POLICE WOUNDED IN HOT PURSUIT OF ITALIAN TRAWL SHIP

DUBROVNIK, Jan 5 (Hina) - As freak storms caused havoc with sea traffic in south Croatia yesterday, an Italian ship caught illegally fishing braved storms and stealthily escaped from a marina at Korcula island where it was being held. When the ship was caught two weeks ago, a police court judge ordered the trawler and all its fishing equipment to be confiscated but forgot to insist on police custody. Since no one happened to be guarding the ship, the crew seized the opportunity and sailed off in haste for the Italian border. A police ship was quickly on its tail but calls of "freeze!" light signals and shooting in the air fell on deaf ears. The two ships sailed side by side for two hours but storms and gale force winds meant police couldn't board the incriminated vessel - one policeman was even injured in his devotion to duty. The police ship chased the offenders as far as the Italian border but then had to turn back. (hina) jn as sd 051534 MET jan 95