BRITISH DIPLOMAT RAIDER SUNK

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 109, 10 May 1941, Page 9

BRITISH DIPLOMAT

RAIDER SUNK

REPATRIATION FROM ROME Rec. 11.30 a.m. ROME, May 9. Mr. Ronald Campbell, formerly British Ambassador at Belgrade, and his party, have arrived from Durazzo (Albania) and will await repatriation by a plane- via Lisbon. An official communique states that during daylight on Friday there was very little activity by enemy aircraft. No reports had been received that bombs had been dropped. A further communique states that this afternoon an enemy fighter was destroyed in the south-east df England. The cause of the destruction has not been ascertained.

FORMER HANSA LINER British Cruiser's Success In Indian Ocean United Press Association.—('i>]i.rrij[ht. Rec. 1.30 p.m. LONDON, May 9. It is officially announced that the British cruiser Cornwall has sunk a German commerce raider in the Indian Ocean. The Cornwall picked up 27 British prisoners and also 53 of the German crew. The Cornwall, which is commanded by Captain P. C. W. Mainwaring, suffered onlv superficial damage. The raider was a former Hansa Line vessel of about 10,000 tons, with a speed of about IS knots and was probably armed with 5.9 in guns, and equipped with torpedoes and minelaying devices. The crew numbered about 300. The object of having such a large company on the raider would be to provide prize crews for any captures she might make. H.M.S. Cornwall (10.000 tons), a cruiser of the Kent class, was'completed in 1928 and reconstructed during 1935-38. She carries eight Bin guns, eight 4in anti-aircraft guns, and 20 smaller guns. She also has three aircraft. Her speed is 34 knots.