Evening star., 1942-10-13
Dutchmun
Continued From First Page.)

Silesian prison camp in eastern
Germany. From there he escaped
last spring and travelled on foot
completely around the bayonet-
guarded borders of the Bohemian
protectorate, through Saxony and
Bavaria into Switzerland, thence
across France, Spain and Portugal
to England, joining the Free Dutch
forces there.
Although he had a wife and three
children who were hostages in the
Hague, he departed Immediately fol-
the Netherlands Indies to join the
Colonial Army. AS an officer o1
native infantry in the area west oi
Solo, in Central Java, he met and
fought the Japs who landed nea,
Rembang. He is probably the only
officer thus far among the Allies who
has fought both the Germans and
japanese, surrendered to both, beer
captured by both and escaped from
both.
After several weeks in japanese
hands by means which he has not
diWlged. the young captain escaped
from camp and reached the shores
of Northwestern Java from the
Central Java prison camp. Being
slight, dark-skinned and black
haired, instead of brown and rosy
blond like most Dutchmen-even
though not an india boy or half
caste-the fugitive was able to pass
as a Javanese.
Joined Other Officers.
He joined forces with two other
white Dutch army officers, one OF
whom, who had amateur yachting
experience, managed to procure a
25-foot motorless open cockpit cat
boat. The Japs apparently had
discounted the possibility of any
escapes after Communicating small
boats, feeling secure because the
prevailing monsoon wind blows away
from the nearest point of Australian
coast, TOO miles distant.
The Dutch soldiers outwitted the
Nlpponese by heading their tiny
craft to Africa, across the waters OF
the Indian Ocean between MAZDA
gascar and Java, whose mastery
still is disputed among the Jap
American and British navies.
Sneaking past the great volcano
OF Krakatoa, where the U. S. S
Houston went down off Prinser
Island, and passing through Sunds
Straits, using a small steamship
chart torn from tourist booklet
the trio sailed more than 2,700 mile.
as the steamer plows and nearly
1000 miles actually, to make theil
first landfall. This was Rodrigue:
Island, speck about 200 miles cas-
of Mauritius and about 600 mile.
from Madagascar.
I'VE had never expected to max,
IT. said the Dutchman. candidly
THE wind drove US along at terrifi,
speed. Because the Jap patrols
were out along both the Javanes,
and Sumatran shores of Sunda, WI
could not make shore and hide b,
day. We had to sail straigh
through under their eyes in broat
daylight"
Rivaled Bigh's Trip.
The voyagers were fully aware O
starting of on trip rivaling Capt
Bligh's which, in elapsed sailin,
distance, would approximately equa
that from New York to Italy.
I'VE took along As days provi
sions-all we could carry. A few
miles south of Sunda heavy wine
suddenly snapped our mast in two
and carried away our sail. Up tt
then we had plenty of water caugh
in the tarpaulin from rains. Ther
we had to rig our tarpaulin with
blankets to make new sails. Ou,
greatest treasure was our ci1rono
meter and two sextants which
made up for the crudity of ou
single map"
The voyagers lived chiefly on ric.
boiled In rainwater over a small
power stove. Their only other foo,
was potatoes and corned beef. Wher
the dim outline of Rodriguez showed
over the bow of the gunwale, tn,
trio shook hands.
Partly in order that first-hant
knowledge of conditions in Java %,
known as widely as possible in tn
three chief centers of the refuge
government. one voyager started t,
America, another to England, tn,
third to Australia.
Icopyr.Sht, 1912, by chicsso Daily News.