CAPTURE OF CITY OF FLINT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23489, 28 October 1939, Page 11

CAPTURE OF CITY OF FLINT

RADIO OPERATOR'S STORY ARMED GERMANS BOARD THE SHIP By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received October 27, 7.40 p.m.) • ■ LONDON, Oct. 27 The Daily Mail publishes a world copyright message giving the first eye-witness* story of the Deutschland's capture of the City of Flint. It is told by Mr. James G. McConnochie, of Glasgow, radid operator aboard the United States steamer, who escaped from the captors and has arrived at Bergen. "Six days out from New York," says Mr. McConnochie, v we fell in with the Deutschland. At first we thought she was a British warship, but then we saw the German flag. "All the German battleship's guns were trained on us, and she signalled us to stop besides ordering us to shut down our radio. "A number of German officers and isailors, armed with revolvers and hand grenades, came aboard. They, discovered that, we carried large quantities of oil. Our crew was lined jip and we were told that a prize crew was coming aboard to take us to Germany. ' ' _ " An officer said the Deutschland had already sunk the Stonegate and that it was intended to put 38 members of her crew aboard us. Thereupon the Deutschland departed, leaving a prize crew in command of our vessel. The funnel of the City of Flint was repainted, the ship's name and the United States flag ; were painted out, and a false name was substituted. "We arrived at Tromso at 5 p.m. on October 20. Customs, officers came aboard and discovered the true nationality of the vessel. The Norwegians would not permit us to depart until the; American flag had been repainted on the ship. Norwegian, destroyers stood by while the Germans landed the Stonegate's crew. "The Stonegate's men said the German officers had forced, them to sign a declaration not to fight before coming aboard the City of Flint."