GERMAN RAIDER

Grey River Argus, 7 December 1940, Page 5

GERMAN RAIDER

A Revelation FROM BRITISH SHIP’S LOG. (Received December 7, 2.5 a.m.) NEW YORK, December 5. The log of a British freighter, the “Haxby,” which was sunk by a raider in April, reveals that the crew of the “Haxby,” were taken prisoner, and were put aboard a captured Norwegian steamer, the “Tropic Star,” which was seized near Norfolk Island, and was afterwards scuttled to the north-west of Spain. The log shows the “Haxby” left Greenock on April Bth for Texas, and seven days after leaving her convoy, a steamer flying the Greek colours crossed her bow, and then hoisted the Nazi ensign. She fired on the “Haxby” from four concealed six-inch guns. The survivors were taken prisoner, and the raider, on May 2, laid mines off West Africa.

On May 7, the raiuer refuelled from a five-thousand-ton German tanker, the “Winnetou.” On June 18, the raider intercepted the “Tropic Sea.” Again she refuelled from the “Winnetou.” She placed British sailors and a prize crew aboard the “Tropic Sea”, which attempted to reach Bordeaux, but was intercepted by a submarine.