NAZI PLEDGES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 83, 8 April 1940, Page 7

NAZI PLEDGES.

NORWEGIAN VESSELS. Promise Easily Given And Soon Broken. OUTRAGE BY U-BOAT. British Official Wireless. (Received 1.30 p.m.) RUGBY, April 7. "Norwegian vessels on the voyage from Britain with coal or other similar cargo will not be attacked by German naval forces unless in convoy, but may be examined." This was one promise by Vice-Admiral Schmiewindt to Mr. M. T. Halvorsen, who visited Germany on February 21 on behalf of the Norwegian .Shipowners' Association and 'who was authorised by the admiral to acquaint the Norwegian Minister in Berlin with the promise. In the early hours of Saturday the Norwegian steamer Navarra, 2118 tons, carrying coal from Swansea to Oslo, illuminated and with nationality marks painted large on her sides, sailing alone and on the ordinary course, was torl>odoed without warning by a German submarine. The Navarra sank in two minutes. All ollicen* ami nine of the crew were killed. The L-boat stood by watching the men from one lifeboat struggling in the water after the boat capsized in launching, but made no effort to render any assistance. The remaining lifeboat was left many miles from land and the occupants were rescued by a Finnish steamer which was guided to the lifeboat by a British patrolling aircraft. It i* suggested here that one can only hope for the sake of the tradition of the future Germ&u sailors that the reason for the U-boat officers' conduet can be explained in the words of the German captain of the Columbus, who said of the scuttling of his fine vessel, "But —orders are orders." Scandinavian Press Reactions. Extracts from the Norwegian and Swedish Press reflects appreciation of those countries of the necessity for increasing the severity of the Allied economic measures against Nazi Germany. The Bergen "Morgen Arisen." reacting to the latest German attacks on Norwegian vessels, writes: "The Norwegian Government ought to let the German Government understand that we may Ik> forced to revi-e the whole of our stoixlpoint to Germany, including commerce and passage questions, if some arrangement is not arrived at which improves conditions." The Stockholm "Tidningeii" interprets Mr. Churchill'* new position as proof that "Britain is to act with full determination and will exploit her vast. resources. We have no reason to expect a British attack, but we must be prepared for strong pressure and trade restriction." The "Social Demokratcn" pertinently observes: "One wonders why Britain should observe rules systematically broken by Germany." It adds: "Pessimists predict that the war will last five vears. but it is possible that the tremendous Allied effort will crush Germany economically sooner than many think."