THE SIMON BOLIVAR.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 60, Issue 35, 21 November 1939, Page 5

THE SIMON BOLIVAR.

INTERNAL EXPLOSION THEORY. GERMANS BLAME BRITISH MINE. LONDON, November 20. ‘ It is now believed that there were three explosions' on the Dutch liner Simon Bolivar, which was sunk on Saturday. One of these was in the engine-room, and this accords with the engineer’s statement thaiT one explosion seemed to blow the side of the. ship outwards. It was for this reason that members of the crew presumed that a time-bomb was responsible. The theory of an internal explosion is also supported by officers’ descriptions of the violent discharge of scalding steam and oil, which drenched the passengers’ cabins and saloons. The Berlin correspondent of the British United Press says all .the morning neAvspapers heatedly deny that Germany is guilty of the sinking of the Simon Bolivar. “Der Voelkischer Beobachter” says: “The suspicious haste Avith Avhich Mr Churchill unashamedly Germany clearly reveals that it was an English mine.”

NO COMMENT IN DUTCH PRESS. TRIBUTE EO BRITISH RESCUERS. (Received This Day, 12.5 p.m.) AMSTERDAM, November 20. The Netherlands press refrains from commenting on the Simon BoliA'ar disaster, but pays a tribute to rescue work, and speedy help by the British. The press prints fully the British statement that a German mine caused the disaster.