DUTCH SHIP SUNK

Manawatu Standard, Volume LIX, Issue 265, 9 October 1939, Page 7

DUTCH SHIP SUNK

EXPLOSION IN HOLD

OFF ENGLISH COAST

TERRIFIC REPORT.

(United Press Association. —By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) Received October 9, 9.40 a.in. LONDON, Oct. 8. The Dutch steamer Binnendijk, bound from New York to Amsterdam, was sunk in the Eng'lish Channel, to-day. A lifeboat took off 41 members of the crew.

The master of the Binnendijk, Captain W. Moree, of Amsterdam, states that he saw nothing suspicious as the ship approached the English coast. Suddenly, a terrific explosion occurred in the hold at the port side, in the fore part of the ship, which disabled the engines and the wireless. The steamer began to slowly sink. A fireman apprentice was sent to hospital with broken legs. A seaman said most of the crew were in their bunks, and lelt the explosion. “English warships came alongside and tied lip to the Binnendijk and took' us ashore. Wc saw our ship go up in flames,” he added.

SUBMARINES SIGHTED,

WASHINGTON, Oct. 7

A message from Hyde Park states that President Roosevelt revealed that a foreign submarine was sighted yesterday 15 miles off Miami. He declined to disclose its nationality, but pointed out that its .mere presence within the safety zone did not represent violation.

A report from Charlotte Amalia (West lidies) says that workmen sighted a submarine off the northern coast of St. Thomas on Wednesday. The submarine, for which a search was instituted, submerged on the approach of a United States destroyer.

SHIPPING FREIGHTS. Received October 9. 11.30 a.m. CANBERRA, Oct. 9. Pending an official inquiry into the increased costs of shipping caused by the war, the Minister of Customs (Air Lawson) lias fixed the maximum freight rates for inter-State and intraState shipping at 10 per cent, above the rates prevailing on August 31.

AUSTRALIAN FORCE.

THE “SECOND A.1.F.”

Received October 9, 11 a.m. MELBOURNE, Oct. 9,

The Minister of Defence (Mr Street) has announced a new special volunteer military force for service at home or abroad, to be known as the “Second A.1.F.” to distinguish it from the original A.1.E., and “because the exigencies of the defence measures may at some time necessitate raising more than one division.”

AUSTRALIAN WHEAT

ACQUIRED BY GOVERNMENT. Received October 9, 11.30 a.ni. MELBOURNE, Oct, 9. All 'wheat in New South Wales/ Victoria, and South Australia will be acquired by the Federal Government under notice being gazetted to-dav. The Government has already acquired the wheat of Western Australia. REDS ROUNDED UP. PARIS, October 7. Military authorities are searching for Maurice Thorez, the deputy and secretary of the French Communist Party. He did not appear for roll-call when due after tea this evening. Twenty-six Communist deputies were arrested in France last night.