Evening star., 1942-06-11

today with the War Departments
announcement Of list of 20 officers
and LOG enlisted men of the Navy
held by the Japanese at Zentsuji,
Shikoku Island. Japan.
The local men on the list are:
1t. Comdr. Samuel Arthur New
man, 2440 Sixteenth street NV.
Ensign Frank Wolfsheimer, 3700
Massachusetts, avenue NV.
Walter John Cook, aerographer
first class, 1904 Nineteenth street
NV.
The names of Comdr. Newman
and Ensign Wolfsheimer appeared
on the Navy Departments first list
of men believed prisoners OF the
Japanese, released in mid-February.
They had been serving at Guam
when the Japs struck at the United
States last December.
Cook Helped Defense War.
Mr.. Cook took part in the gallant
defense of Wake Island. His wife,
Mrs. Dorothy Cook, an employe Of
the Bureau of Internal Revenue. last
heard from him early in April by
way of a shortwave radio message
from Toxic, which was picked up
by an amateur radio station opera
tor in Las Vegas, New.
Ensign Wolfsheimers mother,
Mrs. Rena Wolfsheimer, heard from
him only few days ago by way of
a short wave radio message inter-
cepted on May % and forwarded by
the War Department. The young
naval officers message home read:
This is Frank WolfaSheimer. en-
sign, Civil Engineering Corps, United
States Naval Reserve. formerly sta
toned in Guam This message is
addressed to my mother, Mrs. R.
Wolfsheimer, the Hechingers, the
Neys and the rest OF my family in
Washington. D. C. If any friends
of mine or of theirs hear this mes
sage, please relay it to one of them.
I am we'll fed and in good health in
Japan. We are being detained at
a war prisoners camp in Southern
Japan The temperature here is
much the same as in Washington,
D. c. This was, of course, quite a
change from Guam. The japanese
authorities, however. provided us
with warm bedding and overcoats.
We had to leave most of our per-
sonal belongings in Guam.
I'VE are being treated according
to international law and you need
not fear for our eventual safe re-
turn home. I sincerely hope that
all at home are in the best of health.
If the Red Cross would send us
books sweets and shoes We would
greatly appreciate them. We all
hope for a speedy end to hostiliites
so that We may return to our
homes. I wish to thank Radio To-
kio for the privilege of using their
| facilities in an effort to contact
my family. Once more 1 repeat I
hope every one at home is we'll
Have no fears for our safety. We
hope to be home at the end of hos
tilities. That is all for the time be-
ing. Love, to. o.. This is Frank
Wolfsheimer, ensign. Civil Engineer
| lIlk SOl 10, OllllCd iva al 1lC-
serve Of washington, D. c., signing
of from Radio Tokio.'
Message Unverified.
The War Department, when send
ing the communication to Mrs.
Wolfsheimer, pointed out that it lis
unable to verify the contents of this
message or that the person men,
toned therein was not acting under
| duress."
The last word received by Comdr
Newman's wife from her husband
came by way of a Short-wave radio
message to his father in Texas,
which was picked up by listener
in Seattle in the middle of May.
Mrs. Newman is certain the mes
sage was sent by her husband be-
cause he mentioned a letter he
mailed before the war, inviting his
father to spend Christmas in Guam,
Comdr. Newman also got mes
sage through to his wife about
three weeks before the Nays an
nouncement that he was among
| those believed to be prisoners, tell
ing her he was in the hands of the
Japanese. The 42-year-old officer
and his wife had come to Wash
ington about a year before this from
Pittsburgh, where Comdr. Newman
was an oil company. executive be-
fore being recalled to active duty
at the Navy Department.
He was sent to sea last July and
had been serving as engineer super
visor of naval construction at Guam
since September, 1941, when the
Japanese attacked the island. A
native of Texas City, Tex. Comdr
Newman had been in the Navy in
the last war and was president of
his Naval Reserve unit in Pitts
burgh when he was recalled to ac-
! tive service.
r -