THE ATHENIA

Hokitika Guardian, 6 September 1939, Page 5

THE ATHENIA

WAS SUBMARINED

SURVIVORS ARRIVING.

(United Press Association —By Electric .Telegraph—Copyright}. ,

NEW YORK, September 4

' A wireless message to the United Press of America from the yacht, “Southern Cross’ 5 (which was one of the vessels that went to the rescue of the liner “Athenia,”) states that 300 of the “AtheniaV passengers are missing.

The Associated Press of America correspondent at Greenock (Scotland) says that two of the Athenia rescue ships have arrived there. Many of the injured passengers were taken to hospital.

A seaman survivor stated that the Athenia was torpedoed without warning. Ho added: “After the explosion the submarine came to the surface hundreds of yards off at 5.50 a.m.

Another survivor told the Associated Press of America: “We put on our lifebelts and went to the boat stations. The submarine then dived out of sight several times during the night. He heard it passing below the lifeboats at five minutes past six in the morning. .

BRITAIN’S HORROR.

LONDON, September 4

Mr A. Y. Alexander, in the House of Commons, expressed the horror, disgust and indignation of all sections of the population at the unpardonable outrage against the mercantile marine.

Of the “shelter deck” type, the Athenia w;«e 526 feet long 66 feet wide, and 38 feet deep. When launched she had accommodation on the bridge and shelter decks amidships foV 516 cabin passengers. The Athenia was fitted for oil fuel. She carried modern equipment, including wireless direction finder, echo-sound-ing device, and gyro compass, A twin-, screw steamer, the Athenia had a speed of 15£ knots. . PASSENGERS FIRED ON. ■ NEW YORK; September 5. The Associated Presp of America correspondent at Greenock, says that an ‘Athenia” , survivor .declared that the submarine fired two shells as the passengers were being taken, to the lifeboats at 6.20 a.m.

MARINE INSURANCE RATES

LOWER THAN IN . GREAT WAR

LONDON, September 5.

The new Department of the Board of Trade operating for the first time since the Great War, publishes a fresh iist : of minimum war risk rates for overseas cargoes, these terms applying to the vessels sailing on after 11 a.im yesterday. They are: United Kingdom to Australasia via Panama :—Outwards 40s per cent; homewards 50s per cent. United Kingdom to Australasia, via the -Cape Outwards' 50s pgr cent; homewards 60s per cent. It is noteworthy that on August 5, 1914, 'the figures for vessels bound homewards was 105 s per cent. The reduced rate is now attributable to there being greater naval strength to-day. GRAPHIC STORY. OF RESCUE WORK. ' (Received this day at 9.35 a.m.) NEW YORK, September 5. An eyewitness aboard the the, “Southern Cross,”’ the Swedish yacht which picked up 200 survivors from the torpedoed Athenia, gave a graphic story of the rescue from the Athenia. He said lifeboats,/with flares, dotted the sea and desperate shouts of help came from all directions.

Lifeboats were, crammed and many were filling with • water. People sat waist-deep; One lifeboat turned turtle when nearing the “Southern, Cross” and another was swamped near the bow. “All hands were engaged in hauling aboard the survivors from another, and we were helpless to save the occupants of the swamped lifeboat. We saved 100. The lifeboat crews were marvellous aud the passengers heroic. Many women were pulling oars along with the men for eight to ten hours.” There is probably 300 missing. AMERICAN ENQUIRY. « LOSS OF 500 EXPECTED. (Received this day at 9.10 a.m.) NEW YORK, Sept. 5. The America Press Washington correspondent says the Government has began gathering testimony to fix the responsibility for the sinking of the Athenia. The American Minister, Mr Cudehy, in Ireland, who interviewed the survivors, has cabled that all confirmed the sinking by submarine. •The United Press London correspondent says approximately five hundred of the Athenia’s passengers are still unaccounted for, according to a survey of British and Irish ports.