Captive Dies of Wounds In Hospital Amsterdam, Jan. 10.
The official German news agency claims that the Germans yesterday captured the first British officer to fall into their hands on the Western Front. The officer, who was wounded, is said to have died later of his injuries in hospital. The agency says he was left behind after a reconnaissance by British troops.
The German claim is confirmed by Reuter's special correspondent with the British Expeditionary Forces in France, who reports that a young officer of an English county regiment in a sector of the Maginot Line front was missing yesterday. He adds that this is the first officer casualty suffered by the British Maginot force—Reuter. jured are now in hospital, gravely ill with bullet and splinter wounds.
Reasons for the Admiralty's reticence over certain items of news were disclosed today, writes Reuter's naval correspondent. German radio broadcasts frequently make claims of sinkings with the hope of provoking replies which might give them some information of value. For instance, a few days ago a German announcer asked: "Where is the Exeter?" and implied that the cruiser—one of the three which fought the pocket-battleship Admiral Graf Spee—had herself been sunk. This claim was undoubtedly made as a "feeler," for the Germans do not know where H.M.S.
Exeter is refitting. The British Ad miralty does not propose to be irritated into making a reply of the nature the Germans are seeking—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.