Move To Prevent Germans From Scuttling Ships

Northern Advocate, 26 January 1940, Page 5

Move To Prevent Germans From Scuttling Ships

LONDON, January 24

The First Lord of the Admiralty (Mr. Winston Churchill) was asked by Sir William Davison (ConservativeKensington) in the House of Commons whether his attention had been called to the growing practice of the German Navy and mercantile marine of scuttling ships in order to evade capture, relying on the British Navy to save and land the crews, notwithstanding the fact that the shipwreck was deliberately caused. And whether, having regard to the loss of captured tonnage thus caused to the Allies, notiCfe would be given Germany that in future Britain could not be responsible for saving the lives of the personnel of such German ships. Special Orders.

Mr. Churchill said the Admiralty was aware of the practice, and added: “Special orders have been given His Majesty’s ships with the view to frustrating these attempts."

Sir William Davison’s question, and a supplementary one asking whether Mr. Churchill was aware that in many cases the crews of scuttled ships were picked up with their belongings carefully packed, showing how deliberate the scuttling had been and that the crews expected their luggage as well as themselves to be landed safely at British ports, caused Vice-Admiral E. A. Taylor ' (Conservative-Paddingtor.) to interject:

“I hope the suggestion in the original Will hot be carried out.”