Nazis Claim To Have Sunk 409 Ships

Northern Advocate, 9 February 1940, Page 5

Nazis Claim To Have Sunk 409 Ships

(Received 1 p.m.) LONDON, February 8. The German High Command claims that since the outbreak of the war, it had sunk 409 enemy and neutral merchant ships, of a total tonnage of 1.493.431, says a Berlin message. The German Navy has seized 354 ships of a tonnage of 607.881, whicn were brought to harbours for Prize Court proceedings. Admit Losing 42 Vessels. The Germans admit that they have lost 42 ships of a tonnage of 236,957, of which 141.525 tons were scuttled, and 13,106 were confiscated in enemy harbours, and 82.326 were captured. According to a London cable, the British Admiralty controverts the German claims. It says that up to February 4, only 274 allied and neutral merchant ships were lost. No Ships Captured. Of these. 143 were British, the total tonnage being 505,998; 14 French, 76.689 tons; and 117 neutral. 342.357 tons. The German Navy has not captured any British or French ships. The German figures must apply entirely to neutrals. The German freighter La Coruna (7414 tons) has saiied. apparently heavily laden, although she has a declared cargo of only 1600 tons, including 30,000 bags of coffee, 2000 cases of lard, and mica and nickel ore. says a cable from Rio de Janeiro.