Numerous Protests Against Latest Measure

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 280, 27 November 1939, Page 7

Numerous Protests Against Latest Measure

CONVOYS CONDUCT BUSINESS AS USUAL (British Official Wireless.) Received Sunday, 9.20 p.m. RUGBY, Nov. 25. It is reported that the Germans have circulated a statement that the British Admiralty has ordered foreign shipping not to approach the east coast of Britain at night. There is no truth whatever in that statement. The safe arrival of a convoy at the Port of London yesterday morning is both evidence of the continuance of shipping traffic and helps to put in proper perspective the news of recent sinkings, which have naturally been given more prominence in the press reports. The Dutch, Danish and Belgian Governments have made representations in London on the subject of tho British Government’s decision to subject to seizure German exports on neutral vessels as a reprisal for Germany’s violation of the rules of warfare at sea in laying mines in shipping channels. The Italian Ambassador also called at the Foreign Office to discuss this matter and express tho views of his Government on the legality of the measure.

The Japanese Ambassador visited the Foreign Office yesterday and while the purpose of the call has not been stated officially it is generally assumed the subject of the Allied reprisal in its bearing on neutral shipping rights was touched upon.

In official circles it is stated that any neutral observations regarding the forthcoming Ored-in-Council are receiving and will receive the most careful consideration of tho British Government, which is anxious.to do all in its power to mitigate che hardships and inconvenience which neutrals are experiencing as a result of the outrages being committed by Germany against their shipping. While official circles arc naturally reticent in the face of the intensification of tho German sea war against Allied and neutral shipping and commerce in the form of indiscriminate laying of unannounced mines in shipping approaches to United Kingdom ports, the use of tho so-called magnetic mines and of aircraft for sowing mines by parachute, the naval correspondents of tho newspapers and other independent authorities on naval matters show no serious concern at the developments, which they consider unlikely to have taken Allied naval staffs entirely by surprise. There is no disposition to deny that the past week has been a bad one in the toll taken of many neutral and allied ships, but the enemy losses are understood to have been heavy, too. Several enemy submarines are known to have been sunk by tho British and French fleets and agency reports reached London to-day of the destruction of a German minelayer with considerable loss of life. There is also information to the effect that five German merchantmen have been accounted for in tho last two days. Of these three are reported captured by Allied naval units in the South Atlantic and another, the Adolph Wocrniann (8557 tons) was scuttled by her crew to avoid capture. Limits to Mine-laying So far the use of aeroplanes and submarine for mine-scattering is concerned, it is pointed out that the aeroplane can only carry a very limited number of mines at the extravagant use of petrol, while it is subject easier detection than a submarine, so that tho danger area is known and can be swept. There is a serious limitation also to tho use of tho submarine, since sho cannot return to the danger area without the risk of becoming a loss. In view of the unsuitability of submarines for this task their future use for indiscriminate mine-sowing by the Germans is regarded by some naval critics here as an admission of the complete failure of tho original campaign, which required tho direction of torpedoes or gunfire against particular objectives. Shipping is subject to on 80s per cent, rate instead of 50s to 60s as the result of a rise in war risks insurance for voyages impinging on waters in which German magnetic mines are laid. A reduction has been made in some rates for voyages in waters in which magnetic mines cannot be laid.