GERMAN DESERTERS

Evening Star, Issue 23375, 19 September 1939, Page 8

GERMAN DESERTERS

OPPONENTS OF NAZI REGIME NO DESIRE TO RETURN HOME [Pan United Press Association.] AUCKLAND, September 19. Three ship deserters, one Britisher and two Germans, came before the Police Court to-day. > William Hill (30), an engineer, admitted having deserted from the ship Napier Star on June 27. The Police said he was anxious to return to England, but no ship was available. “ I would like to join one of the services here. I’m an engineer,” said HiU. Mr Levien, S.M.: It is rather difficult to open up the court as a recruiting agency. You will be sentenced to 21 days’ imprisonment. SHADOW OF CONCENTRATION CAMP. Rudolf Schmueser (19) and Paul Breur (19) appeared on remand, charged with deserting from the German vessel Dortmund at Auckland on April 12. Counsel (Mr F. H. Haig) said Schmueser formerly lived with his parents in Hamburg. His' father had been in a concentration camp for two years because he was a Social Democrat .and was opposed to the Nazi regime. Breur, also a member of the Social Democrat Party, was told that bn his return to Germany he would go to a concentration camp because he was found asleep while on watch. Both men could return to their employment at the Glen Afton and Rotowaro mines. The Collector of Customs said he was instructed by the department to ask that both Germans be deported and held in prison in the meanwhile. Mr Levicn said but for their youth he would deal with them as he had dealt with other deserters. He.thought the best way would be to convict them and order them to come up for sentence if called upon within two years. They must understand, he added, that while they remained in New Zealand they must be of good behaviour, or they would be dealt with.