NAZI FIEND

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 February 1940, Page 6

NAZI FIEND

CAPTAIN OF ALTMARCK CONFINEMENT IN ATROCIOUS CONDITIONS. DAYLIGHT NOT SEEN FOR THREE WEEKS. By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright. (Received This Day. 11.25 a.m.) LONDON, February 19. A former prisoner on the Altmarck, Mr R. Pittam, aged 39, of Okaihau, who was a trimmer and fireman on the Tairoa, has arrived in London. He said: “I am going to take the first ship to New Zealand and join up with the boys. It was hell on the Altmarck —47 of us in a small hold. The atmosphere was terrible. Once we did not see daylight for three weeks. The food was very poor. The captain was a fiend and would have scuttled the ship if the Navy had seen the Altmarck at sea. Then we would have drowned like rats in a trap. "The Norwegians must have heard the noise wb made at Bergen.” Mr Piltam had a night’s sleep in a hospital at Leith and received clothes and money. "I say God bless the British Navy,” he said. LEADER OF BOARDER’S OFFICER’S NAME DISCLOSED. (Received This Day. 11.50 a.m.) LONDON, February 19. It is learned that Lieutenant-Com-mander Bradwell Talbot Turner led the boarding party against the Altmarck. STILL AT IT NAZI PRESS IN FULL SONG. IN SPITE OF PAPER SHORTAGE. (Received This Day, 11.15 a.m.) COPENHAGEN. February 19. Despite the paper shortage, several extra pages are allotted to the German newspapers for the Altmarck story. The Press continues to use violent language against Britain. Conferences continue at the Chancellery in Berlin with the heads of the armed forces. The Altmarck’s fil'st officer alleges that prisoners and members of the boarding party stabbed and tore pictures of Hitler in the mess rooms. The captain of the Altmarck denies reports of ill-treathient. He declares that many of the prisoners thanked him before leaving. DR. HAMBRO’S CLAIM BRITAIN MISINFORMED. (Received This .Day. 11.15 a.m.) OSLO, February 19. Dr Hambro, President of the Norwegian Parliament, in an interview, said: “Lord Halifax’s Note is based on inaccurate information. I cannot say more until after a conference with the Foreign Ministry.” VISIT TO BERGEN DENIED BY NORWEGIAN MINISTER. RIGHT OF SMALL POWERS ASSERTED. (Received This Day.. 12.45 p.m.) OSLO, February 19.. The Minister of. Foreign Affairs (Mr H. Koht) denied British allegations that Britishers and others had been torpedoed in Norwegian waters. He said Lord Halifax believed that the Altmarck visited Bergen. This was untrue. Commenting on Lord Halifax’s statement that a technical infringement of Norwegian territoriality was not comparable with the fact that hundreds of prisoners were aboard the Altmarck under conditions not fit for a dog, Mr Koht declared: “It appears that Britain is of opinion thdt she can ignore ordinary international law as well as a small State whose only aim is to maintain its neutrality. Norway cannot base her rights on power but it was believed that the big Powers, as a matter of honour, would respect the rights of small as well as big States. We may have to bring the case before the League or some other tribunal.” NORWEGIAN CASE ALTMARCK A “STATE VESSEL.” NOT BOUND TO SUBMIT TO EXAMINATION. (Received This Day, 1.30 p.m.) OSLO, February 19. Mr Koht, in a statement to Parliament said the Altmarck had not called at any Norwegian port. A Norwegian torpedo boat stopped her outside Trondheim Fiord on February 14. The Altmarck’s captain awaited a formal visitation, although the Altmarck, being a State vessel, was not bound to submit to such procedure. (Mr Koht’s reference to a State vessel presumably means that the Altmarck is the property of the German Government. The captain of the torpedo boat. Mr Koht said, satisfied himself that the Altmarck was what she purported to be. He loft the ship after a perusal of her papers. The Altmarck’s captain informed the captain of the torpedo boat that the Altmarck had antiaircraft guns. The ship’s papers stated similarly. As the Bergen naval authorities did not think everything was properly clear another Norwegian warship met the Altmarck northward of Bergen. The Altmarck then refused inspection,” with full rights.” Mr Koht explained that the Altmarck’s captain did not use his wireless after he had been warned not to send messages. "The British knew beforehand what we did not know —that there were many prisoners aboard.” he said. After stating that the British attack on Ihe Altmarck gravely concerned Norway. Mr Koht referred to the German protest and emphasised the impossibility of two small torpedo boats opposing a strong British force. Sir Cecil Dormer, British Minister at Oslo, had tried to defend the British action, saying that the Altmarck used her'

wireless and had prisoners aboard, and also that Norway allowed U-boats to operate in Norwegian walers, sinking British merchantmen. Mi' Koht commented that there was no international rule forbidding lhe transport, of prisoners through a neutral area in so far as the navigation itself was not illegal. Mr Koht concluded: "We are certain that public opinion everywhere will judge the infringement of neutrality we have endured. Dr Hambi'o. amid general applause, said Parliament, and the people backed the Government. The Altmarck continues to dominate the Norwegian Press and also that of other neutrals. Holland shows little sympathy for Norway, but condemns lhe British action ns a breach of neutral rights.