Mine Blamed By Germans

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 209, 5 September 1939, Page 8

Mine Blamed By Germans

ATHENIA'S LOSS

British Reply Says None In That Area

STATEMENT IN HOUSE

(United Press Association.—Copyright.— Rer. 0.30 a.m.)

LONDON, September 4

Captain James Cook, master of the British liner Athenia, in a wi eless message, reported that hi;i ship had been torpedoed 250 miles west of Inistrahull, an island off the Northern Ireland coast. He added that the passengers and crew, with the exception of those killed by the explosion of the torpedo, had taken to the boats, and were being picked up by various ships.

The Athenia, of 13,581 tons, carrying 1400 passengers and crew, left Liverpool on Saturday for Quebec and Montreal. The American Embassy in London states that there were 314 Americans aboard, 104 of whom embarked at Liverpool, 145 at Glasgow and 65 at Belfast.

The German radio promptly denied that the Athenia had been sunk by a German submarine, and asserted that such action would be against strict orders." It was asserted from Germany that the liner had struck a mine.

In reply to the German denial of responsibility, the Ministry of Information announced that there were no mines where the Athenia sank. The statement charged Germany "with direct contravention of the rules of warfare in sinking the Athenia."

The First Lord of the Admiralty, Mr. Winston Churchill, announced in the House of Commons, that reports "indicate that the Athenia was torpedoed without warning." The Athenia was in no way an auxiliary. He hoped the convoy system would soon be in operation.

The fortunate escape of the survivors does not alter the fact that open boats 200 miles from land cannot be regarded as legal objects of attack." added Mr. Churchill.