SUNK BY RAIDER

Greymouth Evening Star, 29 November 1940, Page 7

SUNK BY RAIDER

NOT FAR FROM N. ZEALAND ALL ON BOARD CAPTURED [PER PRESS ASSOCIATION.] / WELLINGTON, November 28. A distress signal was received on Wednesday from a British vessel some 400 miles east of the New Zealand coast, indicating that she was being attacked by an enemy raider. This announcement was made to-day by the Prime Minister (Mr. Fraser). “Searches made in the vicinity have been without result,” Mr. Fraser said,; “and the probabilities are that the vessel has been lost, and those on board captured.” • N.Z. CADET CAPTURED WANGANUI, November 29. The youngest in the crew of the Port Brisbane, reported to have been sunk by an enemy raider off the Australian coast, is 18-years-old Alexander Neil Dawson, son of Mrs. E. Caulton, of Marton. He is believed to have been taken prisoner. Cabled advice to this effect has been received by his mother, from a Port Brisbane officer who escaped. A cadet in the Port Brisbane, Alex•aihder Dawson is the elder son of the late Alexander Dawson, formerly chief postmaster at Wanganui and Palmerston North. He was educated at the Hastings Boys’ High School, and the Sir John Cass Nautical College, London. He has been employed by the Port Line for 15 months.

DISQUIET IN BRITAIN. LONDON, November 27. Increasing concern over British shipping losses to-day found voice in the House of Commons, which, according to the “Daily Mail,” was very restive after Mr. Churchill had gone to Downing Street. Nor was the concern lessened by the statement by Mr. Arthur Greenwood, Minister without portfolio, that the position was much like that of April, 1917. Mr. E. Shinwell (Labour), who led the attack, said, that the British and Allied total losses of 2,500,000 tons did not include marine casualties, nor Belgian and Dutch tonnage, which brought the total to beyond 3,000,000 tons. He added that the figures were worse because the losses were severe in vessels of 5000 and 6000 tons. The rate of losses after July had reached an average of 4,000,000 tons a year. He declare dthat the Admiralty had He declared that the Admiralty had 1,250,000 tons of commercial shipping in the first year of war. Mr. L. Hore-Belisha, a former War Minister, said that this programme would only cover 15 weeks’ losses at the present rate of sinkings. The Minister for Labour (Mr. Ernest Bevin) had painted the industrial picture in more cheerful colours than Mr. Greenwood had used, and had claimed that a problem which had baffled generations iiad been solved —the skilled man was being taken from repetitive work and put in his proper place. ' “The Times,” in a leading article, contrasts Mr. Bevin’s optimism with Mr. Greenwood’s speech, and suggests that the House was puzzled by the difference. It adds that the speeches bf the two Ministers hardly made the impression for which members are looking in their anxiety to see the most rapid and most effective mobilisation of all resources and manpower. The “Daily Mail,” in a leading article, contending that the critics battered the Government, recalls that Britain in April, 1917, was 'six weeks from starvation and declares that the shipping position is disquieting. This, it adds, was reflected in the debate.

DUTCH EAST INDIES. (Received November 29, 9.5 a.m.) BATAVIA, November 28. As the result of the increasing activity of enemy raiders in the South Seas, a Government spokesman told the People’s Council he was consulting foreign naval authorities, presumably British, in this area, regarding the allocation of shipping routes and protection against raiders. MINESWEEPERS LOST. (Received November 29, 10.20 a.m.) LONDON, November 28. The Admiralty has announced the loss of the minesweepers Dungeness and Fontenoy, as a result of enemy bombers, both without casualties.- < /. ITALIAN CLAIMS. (Recd. Nov. 29. 11.20 a.m.). LONDON, November 28. An Italian communique claims: An Italian submarine in the Red Sea on November 26 torpedoed three convoyed merchantmen, which sank. . AUSTRALIAN NAVY. CANBERRA, November 29.' The Minister of the Navy (Mr. Hughes) announced that some of the 4.8 patrol vessels being built in Australia for escort and anti-submarine work have been launched. Others are nearing completion. He also announced that the keels have been laid of three destroyers. One of them will be launched shortly.