NAZI CLAIMS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 200, 23 August 1940, Page 3

NAZI CLAIMS.

"WARSHIPS OVERSEAS" NOT HEARD OF SINCE JULY 28. ALCANTARA'S ENCOUNTER. The existence of raiders in "overseas waters" was asserted in German official communiques in July. On July 14 a sentence in the day's communique read: , "One of our warships reports the sinking of 18,500 registered tons of enemy merchant shipping in overseas waters." And on July 18 it was asserted that "German warships operating in overseas waters sank an additional 30,000 registered tons of enemy shipping." The nature and whereabouts of these "warships" immediately became the subject of speculation; but on July 21 it wae officially announced from London that an eneniy commerce-raider was operating in the Atlantic and had sunk two ships, King John (5228 tone) and Davisian (0433 tons), in the .region of the West Indies. It was believed to be a converted merchantman. When it attacked the King John it was flying the Swedish flag. It began to shell the King John immediately. The captain, chief officer and some wounded men were made prisoners; the others of the crew , drifted four days in an open boat before being rescued. Designed for the Job. In London one speculation was that the raider might be similar to the notorious Altmark, which was designed for preying on commerce. Germany was stated to have five vessels of the type, capable of high speed. These were the Dittmarschen. Ermland, Franken, Samland and Westerwald. More news of the raider came on August 1, when it wae announced that the German had encountered the British armed merchant steamer Alcantara at Trinidad Island, 700 miles east of Brazil. The German Was caught refuelling. Both (hips were damaged in the engagement, but the German escaped, and the Alcantara put into Rio de Janeiro for repairs, which were completed within a week. A more precise description of the raider was published at the time. Her tonnage was estimated at 8000-9000, she had a dark-coloured hull, one straight funnel and two straight masts with topmasts. She mounted four guns, which were thought to be 5.9'5. Berlin described her as an auxiliary cruiser. The engagement occurred on July 28. Since that date nothing has been heard of the German. No British ships have been reported sunk by any surface vessel. One speculation was that after she escaped, the Alcantara she made for a South American port for repairs. If so, she has not been publicly reported. It is possible, of course, that she was able to do her own repairs, and that, having made that part of. the Atlantic too hot for herself, she steamed elsewhere.