ATTACKS ON SUBMARINES

Greymouth Evening Star, 7 September 1939, Page 7

ATTACKS ON SUBMARINES

DETERMINED BRITISH DRIVE SEVERAL MERCHANTMEN SUNK [BY CABLE —PRESS ASSN. —COPYRIGHT.] LONDON, September 6. It is announced that British warships have attacked German submarines at several places, as the beginning of a determined effort to drive them out of the North Sea, the English Channel, and European and Atlantic waters. The attacks on the U-boats follow attacks they have made on several British merchantmen. An official bulletin issued at 2.20 to-day says:—Firstly: There is reason to believe that Royal Air Force attacks on German naval units were more successful than was originally reported. Secondly: Three German ships which might be converted into armed raiders have been destroyed in the Atlantic and the safety of their crews provided for. Thirdly: German submarines have attacked and sunk several British merchantmen. Fourthly: Germany has announced the laying of minefields which already have claimed two neutral ships—a Danish fishing-boat and a Greek merchantman.

One British vessel which was lost was the Bosnia, of 2407 tons, a Cunard Line cargo vessel. The crew was rescued, by the Norwegian tanker Eidenger, with the exception of a fireman who was killed. Captain Poole, master- of the Bosnia, said the ship was damaged by gunfire from the submarine, and was then sunk by a torpedo. The survivors from the Bosnia will land at Lisbon to-night. Another German ship sunk was the Carl Fritzen, of 6593 tons, reported to have been bound from Schiedam, Holland, for Canada or Buenos Aires. The crew of the Carl Fritzen is safe. Several British ships have been attacked by German submarines, and it is officially stated that British warships had attacked German submarines. The Monte Video correspondent of ‘The Times” says the British Legation states that the captain and crew of the Olinda, which was sunk by the cruiser Ajax, have given a pledge not to participate in the war. The captain expressed gratitude for the manner in which he and his crew had been treated on board the British steamer San Gerardo. The Mexico City correspondent of “The Times” says the port is crowded with German ships from the Caribbean Sea and Central American ports. The master of the Olinda reported that, the British cruiser Ajax captured and sank his ship five hours after Britain declared war. The master and crew were brought to Monte Video by a tanker, which picked them up from the boats after the Ajax forced them to abandon ship. The Associated Press of America stated that the Olinda was captured but was not sunk.

BREMEN AS RAIDER? (Recd. September 7, 1.15 p.m.) NEW YORK, September 6. A Berlin message states: It is reported that the liner Bremen has arrived safely at an unidentified neutral port. A North American News Agency despatch, from Paris, by Walter Duranty, says expert, circles express the opinion that the Bremen is already equipped as a commerce raider

in the North Atlantic. She probably dashed 1 for shelter in the Fiord of Greenland or Labrador, where she took on guns, ammunition, and crew without trouble from another waiting vessel, with which she had a rendezvous. There is a possibility also that she will have three or four light planes which may aid in the destruction of commerce, and act as scouts.

GERMAN MOTGR-SHIP ' SUNK. BELEM (Mexico), September 6. A North German Lloyd motor-ship is reported to have been sunk in midAtlantic. It is apparently the third ship to which the Ministry of Information in London referred in earlier cablegrams. ADMIRALTY CENSORSHIP. LONDON, September 6. The Admiralty states that it should be realised it is not always desirable to publish details of destruction or damage to enemy submarines, therefore, it should not be assumed that no successes had been achieved. CRUISE SHIP CONVOYED NEW YORK, September 6. Seven hundred and fifty Americans who disembarked at Havana from the German cruise ship Columbus reported that the liner had been convoyed through the West Indies by a German submarine.

POLISH SUBMARINE SUNK. LONDON, September 5. The Berlin correspondent of -the British United Press states that the German Navy announces that it has sunk a Polish submarine, which is the second since the beginning of hostilities. LATVIAN SHIP MINED COPENHAGEN, September 6. It is stated that the unknown ship, sunk near Malno, on Monday night by a mine, was the Latvian steamer Imanta, owned by the Latvian Government. The crew, of 20 men and two women are stated to be drowned.