COMMERCE RAIDERS’ ACTIVITIES

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 208, 29 May 1940, Page 10

COMMERCE RAIDERS’ ACTIVITIES

Only An Annoyance NAVAL PROTECTION OF TRADE ROUTES (British Oflicial Wireless.) (Received May 28, 7.5 pan.) RUGBY, May 27. Naval experts, commenting on the German Admiral Lutzow’s claim that the mines recently found off the coast of South Africa were laid by a commerce raider, while dismissing a further claim that eight ships and two mine-sweepers have been lost in this area as being totally untrue, agree that the actions of commerce raiders either by mine-laying, torpedo, bomb or gunfire can cause considerable annoyance and inconvenience, but can have no lasting effect on the conduct of the war.

The issue of the present war, they state, will depend on supplies of raw material, and the Power that controls the trade routes will win iu the end. Many campaigns have been won and lost at a scene many hundreds of miles from the battle area. STRANGE CONVOY Capture And Salvage Of German Steamer (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, May 27. The latest addition to Canada’s destroyer flotilla, the Assiniboine, while on patrol with a British warship in the Caribbean Sea, sighted the German steamer Hannover (5600 tons). The German vessel had been set on fire by the time the two ships reached it, and the problem of keeping it afloat was solved by the larger warship taking the captured vessel in tow while the Assiniboine, keeping to windward, ran alongside with a battery of hoses playing. For five days, as a result of fine seamanship, this strange convoy was brought through plunging seas to Kingston (Jamaica). The captain of the cruiser paid a warm tribute to the value of the work done by the Assiniboine, “without whose assistance it is most unlikely that the German ship would have been saved.” Great credit is due to the commanding oflicer, who showed initiative and ability and handled his ship with great skill throughout the operation. FRENCH AMBASSADORS Appointments Announced (Rceived May 28, 7.5 p.m.) PARIS, May 27. M. Ormesson, political editor of “Figaro,” has been appointed Ambassador to the Vatican; M. Coulondre, Ambassador to Switzerland; M. Delabaume, Ambassador to Spain; M. Daumale, Consul-General in New York; and M. Deiaforcade, Minister ir Dublin. CAPTURED ALLIED OFFICERS Nazis Withdraw Privileges (British Official Wireless.> (Received May 28, 7.5 p.m.) RUGBY, May 27. The German military spokesman in Berlin has announced that Germany has withdrawn special privileges accorded to Allied officers taken prisoner, including the customary right to receive the salute, because of “undignified treatment” meted out to German officers who are prisoners in the Allied countries. It is authoritatively stated in London that the German officers who are prisoners of war in Britain are given all rights and treated with every courtesy.