I should take it and when I tried to give it to one of the guards he refused.” Flight Lieutenant Russell and Captain Rae were forced to wear dark goggles before they were escorted from the cellar to the taxi. A woman was in the taxi, which, the leader and three or four guards entered with Flight Lieutenant Russell and Captain Rae.' After 10 minutes the taxi stopped and they were told to get out, turn round until they heard the taxi being driven off, and count 200. The officers found themselves near the club where they were captured. Captain Rae. who was struck on the head during the raid, said that he pretended unconsciousness during the taxi journey to the lorry where Flight Lieutenant Russell found him. During their imprisonment the leader promised action against fhe man who assaulted Captain Rae. He gave Captain Rae a new shirt for his bloodstained one. Neither officer knew of the whereabouts of the other kidnapped officers.