U-BOAT CAMPAIGN

Greymouth Evening Star, 17 October 1939, Page 7

U-BOAT CAMPAIGN

FOUR VESSELS SUNK PASSENGERS UNDER FIRE [BY CABLE —PRESS ASSN. —COPYRIGHT.] LONDON, October Hi. Three French ships and one British merchant vessel have been sunk during the past few days. The British loss was the Royal Mail steamer Lochavon, of 9205 tons, which was sunk early yesterday in the Atlantic Ocean. The crew and passengers were rescued by British warships and were landed in England this morning. From San Pedro, California, it is reported that the Lochavon carried 25 or 30 cases of aircraft parts and 4000 tons of canned and fresh fruits. The French vessels sunk were the Bretagne, of 10,108 tons, the Louisiana, of G 903 tons, and the Emile Miguet, a tanker, of 14.115 tons. British warships landed in Britain 400 passengers, including women and children, from the Bretagne and the Louisiane. Some swam for two hours before they were rescued, but it is believed that.only 15 lost their lives, including eight killed by shell-fire. The submarine which sank the Bretagne fired on her, destroying several boats. The passengers at first thought the alarm was practice. They went on deck in their night clothes, but were horror-stricken to find themselves under fire.

The submarine sank the Bretagne after the boats were lowered, causing many to be tipped out, including a soldier, who supported his son, aged seven, in the water for 90 minutes. The which sank the Louisiane first stopped her and demanded food supplies. The Louisiane refused, and at this a shell burst on the bridge, killing the first officer.

FRENCH CASUALTIES. PARIS, October 16. It is officially stated that the Bretagne casualties were five members of the crew,.and two passengers missing. On the Emile Miguet, the whole crew was saved. On the Louisiane one was killed. STEAMER STRIKES- MINE. AMSTERDAM, October 16. The steamer Gressholm was mined and sunk in the North Sea. Three of the crew were killed, and the remaining eight were rescued by a Finnish steamer. CARGOES IN ENEMY SHIPS. LONDON, October 16. The London Chamber of Commerce, acting on behalf of United Kingdom and Empire Chambers of Commerce, is arranging to release British cargoes from eiiemy ships in neutral ports, similarly to the last war.