BRUTAL ATTACK BY U-BOAT

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 22907, 2 January 1940, Page 8

BRUTAL ATTACK BY U-BOAT

SHIP SHELLED AT CLOSE RANGE

USKMOUTH'S FATE AFTER DODGING TORPEDOES

. (BBITTSB OFFICIAL OTIBELCSS.) (Received December 30, 12.40 p.m.) • RUGBY, December 29. The full story has now been revealed of the sinking in the Bay of Biscay of the British steamer Uskmouth, which, after dodging three torpedoes fired without warning, was fired upon by a U-boat from close range in circumstances which constitute one of the most brutal attacks on a merchantman ever made, even by German submarines The naval authorities attribute the fury displayed by the crew of the U-boat to the annoyance felt at the loss of three torpedoes, for a submarine can carry only a limited number, and the journey back to the bases for supplies is both long and hazardous.

It was nearly 11 o'clock Qn a clear night when the officer on watch saw a torpedo'track passing close ahead of the ship. The Uskmouth's helm was at once put over, and as the ship was swinging, the track of a second torpedo passed close to the bows. Then, as the Uskmouth was still swinging under her helm, the track of a third torpedo was seen. This passed astern of the Uskmouth. The prompt use of her,helm had enabled the merchant ship to dodge three torpedoes which were fired without warning, but she was not to escape. The U-boat opened fire with her guns at a range of only about 300 yards. Not only did the U-boat begin shelling while the crews of the Uskmouth were getting to the boats, but the Germans fired high and used shrapnel. The U-boat captain appeared determined to cause as many casualties as possible among the defenceless merchant seamen. Men Killed by Shellfire

The port lifeboat was damaged by shellfire. A shell cut one of the falls of the boat and the boatswain, who was in this boat getting it ready for lowering, was thrown into the sea. Another shell, bursting over the upper deck, killed the third officer and one of the seamen. The chief officer tried to go to the aid of the fallen men, but another shell burst overhead and wounded him in the head. Meanwhile, the remainder of the crew succeeded in lowering a starboard boat and getting into it. Blinded with blood, the wounded chief officer just succeeded in reaching this boat. That lifeboat, with 22 men on board, pulled away from the ship while the submarine continued shelling. Not only had the U-boat deliberately set herself to inflict casualties on the Uskmouth's crew as they were abandoning the ship, but at no time was any attempt made to ensure the safety of those in the lifeboats. They were left to fend for themselves in an open boat 120 miles from land. By magnificent seamanship the lifeboat was sailed nearly 120 miles at a speed of nearly six knots, and it actually sighted land before being picked up by the Italian motor-ves-sel Juventus. Before abandoning the Uskmouth the wireless operator succeeded in getting out SOS signals. These were picked up by a French warship about 85 miles away. It dashed at full speed for the position given, and found the boatswain of the Uskmouth alive in the water. The warship did not stop at once to pick him up, for there was a good chance of being able to sink the U-boat. It therefore dropped a raft close to the man, and rushed on to attack the U-boat. After doing so the French warship returned and picked the man up.

GERMAN CONTROL OF SHIPPING

DISSATISFACTION FELT BY NEUTRALS

RUGBY, December 30.

Information reaching shipping circles in London from neutral sources shows evidence of dissatisfaction at the methods employed by the German Navy in dealing with neutral shipping and at the subsequent decisions of the German Prize Courts. Neutral newspapers have already commented on the circumstances in which Swedish ships were appropriated by the Hamburg Prize Court, and it was recently reported that-of 165,000 tons of Swedish shipping, comprising about 38 vessels, all but three had neutral destinations. Seventeen of these ships were loaded with timber for Belgium or Holland, and for which the Belgian or Dutch Government had given guarantees of neutral destinations. It is also reported that nearly half the Latvian vessels which were detained on October 16 were still held two months later, while they, in common with all neutral shipping detained by Germany, were required to pay harbour dues.

UNARMED TRAWLER ATTACKED

RUGBY, December 29. On returning to Fleetwood to-day, the skipper of an unarmed trawler, the Adam, reported that the vessel had been bombed and machinegunned by Nazi seaplanes while on its way to the fishing grounds..The trawler, with a crew of 12, was steaming along when the seaplanes appeared. The skipper said: "We saw two aeroplanes coming towards us. At first we thought they were British. They landed on the sea a short distance from us, and then one took off, and after circling us, dropped bombs and swept us with machine-gun fire. The firing was not accurate, and none of the bombs found their mark. Our ship was not seriously damaged,' and no one was. hurt.

"After about 10 minutes the planes flew off in an easterly direc : tion."