THE WAR AT SEA

Hokitika Guardian, 26 September 1939, Page 5

THE WAR AT SEA

HUNTING U-BOATS HAVING MANY ENCOUNTERS. (Independent Cable). LONDON, Sept. 25. The “Daily Express” says: The is gradually hemming in U-boats in boltholes in the North Sea. The undersea craft now returning from the Atlantic Ocean, after delivering their first onslaughts against the merchant vessels, are having great difficulty in finding their way, either by the front or hack doors from their bases. Every day hunting flotillas have four or five encounters with the enemy. At least one hundred of these battles have been fought, of which the outside world has heard nothing. Now, however, worn, weary and strained U-boat crews have to struggle every inch of the way home. The U-boat expeditions in 1918 were pleasure cruises when compared with the ceaseless and terrifying hunting which the first batch have encountered during the past month. BRITISH SHIP SUNK. TWELVE MEN MISSING. LONDON, Sept. 25. The steamer, “Hazelside,” of 4646 tons, has been sunk. She was sunk without warning. Twelve of her crew of 24 are reported lost, including the captain. WATCHERS SEE “HAZELSIDE” SUNK. LONDON, Sept. 25. People on the coast saw the attack on the “Hazelside” by a U-boat. The wireless operator of the “Hazelside,” Mr Birket, stated that the submarine fired without warning. Two of the “Hazelside’s” lifeboats were wrecked. Fifteen other men had put off in a small jolly boat. Seven men clambered on to a raft. “KAFIRSTAN” SURVIVORS. REPORT U-BOAT SINKING. NEW YORK, Sept. 24. The ship, “American Farmer,” has brought here 29 survivors from the ship “Kafirstan,” which was torpedoed on Sunday, September 17. The Master of tlie ship, Captain John Busby, reported that the submarine was sunk by bombs from a ’plane, which he believed to have been attached to “H.M.S. Courageous.” He said the plane arrived unseen. It machine-gunned and bombed the submarine, and achieved a, direct hit. SWEDISH CARGOES HELD UP. STOCKHOLM, Sept. 23. Sweden is concerned as to the sinking by two German submarines of two Finnish pulp ships. Large quantities of Swedish wood pulp is now waiting for shipment to Britain and America, pending an indication as to whether Germany considers wood pulp to be contraband. GERMAN PRIZE COURT, BERLIN, Sept. 25. The German Official Wireless has announced that the Reich Ministry of Justice has established a Prize Court. This it hails as a proof of the “con tinned success” of Germany’s blockade. It was added that the Prize Court would pronounce sentences in strict accordance with International Law.

FRENCH CONVOYS BEST U-BOATS. LONDON, Sept. 24. The “Daily Telegraph’s” Paris correspondent says: The French Navy is using its convoy system so successfully that several big French liners, carrying thousands of passengers, including many Americans, have crossed the Atlantic without the slightest danger. The North African and other French trade routes are also functioning without any interruption. SWEDEN’S PROTEST. AT SINKINGS OF NEUTRALS. (Received this day at 9.20 a.m.). STOCKHOLM, Sept. 25. Sweden is concerned by the sinking by German submarines of two Finnish pulp ships, both bound for England. One, the “Marttiransnar,” of 2262 tons, was sunk off Norway and the other, “Walma,” 1361 tons, was sunk off Smorgen. The “Times” Stockholm correspondent points out that these first neutral ships were sunk, and indicates teat Germany has widened her U-boat campaign in the hope of cutting off all British supplies. The captain of the “Walma” protested on the ground that cellulose had not been, proclaimed contraband. The U-boat commander replied that British make gun-powder of it, and proceeded to sink the ship with dynamite, explaining that ‘‘torpedoes were too valuable to waste on small vessels. Taken in conjunction with tl.c sinking of the “Gertrudbratt,” Sweden believes Germany is bent on stopping all trade with Britain, despite her assurances to respect the right of neutrals. COCOS ISLAND. (Received this day at 10.50 a.m.). MOSCOW, Sept, 25. A radio states Costa Rica is considering the occupation of Cocos Islands, in the Eastern Pacific, to prevent its use as a submarine base,

GERMAN COMMENT. STOCKHOLM, Sept 25. German comment on the Swedish and Finnish ships, is that it neutrals want to complain, they can do so before the courts in Hamburg. It added that if the commander of the U-boat had not sunk the ships he would have been court-martialled, as cellulose might have killed thousands of Germans. A NAVAL BATTLE. REPORTED OFF NORWAY. '(Received this day at 10.5 a.m.) BERGEN, September 25. A furious naval battle is reported off the Norwegian coast, from dawn. Several warships Avere sighted. POLISH SUBMARINE. DISARMED AND INTERNED. '.Received this day at 10.5 a.m.) STOCKHOLM, September 25. The Polish submarine, Zbik, ivith the emergency rations exhausted, surrendered to tile Swedish authorities, and was disarmed and interned. The Zbik. was at sea for twenty-four days.Five officers and 49 men were exhausted. They had been several times scathlessly in action against German warships, despite depth charges. SWEDISH STEAMER SUNK. (Received this day at 11.40 a.m.) STOCKHOLM, September 25. The 1839-ton Swedish steamer, “Silesia,” bound for England with lumber, was torpedoed and sunk off Stavanger. The Swedish steamer, rf ouecia,” rescued the crew. FRENCH COLLIER SUNK. (Received this day at 11.40 a.m.) LONDON, September 25. A submarine, Avithout Avarning, attacked the Freneli collier, “Phryne, off the English coast on September 24. Longshoremen heard an explosion and saw a column of smoke. The creAv of 24 put off in two boats, from which a lifeboat from the shore rescued them. Two were injured. Two destroyers which raced to the scene, departed after the “Phryne” sank.