§ Mr. Flemingasked the First Lord of the Admiralty whether the U-boat captain who recently wirelessed to him was in British custody on 30th September?
§ Mr. ChurchillI am much obliged to the hon. Member for putting down this question. I was informed by competent authorities that the facts were as stated by me and that the officer who sank the "Firby" had been made prisoner. Subsequent examination of the U-boat prisoners of war in our custody at the present time has not, however, confirmed this first assumption.
On the other hand, the statement of the German broadcast that the officer who sent the message was the same officer who sunk the "Celebes" is erroneous. No such ship exists on the British register.