ON THE SEAS

Greymouth Evening Star, 6 December 1940, Page 7

ON THE SEAS

MINESWEEPERS LOST [BY CABLE. —PRESS ASSN. —COPYRIGHT.] RUGBY, December 5. Announcing the loss of four trawlers and one drifter, an Admiralty communique adds: “Communiques issued by the German High Command lay continual stress upon the mining of British ports. These ports and their approaches are kept clear of mines from day to day by the tenacity, courage, and devotion to duty of our minesweeping forces. The enemy is using all manner of devices to prevent and hinder the sweeping of these mines. Although the success of these devices has been limited, and is likely to decrease, it has imposed losses upon our minesweeping forces.

EMPRESS OF RUSSIA. LONDON, December 4. The Admiralty requisitioned the liner Empress of Russia (16,810 tons) when she was about to leave Hong Kong, and is converting her into an auxiliary cruiser to protect shipping. Other liners are expected to be requisitioned for the same purpose. FRENCH FLEET REVIEWED. VICHY, December 4. All of the remaining units of the French Fleet were anchored in the Toulon naval base to-day, when Marshal Petain inspected the vessels. He lunched on board the Strassbourg. Other ships present included the cruisers Algerie, Dupleix, Foch, Maro’ellaise, and Galissonnaire. There were many destroyers.

BRAZIL AND BRITAIN. RIO DE JANEIRO, December 4. Senhor Afranio Mello Franco, president of the Inter-American Neutrality Committee, s?id that sanctions against Britain might be taken if the committee was given the Itape case to study. A British auxiliary cruiser halted the Brazilian coaster Itape on December 1 and removed 22 German passengers, some allegedly from the Tacoma, which was the supply vessel for the Admiral Graf Spee.