TWO LOST

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23486, 25 October 1939, Page 9

TWO LOST

BRITISH STEAMERS BWEDISH VESSEL SUNK ACTION AGAINST SUBMARINES AIR FORCE SUCCESSES By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright LONDON, Oct. 23 The British steamer Sea Venture, of 2327 tons, was sunk as the result of enemy action off the north coast of Scotland. The crew of 25 landed on an island, after rowing 15 miles. They were later picked up by a lifeboat.Fourteen members of the crew of the British coastal steamer Whitemantle, of 1692 tons, which was sunk in the Atlantio, are missing. Five survivors were landed at an east coast port and sent to hospital. An explosion, believed to have been due to a submarine, sank the Swedish steamer Albania, of 1241 tons, in the North Sea. The crew took to a raft. A collier picked up 19, but the chief engineer and a fireman were drowned when the raft capsized, though it afterward righted. The survivors were landed in England. Air Attacks on IT-Boats" The Air Ministry announces that Royal Air Force aeroplanes are believed recently to have sunk two U-boats in the North Sea and the Atlantic. After their attacks the pilots circled over where the submarines had disappeared, but saw nothing more of them. Following is a pilot's report of 4he attack on the U-boats, says a British official message: —"Reconnaissance aircraft Bighted and attacked a submarine. A salvo of anti-submarine bombs was dropped ahead of the periscope and the submarine dived steeply. The air gunner said definitely that he noticed a second under-water explosion after the explosion of the bombs. The aircraft then turned about and flew over the submarine a second time and dropped a second salvo. Patches of Oil Seen "Patches of oil were observed after the first salvo, and more extensively after the second attack. Nothing more was seen of the U-boat." The pilot "of an Atlantic patrol aircraft says:—"An enemy submarine was sighted some distance away. It dived and several heavy bombs were dropped on it. The first is thought to have been a direct bit. Dark objects appeared on the water after the attack and air bubbles rose to the surface. A second bombing attack was made near the same position." Comparison With 1917 Although two British, four French and three neutral ships were sunk last week the losses are small compared with the average week of 1917, being 10 per cent in number and 21 per cent in tonnago of the comparative figures. It is also announced that there is no confirmation of the report that a cruiser has sunk the German air base vessel Sellwabenland, which is thought to be the raider that sank the Clement. It is officially denied that the old battleship Iron Duke, which was damaged in the air raid on Scapa Flow on October 17, had been rearmoured or rearmed.

ARMED MERCHANTMEN

USE OF DUTCH PORTS LEGAL INTERPRETATION GERMAN CLAIM CORRECTED British Wireless LONDON. Oct. 23 The German broadcast announcement that in future Holland will allow only British merchant ships to enter Dutch territorial waters after the surrender of their armament is not quite accurate. Entry into Dutch ports by merchantmen of all nations fitted with guns for self-defence is regulated by a Netherlands proclamation of neutrality. Merchantmen such as British vessels are armed only for self-defence against German U-boats, which sink British and neutral ships. The wording of tho Dutch proclamation is such that British ships trading to Dutch ports, and genuinely armed for self protection against German "ships, will suffer no restriction.

The claim of Germany that arming for self-defence converts a merchant vessel into a warship, is not in accordance with international law, under which such arming is a normal and recognised procedure. Germany is the only country denying the right of merchantmen to defend themselves when attacked by a submarine determined to sink them.