Twelve captive American G.I.s freed yesterday by Cambodian Prince Norodom Sihanouk were released to Australian today and will fly here iater in the day on the first leg of their journey home, it was announced. One of the freed soldiers was a Hoosier. A spokesman for the Australian Department of External Affairs said the 12 Americans 11 held since last July 17 I and one since Nov. 27 had handed over to Australian Ambassador to Cam-ljodia Noel Dechamp yester- day afternoon.
He said the men were fed and quartered by Dechamo at the ambassador’s Phnom Penh residence and were immediately scheduled aboard the Air Vietnam flight 680 to Bangkok. SIHANOUK freed the G.I.s as a “tolerant” Christmas gesture from his Buddhist country to “Christian1 America” without obtaining the various ransoms or apologies he had demanded of the United States. The Indiana serviceman is Army Sgt. Harold D. Sims, 24 years old, Alamo.
Sihanouk, the Cambodian chief of state, announced the release at two news conferences. He said he had received a. message from President Johnson through the French government asking for 6 Cambodia yesterday announced release of 12 American prisoners of war. Eleven of the men were captured last July when their river patrol boat strayed into Cambodian waters. The other’ was captured when his helicopter was downed in Cambodia.
Part of the group, shown last month in Phnom Penh, include Ralph W. McCulIough, -Columbus, Winfred D. Duluth, Floyd A. Wilmoth, Yadkin-ville, N.C.; Lee E. Oakland, Terry B.
Kramer, Wauzeka, Harold D. Simms, Alamo, Harley M. Cassel, Danville, Va. Donald E. Price, Columbus, Klaus Zupp, White Plains, N.Y.; John Chevalier, Jersey City, N.J., and Donald E.
Grigsby, Springfield, O. Others in the picture are not identified. (AP Wirephoto) 5 sp light, enough to let these soldiers return home for this holiday,” Sihanouk said. Freed Hoosier POW To See Son 1st Time step happy ill IMV Air Step silhouettes The shoes that have it. Lilting new lines stemming from higher, sh’rnjmer heel heights.
Toes exuberantly trimmed. Sublime patent shine reflecting, too, their outstanding performance and famous fit. Left, Circlet in bone, pink or light blue patent, 20.00 Lucerne, right, in black patent with buckle, outlined in golden tone, 10.00 nDerauon or the servicemen. At the first news conference he criticized Mr. Johnson for not sending him a “personal message” but at the second conference he said the message had been received.
“We Cambodians are sensitive to courtesy,” Sihanouk said. “We will give satisfaction to President Johnson. We will also free the airman because it is the French government which, by intervening for Washington in this affair, has permitted us to maintain our dignity.” Cambodia contended it seized the landing craft because it intruded into its territory. SIHANOUK said he believed the United States had shown lack of interest in the life or death of its imprisoned men. “But as a Buddhist I wanted to show Christian America, which has made us pass so many blood and sweat-streaked Christmases and which will certainly continue to harass us despite, my gesture, that we are tolerant In Washington, the White House said President was “delighted” about the release of the men in Cambodia.
