Four British Navy Ships Destroyed, Berlin Claims

Northern Advocate, 21 December 1939, Page 6

Four British Navy Ships Destroyed, Berlin Claims

(Received 1.30 p.m.) LONDON, December 20. A High Command communique, issued in Berlin, says that, “as far as can, be ascertained, four vessels belonging to the British light naval forces were destroyed with bombs during a German reconnaissance flight, in the North Sea, which was carried out under most unfavourable weather. “A large British flyingboat was also brought down. “The German Air Force has destroyed 23 British patrol vessels during the past three days, including the trawlers Pearl, Evelina, Sedgefly and Trinity.’ 1 It is reported from Oslo that a German warplane bombed and sank the British trawler Trinity, which was fishing close to Norwegian territorial waters. Survivors were found, clinging to planks by a Danish fishing boat. They said that the Trinity had been blown to pieces and the crew machinegunned while struggling in the water. One was injured by a bullet. Bombs killed none, but one was drowned and another died from exhaustion after the rescue.