VICTIMS OF NAZIS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20186, 2 March 1940, Page 5

VICTIMS OF NAZIS

MEN AND SHIPS NORWAY'S BIG LOSSES CENSURE BY MINISTER DENMARK PROTESTING ESTONIA WANTS CONVOY (Eloc. Tel. Copyright—United press Assn.) (Reed. 9 a.m., March 2.) LONDON, March i. A message from Oslo states that the Norwegian Foreign Minister, M. Koht, said that all Norwegian ships known to have been deliberately sunk were sunk by Nazis. Norway had lost 50 vessels since the outbreak of war. involving a loss of 350 lives U-boals and German aircraft sank nine and mines were responsible for most of the remainder. The protests made three weeks ago had not brought an answer. Germany's illegal sea warfare endangered natural commerce between Norway and her friends. Norway did not like the British contraband control system and had declared it contrary to international law. Nevertheless, if the English forced Norwegian ships to be controlled, that did not give Germany the right to sink them. A message from Copenhagen states that Denmark is formally protesting to both belligerents against warfare on neutral shipping. This js in accordance with the decision reached at the meeting of the Scandinavian Foreign Ministers. Denmark is demanding the return of her rights under international law. The Danish protest is general and not based on special cases. A Stockholm message states that Estonia has forbidden her merchantships to navigate the North Sea and other dangerous waters except under convoy.