THE BLOCKADES

Grey River Argus, 16 October 1939, Page 7

THE BLOCKADES

THREE U-BOATS SUNK Two Large Ones TOTAL OF 17 TO DATE. PARIS, October 13. A semi-offical commentary says that 12 U-boats were sunk or badly damaged in September. RUGBY, October 13. The Admiralty announces that Friday, the thirteenth, proved an unlucky day for U-boats, two having been destroyed by hunting craft, which were able to rescue some survivors. (Received October 15, 7.30 p.m.) LONDON, October 14. It is learned that three U-boats were sunk yesterday. Two of the U-boats were of the large ocean-going class. • It is established that to date a total of 17 U-boats have been sunk.

Two Ships Sunk BY U-BOATS. NEW YORK, October 13. The liner President Harding radioed that she had rescued the crew of 36 men of the Heronspool, off the Irish coast, while proceeding to the aid of a French tanker, the W. Emile Miquet, whose SOS the President Harding intercepted. She found the tanker in flames and the crew missing. The Heronspool, which was of 5,202 tons gross, is the second British ship to be sunk this week. (Received October 15, 7 p.m.) NEW YORK, October 14.

The freighter, "Black Hawk,” picked up 39 survivors from the ship Emile Miguet, whose sinking was cabled yesterday. One life was lost. FALKLAND CAPTURE. NEW YORK, October 13. The Buenos Aires correspondent of the “New York Tmes” says it is relably stated that several German merchantmen which disappeared mysteriously on October 9 are anchored at Port Stanley, Falkland Islands, where they have been dismantled and the crews interned. The British are no longer sinking ther captives as they did with the Olinda on September 4, but are taking all 1o the Falkland Islands. Most of the German ships which escaped from the Argentine, Uruguayan, Brazilian and Chilean ports loaded with grain are reported to have been captured and taken to the Falkland Islands.

DESTROYERS TO BE USED. INSTEAD OF U-BOATS. LONDON, October 15. The Berlin correspondent of the United Press states Germany says that she will henceforward employ destroyers, and not submarines, for the prosecution of “economical warfare.” RUGBY, October 13. British naval advices give the lie to German claims that Germany dominates by air the North Sea, in which convovys are running like clockwork and fishing fleets are operating normally. It is believed that these claims are a deliberate attempt to: (1) Stay up the German internal moral; (2) To impress neutrals with the might of the German air arm; (3) To lure the Royal Navy to make dangerous sallies. It is now learned that the recent North Sea action lasted for eight hours. The German bombers came in relays, but they failed to score a single hit. Their casualties are not known, but it is believed that at least six aeroplanes were brought down. Despite the Germans’ persistent claims that they hit an aircraft carrier, it can be definitely stated that no warship was touched by air since the outbreak of the war. It can also be stated that there is no confirmation for the report that an enemy submarine was sighted in the Pacific. German naval officers, broadcasting from Kiel, said that destroyers are now carrying out raids in the North Sea in place of submarines. So far three raiding expeditions have been made against contraband commerce.

BLOCKADE TO BE FOILED (Received Oct. 16, 1.25 a.m.) BERLIN, October 15. Herr Funk, in a speech at Vienna Fair, declared that all of the raw materials stopped by the blockade would be obtainable by other routes. The British blockade would only affect a small part of German territory, with doubtful success. German trade was specially given attention to south-eastern Europe. WASHINGTON, October 14. The Commerce Department states that Germany asserts that she is blockade-proof largely on the assumption that she will' be able to communicate with contiguous and neutral Europeans throughout the war, and that they will be able to supply at least the same quantity of foodstuffs and raw materials as they did in peace time. Contiguous and neutral Europeans supplied fortythree per cent., and enemy and neutral overseas fifty per cent, of Germany’s imports in the first six months of which the imports from the present enemies were twenty per cent.

POLISH DESTROYERS. WITH BRITISH NAVY. LONDON, October 13. A high authority revealed that three Polish destroyers, namely, the Blyskawica, Grom, and Burza, have been co-operating with the Royal Navy since the outbreak of war, in the English Channel patrols, doing extraordinarily good work, and the fighting spirit of the personnel is of the highest.

| BRITISH LINER Turned into Cruiser (Received October - 15, 6.30 p.m.) RUGBY, October 14. The most recent addition to the Bijjtish Navy is a fifteen thousand ton luxury liner, which is being converted into an armed merchant cruiser, ready to deal with enemy raiders' above or below the sea's surface. Her spacious first-class dining saloon has been split in two to form a wardroom and a gunroom. .shell racks stand where the deck quoit court is still marked out and forward and aft cargo holds are converted into ammunition magazines. She is only one of a number of big merchant vessels fitted out. as armed merchant cruisers to form a new defensive squadron for the Royal Navy. At the same time a number of smaller craft are being fitted with guns for purely defensive measures. In conformity with international law, they have their guns aft, so that they cannot fire from an attacking position.

FRENCH CRUISER Fire and Explosion OVER 100 DEAD. LONDON, October 13. The ten-year-old French cruiser, Torn d’Auvergne, caught fire and blew up at Casablanca last month. Between one hundred and two hundred of the crew were killed. U-Boats off Mexico HOW THEY ARE SUPPLIED (Received October 15, 7.30 p.m.) NEW YORK, October 14. The “New York Times” Mexico City correspondent states: There is no doubt that, one or more submarines are ready to operate in the Caribbean Sea, off Mexico. Reports that German ships in Mexico are aiding the submarines have caused an official watch. The German liner, Columbus, has moved to an isolated anchorage. Her crew have been placed on short rations, despite that fact that she has a heavy loading of stores. There are two boats alongside the liner. These can be used at night to carry provisions to sea. The oil tanker “Enny Friedrich” is anchored at Port Tampico. She is loading oil and livestock. This is supposed to be for delivery to German craft. Officials states that they are ready to act with severity if there is evidence of a violation of neutrality. U.S.A. PATROL TO BE STRENGTHENED. WASHINGTON, October 14. The Navy Department has announced the re-opening on November 1 of the Keywest Station, which was closed in 1930. The Department declined to explain the reason for this, but it is presumed that it is designed to strengthen the neuraliy patrol operations off the south eastern seaboard and also in he Caribbean area.

British Shipping NEW STATE CONTROL. LONDON, October 13. A Ministry of Shipping has been established, under the direction of Sir John Gilmour, M.P. The “Financial News” understands that the Government's war risk insurance scheme, which is at present confined to United Kingdom trade, is shortly being extended to include cargoes in British bottoms throughout the world. The present rates are lower than those in the open market. LONDON, October 14. With the object of assisting the new Minister of Shipping (Sir John Gilmour), Sir F. Vernon Thomson, Sir Cyril Hurcomb, and Mr Julian Fry .have been appointed respectively as Adviser, Director-General, and Ministerial Secretary. The Marcafitile Marine Department and the Board of Trade are being merged in the Ministry of Shipping.

AIRCRAFT WITH CONVOYS. RUGBY, October 15. According to an Air Ministry statement, there were poor flying conditions for the past week, but these caused only a slight interruption in convoy work by the reconnaissance aircraft of the coastal command. The aircraft guarding the convoys have been only withdrawn when flying was impossible through bad visibility, and rain storms caused the aircraft to fly at times close above the waves. Under the protection of air anti-sub-marine patrols and naval escorts, thousands of tons of vital supplies have been shipped safely to Britain. All convoys arriving or leaving now receive air protection, which may extend hundreds of miles out to sea.

GERMAN BOAT’S DISGUISE. RUGBY, October 13. It is stated that the cap’tured German liner Cap Norte was found to have re-painted herself, substituted Ancona for her name, and painted the Swedish flag on her side. Bad weather made her short of fuel. According to the stowage plan, the quantity loaded on board was; 5641 tons. The principal cargo included about 2893 tons of wheat 178 tons of wool, 747 tons of skins,' 60 tons of tobacco, 175 tons of cocoa, 18 tons of honey, 1102 tons of coffee, 440 casks of horse-flesh, three boxes of caviare, and 500 boxes of lemons.

AUSTRALIAN DEFENCE. MELBOURNE, October 14. The Minister of Defence (Mr Street) announced that four small 700-ton coastal patrol sloops of modern design are to be built in Australia for coastal patrol, mine-sweeping and anti-submarine service. It is expected the vessels will be completed within a year. DUTCH VESSEL. AUCKLAND, October 14. With the words “Maetsuycker Holland,” printed in huge letters oh her sides and the tricolours of the Netherlands painted. on her bows, the Dutch liner, Maetsuycker, arrived at Auckland yesterday morning from the Dutch East Indies with 48 cabin. passengers and 500 tons of cargo. I