THE HAXBY’S LOG

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 7 December 1940, Page 6

THE HAXBY’S LOG

REVEALS RAIDER'S MOVEMENTS MINES LAID OFF NEW ZEALAND COAST INTERCEPTING OF THE TROPIC SEA [U.P.A.-By Electric Telegraph-Copyrieht] (Received 6th December, 10.35 a.m.) NEW YORK. sth December. The log of the British freighter Haxby, which was sunk by a raider in April, reveals that the raider afterwards laid mines near New Zealand. The crew of the Haxby was taken prisoner and pu l , aboard i the captured Norwegian steamer Tropic Sea, which was seized near Norfolk Island and afterwards j scuttled off north-west Spai”. j The log shows that the Haxby left Greenock on Bth April for Texas and seven days after leaving her convoy a steamer flying the Greek colours crossed her bow. Then it hoisted the Nazi ensign and fired on the Haxby from four concealed six inch guns. The survivors were taken prisoner and the raider on 2nd May laid mines off West Africa. On 7th May she refuelled from the 5000-ton German tanker Winnetou and afterwards laid mines near New Zealand. On 18th June she intercepted the Tropic Sea and again refuelled from the Winnetou and placed the British sailors and a prize crew aboard. The Tropic Sea attempted to reach Bordeaux but was intercepted by a British submarine.