SINKING OF “ATHENIA”

Grey River Argus, 7 September 1939, Page 8

SINKING OF “ATHENIA”

Many Killed by Boiler Explosion -LANDING OF SURVIVORS. LONDON, Sept ember 5. There were touching scenes at Glasgow, when survivors of lhe "Athenia” arrived. Many of those rescued were clad in night-attire, covered with curtains and ship’s drapes. Women were tear Tully seeking their husbands and. men were fruitlessly seeking their wives and children. Many, children are in a state of semi-coma. The survivors state that many weie killed when the boilers exploded. Those rescued included less than vearold babies. A member of the crew, John McConnell, estimates that 25 per cent, of the American passengers were killed by' the explosion. . Numbers of those who died in the rescue ships, owing to wounds and exposure in the boats, were buried at sea. Two ships landed several hundreds of the Athenia’s survivors at Greenock. A fleet of ambulances instantly • transported the injured to hospital. The remainder, mostly women and children, the majority of whom were scahtily clad, are showing signs of hardship. WASHINGTON, September 5. The State Department advises that at least 100 Athenia survivors landed at Glasgow, seriously injured, and were immediately taken to hospital. 1374 REPORTED SAVED. (Received September 6, 10.45 p.m.) NEW YORK, September 5The London correspondent, of the Associated Press of America places the Athenia’s death-roll at forty-four, after compiling reports from rescuers listing 1374 survivors. 257 Missing LONDON REPORT. (Received September 6. 11.55 p.m.) LONDON, September 5. It is understood that 257 passengers and members of the crew of the Athenia are missing, out of a total of 1418, of whom 1103 were passengers, and 315 were crew. Captain’s Story TORPEDO AND SHELLING. LONDON, September 5. Captain James Cook, who landed at Galway from the Knud Neilson, said that the torpedo was lired at a range of 800 to 2,000 yards, at the port side of the ship. It traversed the galley, into the engine-room, causing heavy loss of life. Immediately afterwards, the submarine came to the surface and shelled the Athenia. One shell wrecked the mainmast. It was evidently aimed at the wireless room, which was missed. Among the survivors is an American doctor, J’ohn Kirk, who said: "My wife was killed by the explosion. All I want to know is whether my two children are safe." NO WARNING GIVEN. LONDON, September 5. Lord Stanhope told the Lords there was no doubt that a submarine sank the Athenia, although there was no official confirmation that it tired a shell after torpedoing her. Reliable witnesses declare that there was no warning signal, and that the submarine broke surface after tiring the torpedo. "That area of the ocean is so deep that a mine could not. be moored j there," he said. “It would, more-1 Over, be an absurd place for a mine there, because we are anxious to keep our trade going in and out, without interference.” AMERICAN INQUIRIES. NEW YORK, September 5. Thi Associated Press of America Washington correspondent says that the Government has begun gathering testimony, to lix the responsibility for the sinking of the Athenia. The American Minister in Ireland, who interviewed the survivors, cabled that they all confirmed Ihe sinking by a submarine. The United Press London correspondent. says that approximately 500 of the Athenia’s passengers are still hot accounted for, according to a survey at British and Irish ports. PERS Mr. J. Knowles, Blaketown, leaves to-day by car for Dunedin on holiday. U.S.A. Ships Without Convoys WILL THEY BE SAFER ? WASHINGTON, September 5. Mr. Roosevelt stated at a Press conference that American ships would not be convoyed, on the grounds that it was safer for Americans to travel in their own ships, which would be identified as advised by the Maritime Commission. ' United States shipmasters have been advised by the Commission not to “black-out,” not to zigzag, and to paint the American flag on either side, also on the fore and aft hatches, and to keep the flag flying, with a spotlight on it, during the night.

German Independent Socialists * WAR NOT THEIRS. LONDON, September 6. The Independent Labour Party has announced that it has received a declaration from the Independent Socialists in Germany, that the masses of the German people “do not want this war. This war is not our war. This fight is not our fight, and we ask you, in the midst of death and destruction, not to forget the ideals for which we died in torture.”