GERMAN AIR WAR AGAINST FISHERMEN.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 301, 21 December 1939, Page 7

GERMAN AIR WAR AGAINST FISHERMEN.

SHAMELESS CLAIMS.

Bombing- Of British "Light

Naval" Vessels.

MEN IN WATER TIRED ON.

Lnited Press Association.—Copyright,

(Received 11.30 a.m.)

J-OXDOX, December 20.

A High Command communique, issued in Berlin, says that, "as far as can be ascertained, four vessels belonging to the British light naval forces were destroyed with bombs during a German reconnaissance flight in the North Sea, which was carried out under most unfavourable weather. A large British flying boat was also brought down.

The German Air Force has destroyed 23 British patrol vessels during the past three days, including the trawlers Pearl, Evelina, Sedgefly and Trinity."

It is reported from Oslo that a German warplane bombed and sank the British trawler Trinity, which was fishing close to Norwegian territorial waters.

Survivors were found * clinging to planks by a Danish fishing boat. They said' that the Trinity had been blown to pieces and the crew machine-gunned while struggling in the water. One was injured by a bullet. Bombs killed none, but one was drowned and another died from exhaustion after the rescue.

A German bomber flying over the North Shetlands attacked six unarmed trawlers. One reached as island with two men dead and two wounded.

The total number of vessels attacked by air since last Sunday is 26.

The Cunard-White Star liner Samaria (19,597 tons), which left for America last Saturday, has returned following a collision in which damage was done to the bridge and some of the lifeboats. No passengers were injured.

STRICT SAFEGUARDS. Protection For Forces On Active Service. AUSTRALIAN REGULATIONS. (Received 10 a.m.) CANBERRA, this day. Stringent regulations to safeguard the employment of persons engaged in military service during the war were issued by the Federal Government. The regulations apply both to members of the militia undergoing extended training, and to persons who volunteer for overseas service. Men must get their civil jobs back after service and must receive any wage or salary increase to which they would have been entitled had they not enlisted.

An employer cannot dismiss an employee without reasonable cause within six months after reinstatement.