LATE NEWS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24227, 20 February 1940, Page 10

LATE NEWS

TRACING THE ALTMARCK PILOT’S THRILLING STORY LONDON, Feb. 19. (Received Feb. 20, at 2 a.m.) An R.A.F. pilot tells a thrilling story of his part in the Altmarck’s interception. Three planes set out early on the Friday morning with the tracing of the vessel as their assigned duty. They took up station patrolling northward from Tie south of Norway, well outside territorial waters. When the ship was sighted the three planes flew up to her at a height of 1000 feet, and, diving low over the stern, read the Hame “Altmarck.” The planes returned home after an eight-hour flight, during which they encountered no enemy craft. Most of the Altmarck’s prisoners have returned to their homes all over the country. At the London stations great crowds gathered to meet them, and sang rollicking sea songs as they awaited the arrival of the trains. When they arrived they were loudly cheered, and relatives ran out to greet them. Some are still being treated in the Edinburgh Hospital for ailments caused by the bad food and unhealthy conditions. GERMAN BRUTALITY LATEST POLISH VICTIMS PARIS, Feb. 19. (Received Feb. 19, at 2 a.m.) The latest Polish victims of German brutality are Professor Chrzanowski, aged 74, of Cracow University, who was done to death in Oranienburg prison camp, and Professor Sobieski, of Poznan, who succumbed . to pneumonia after travelling in a cattle truck in the depth of winter. Six other Cracovian professors died in prison camps. EVACUATION OF NANNING PERSISTENT REPORTS HONGKONG, Feb. 19. (Received Feb. 20, at 2 a.m.) Reports that the Japanese are evacuating Nanning persist. It is stated that the Japanese have concentrated on the Kwantung coast, awaiting transports, scores of which, loaded to capacity, have sailed. The Chinese claim that they are turning withdrawal into a rout. Japanese dead and wounded have been abandoned on the roadside with an endless line of wrecked trucks.