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TAKEN PRISONERPERTH YOUTH’S EXPERIENCES Rescue in Italian Somaliland.A graphic narrative of wartime experiences was Riven yesterday by Bruce Logan, of Nedlands. a youth of 18 years, who has returned home after having been a prisoner of war. A former pupil of Perth Boys’ School, he left this State last September as deck-boy on a merchant ahlp. hoping to Join the Royal Navyin Britain. Hr Is a former State Junior tennis champion. On his ship were 12 Australians and a large number of Frenchmen who were going overseas to Join General de Gaulle's forces.’’About midnight, seven days after leaving here.” he said. ”a raider, the j motor vessel Atlantis, opened fire on our j ahlp. and fired 45 shells, some pom-pom shells and machine-guns at us. We got into the lifeboats, suffering only three casualties. The raider turned search-1 lights on and picked us up after officers had called out. Come aboard, you English swine; see how we treat the English ships.” On the raider there were about 300 Germans, about 200 white prisoners and 100 Lascars.”The officers were not too bad. They separated the whites from the blacks, but the food was terribly short. The raider i used telescopic masts and funnels and seemed to change its nationality dally We were on board about six week*. The raider would stop its engines for a week and Just drift, apparently to save oil fuel. We then travelled north for a time.-When near Batavia the raider picked up a signal that a Yugoslav ship was coming In for coal It was half a day out. The raider caught her and placed a prize crew aboard and it was arranged that the raider would pick up the prize In three days. This rendezvous was kept and about 200 prisoners were placed on board the Yugoslav ship. We were placed In two forward holds and had to live on top of loose salt. Rats nearly drove us mad. There were machine-guns on the bridge and we were told that time bombs were set in the ship and that If we did anything, the ship would be sunk in three minutes. We told the crew that they would go down with us If the bombs went off. but they- replied that It was an honour to die for the only man that counted. HiUer.'-We travelled on this ship for a month, doing about four knots an hour. We received only half a cup of water a day through the tropics and we soon became very weak. Our breakfast consisted of a part plate of ’porridge’—lumpy flour In hot water, with a touch of cocoa added to colour It. The dinner ration was three-quarters of a plate of beans. A spoonful of jam. or a square of cheese and a piece of bread was the tea ration. There were only 50 plates and 50 spoons for over 200 f us. so we took It In turn* to cat. Finally, the ahlp ran aground about 40 miles north of Mogdishu. capital of Italian Somaliland.“We were told to go towards the shore and watch for a torch flash, but It was nearly five hours before we eventually landed. We were then collected by an Italian officer and some soldiers and taken to mud huts. F«»r the first night we had to sleep on the dirt floors, practically without clothes. The next day we were fitted out In Italian uniforms. Our captor floated off and moved away to Mogdishu. We had a French stewardon board when we left Fremantle andwhen we were taken aboard the raider he quickly changed Into German uniform after having riven his salute. He was a German and possibly gave us away after leaving Fremantle.The South African troops, aided by the Royal Air Force, soon took Italian Somaliland. TO let our own troops know where the nrisoners were we hoisted a Union Jack, and French and Yugoslav flags. Three men died in this camp because of bad treatment and dysentery. The hospital was filthy and we were told that we must not complain as we were prisoners of war. Finally, the Italian commander and his guards cleared out one night and the next day a British officer and some soldiers took charge of••just after we landed In the prison
Newspaper Details
Perth West Australian
Perth, Western Australia, AU
Sat, May 24, 1941
Page 5
Full Page
Clipped by
Carolyn L.
