EMPRESS OF BRITAIN

Evening Star, Issue 23723, 2 November 1940, Page 11

EMPRESS OF BRITAIN

FORTY-FIVE LIVES LOST

SURVIVORS' EXPERIENCES

(British Official Wireleaa.)

RUGBY, November I,

(Received November 2, at 9.8 a.m).

Survivors from the Empress of Britain, which was destroyed ot sea. by enemy air action have now given details of the scenes when the ship was struck by a bomb.

A woman passenger said: “ 1 wa» coming out from the breakfast room, which was about four or five deck* down, just under the water level, when the bomb fell. We were against the outside wall of the ship, and we lay; down aa ordered. Fumes began to dome through, phosphorus fumes from an incendiary bomb. The air became very foul, and we got up. Our lives were saved by an old steward, who must have been about 65. He got a torch from somewhere and led us through the back of the ship through the fumes and smoke. We got out to the boat deck and were very glad to get some fresh air. The women were told to go first down the rope, but got straight into s boat. There were only four children on board, but they were particularly good. A baby nine months old was strapped on the back of a sailor who went down the rope with it into the boat, and the child never cried.” Of the 643 passengers and crew.bn the Empress of Britain, a total of 598 were rescued. WAR WEAPONS WEEK WONDERFUL RESPONSE IN BRITAIN (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, November 1. (Received November 2, at 11.35 a.m.)] Twelve cities ,and towns have already contributed £40,000,000 in connection with the “ war weapons week ” scheme* Although the Edinburgh campaign doe* not officially open until Monday it bid* fair to beat every other city in the country on the basis of contribution* a head of population, and over £5,000,000 has already been promised by Edinburgh concerns. So far Liverpool has done best witlj£ls 3s 2d per head of population. West* minster raised over £4.000,000, includ* ing £1,000,000 from Cable and Wire* less Limited for investment in national war bonds.

Inaugurating Grimsby “ war weapon* week ” the Financial Secretary, of the Treasury, Captain H. F. Crookshank, said: “ Tbe sooner we can reach the maximum effort of war output th* sooner we shall be in sight of the end.’<