LOSSES AT SEA

Greymouth Evening Star, 16 December 1940, Page 8

LOSSES AT SEA

RAIDER OFF NAURU

TWO SHIPS MISSING [PER press association.] WELLINGTON, December 14. The Prime Minister (Mr. Fraser) announced to-day with deep regret that reports received from Nauru Island indicated that a British ship was on fire off the island last Sunday morning. The weather was bad arid poor visibility hindered observation. In the afternoon, the ship was seen to be on fire and was apparently being shelled by another vessel, and both shortly disappeared. All British shipping known to be in the vicinity was instructed to proceed' to other ports. This instruction, and the necessary wireless silence imposed on shipping is responsible for the fact that nothing further has been sighted from Nauru and no reports have yet been received from the ships concerned. Unfortunately, however, there appeal’ to be substantial indications that at least one other vessel—-the only one on New Zealand articles—has been intercepted by a raider and the next-of-kin of those on board this second vessel have already been advised by telegram of all the facts that are available and of the sympathy of the New Zealand Government m their anxiety. Wireless communication with Nauru which is under the care of the Aus■tralian Commonwealth Naval Board, is being maintained and further information is awaited. Nauru Island is more that 3000 miles from New Zealand, in a noith-north-westerly direction.

( HOLM WOOD WRECKAGE. WELLINGTON, December 16. Mr. Fraser announced, to-day, that the first tangible evidence of the loss of the Holmwood (formerly the Tees) 'had been received by radio message •from the Chatham Islands. A constable stationed at Waitangi '.reports that pieces of timber containing shrapnel, were found near Kaingaroa on tw’o different occasions. In the constable’s opinion there is little doubt that these pieces of timber originally formed parts of the upper structure near the bridge of the HolmW< The Holmwood was officially reported missing on November 30, the 'vessel then being overdue. It is considered probable that the passengeis arid crew have been taken prisoners.

MERCHANT-CRUISER SUNK.

[BY CABLE —PRESS ASSN. —COPYRIGHT.

LONDON, December 14. The Admiralty has announced that the merchant cruiser, “Forfar,” has been torpedoed and sunk. There were some casualties on the ship.

TWO MORE LINERS.

LONDON, December 14.

A message from New York says that the Mackay radio reports that the New Zealand Shipping Company’s vessel Orari (10,350 tons) was torpedoed yesterday afternoon oft the west coast of Ireland. The Mackay radio later reported that the British liner Western Prince (10,926 tons) was attacked by a submarine 400 miles north-west of the northern tip of Ireland. The Canadian Minister for Munitions (Mr. C. D. Howe) was a passenger on the vessel from New York. The Canadian Legation in Washington stated that Mr. Howe and his party were rescued from the Western Prince.

The Orari, a twin-screw vessel, was well-known on the New Zealand coast. She was built in 1931 for the New Zealand Shipping Company by A. Stephen and Sons, Ltd., Glasgow. NORWEGIAN SHIPS. ' STOCKHOLM, December 15. The paper “Dagens Nyheter’s” Oslo correspondent says: The Germans and Italians intend, if they capture Norwegian ships sailing under the control of the Nygaardsvoid Cabinet, to use them for war purposes. The “Ole Jdcob” was recently taken to Japan. There a German crew boarded the ship, and sent the crew of Norwegians home across Siberia.

GERMAN SHIP SUNK.

LONDON, December 15. It is announced in London that the German steamer Rhein (6031 tons), which was reported to have been captured by the Dutch destroyer Van Kinsbergen, has been sunk. The Rhein left Tampico, Mexico, on November 29, in a second attempt to beat the British blockade. She later sent out wireless messages saying that she was being pursued by a British warship. A New Orleans message says that the American destroyer MacLeish witnessed the destruction of the German steamer Rhein in the Gulf of Mexico. An anonymous officer from the destroyer said that United States destroyers had followed in the wake of the Rhein since she left Tampico'. He said that the Van Kinsbergen closely pursued the Rhein, which suddenly burst into flames forward and towards the stern. The crew abandoned the ship. The Dutch boarded the Rhein, but were unable to extinguish the flames. Later, when it was dark, the British cruiser Caradoc arrived and took on the Germans from the Van Kinsbergen; She played searchlights on the burning Rhein and also on the MacLeish. A few minutes later shots from the Caradoc sent the Rhein to the bottom. . , A message from Montevideo states that the British cruiser Enterprise, which has arrived for refuelling, reported that she had not sighted the German raider, which engaged the armed cruiser Carnarvon Castle. PROMOTION ON MERIT LONDON,, December 14. The Admiralty has announced that in future promotion to ranks above that of captain in the Royal Navy will be made on merit rather than on seniority. This will have the effect of opening the way for younger men who have shown initiative and unusual abilities, who might otherwise have to wait years for promotion.