Sailing to Britain and Death

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 279, 25 November 1939, Page 7

Sailing to Britain and Death

Germans Will Lay Drifting Mines Soon “NOT AGAINST THE LAW” From Our Own Correspondent. Per Press Association. Received Friday, 10.55 p.m. LONDON, Nov. 24. The Copenhagen correspondent of The Times says that, proclaiming Germany has the right to make mine warfare against Britain, Berlin newspapers announce that at a suitable moment drifting mines will be laid along all the principal sea routes to Britain. These mines, it is declared, will be the chief weapon with which Germany intends to enforce her “Continental blockade” of Britain, which is the principal aim of the newly-appointed blockade director, Werner Daitz. Germany, it is added, knows well it is against international law to attack commercial shipping with mines, but argues that her new mine warfare is not directed against merchantmen but against warships. Therefore, it is not against the law. The Berlin Borsei# Zcitung declares: “Sailing for Britain in future means sailing to death.” The Berlin correspondent of the New York Times says, although Germany is blaming Britain for sinking neutral ships, the Hague Mine Agreement of 3907 giving the right to lay mines, was not announced before the war. Germany is claiming to be observing the agreement, but the British coast is not a regular commercial route but a military zone into which neutrals are forced by British minefields. JAP SHIPS TO CONTINUE Received Friday, 8.50 p.m. TOKIO, Nov. 23. The Communications Ministry has announced that the shipping policy is unchanged by the loss of the Terukuni Maru, but too many losses would cause a deletion of war zone ports. NORMAL DUTCH SAILINGS Received Friday. 5.50 p.m. LONDON, Nov. 24. The Amsterdam correspondent of the Exchange Telegraph says most Netherlands lines have decided to continue normal sailings except in tile area near the mouth of the Thames. MINESWEEPER SUNK CLOSE TO ENGLISH COAST FOUR SERIOUSLY INJURED Received Friday, 7.0 p.m. LONDON, Nov. 24. Tho Admiralty announced that the minesweeper Aragonite was damaged by a mine close to the coast. Four ratings were seriously injured. Tugs took off all the crew and attempted to rush, to minesweeper to tko beach, but it sank in shallow water. Ships Stopped for Examination MEDITERRANEAN CONTROL (British Official Wireless.) Received Friday, 7.5 p.m. RUGBY, Nov. 23. Tho Minister of Economic Warfare stated that the number of ships detained at British contraband control bases in the Mediterranean during tho week ended November 13 was 22, of which 12 were Italian, four Norwegian, three United States, one Rumanian, one Greek and one Yugoslav. In the following week 23 were detained, including 14 Italian, three Panamanian, two United States and one each from Greece, Netherlands, Norway and Yugoslavia. Mission Completed, Says Nazi Skipper SUPPLY SHIPS IN PORT Received Friday, 8.50 p.m. MONTEVIDEO, Nov. 23. It is believed tbe supply ships, tho German freighters Tacoma and Lahn, are anchored in the harbour. Only the captains landed. They said they sailed from Talcahuano (Chile) a month ago and wanted fuel. Asked about their future movements, one replied: “We have completed the mission entrusted to us.” Arlington Court Survivors Received Friday, 7.5 p.m. LONDON, Nov.. 24. A British ship has picked up seven of the eleven missing members of the crew of the Arlington Court, some of whom were admitted to hospital. Six villages and the town of Erzingan, which has 10,092 inhabitants, were destroyed, hundreds are feared to have been killed and thousands are homeless by an earthquake in Eastern Anatolia. The tremors lasted for 24 ( hours.