Nazis Sink French Refugee Ship

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 176, 26 July 1940, Page 7

Nazis Sink French Refugee Ship

HUNDREDS DEAD

" Callous Outrage" On Voyage From Britain

TORPEDO BOAT ATTACK

(United Press Association.—Copyright.— Kec. noon.)

LONDON, July 25

The First Lord of the Admiralty, Mr. A. V. Alexander, in the House of Commons announced that the enemy on Wednesday night torpedoed the French ship Meknes (6127 tons), which was one of a number used for the repatriation of French naval officers and men. There were nearly 1 300 on board.

The Meknes, which was flying the French flag and' had the French colours painted on the deck and sides, was fully illuminated. A German motor boat gave the passengers and crew five minutes to get off the ship. The Meknes tried to signal its name, but she was fired on at each attempt. She was then torpedoed and sank in four or five minutes. British naval units and aircraft were ordered to go to the scene immediately, and about 1 000 survivors are reported to have been saved. It is not known how many French lives were lost. It was a deliberate and callous attack, said the First Lord, and the number of dead may reach 300. Mr. Alexander added: "I have just heard that the German High Command admits responsibility for this sinking, because a Berlin communique to-day states that a German speedboat sank a 18,000-ton merchantman off Portland." He added that French representatives were informed of the intention to repatriate the men concerned before the Meknes sailed for Marseilles, and that special care had been taken to make the ship s neutrality apparent, and that even navigation lights were burning. Some 950 survivors of the Meknes were landed at Weymouth, of whom 150 were in a serious condition and were later taken to hospital. Survivors Tell Of Attack. Speaking of the torpedoing of the ship, a survivor aaid: "Several people were killed outright. We had barely time to launch the boats. Hundreds of men jumped overboard and clung to rafts until they were picked up." An officer who was on the bridge of the Meknes related that he heard motor engines and saw the wake of the strange vessel. Machine-guns immediately fired on the Meknes. which stopped and whistled to indicate that she had been hove-to. "Who are you? was signalled, and as there was no reply the Meknes signalled her name and nationality several times. The machine-gunning continued, after which heavier fire from a small-calibre gun rendered unseaworthy the port lifeboats. The Meknes was then torpedoed and soon sank. British warships landed French officers and men. One hundred and twenty officers and 41 men were sent to hospital. Nearly 1 00 survivors from a ship sunk in the English Channel were rescued by a warship which a Blenheim aircraft from the Coastal Command guided to the scene. A British official wireless message states that the Meknes had left Southampton for Marseilles and that the torpedoing occurred at 10.30 p.m. Mr. C. R. Attlee, Lord Privy Seal, stated that the War Cabinet would take steps to see that the French people were fully informed of the outrage.