Britain Refutes German Attack on Shipping Charges

Northern Advocate, 24 February 1940, Page 7

Britain Refutes German Attack on Shipping Charges

(Received 3 p.m.) RUGBY. February 23

London naval circles do not consider that Germany's latest attempt to persuade the world of her strict regard for international law, and on the other hand, Britain’s constant disregard for it, will be found by any unbiased critic to be very impressive when confronted with the fact. The German wireless station at Zessan lias made five accusations against Britain for attacking German merchantmen in neutral waters. As a result of careful investigation of these charges by the British Government, it is now possible to state the true facts. Outside Territorial Waters. In every case the German ships were outside territorial waters when they were either taken in charge or attacked by British ships. The ships were the Fr.anken, which was sighted well outside Dutch territorial waters; the Bertha Fisser. which scuttled herself .outside territorial waters near the coast of Iceland; the Arauca, which was located outside American territorial waters and took refuge at Port Everglades, Florida; the Glucksburg, which was sighted seven miles from the Spanish coast, and which was abandoned and left to run ashore; the Wak.ama which was not attacked when she scuttled herself. She was not in territorial waters. All her officers and men were picked up by a British warship and all prisoners are safe and sound.