NAVAL LOSS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23504, 15 November 1939, Page 11

NAVAL LOSS

SECOND EDITION

BRITISH DESTROYER SEVERAL CASUALTIES SUBMAKINE ACTION SURVIVORS PICKED UP By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright (Received November 15, 2..'10 a.m.) LONDON, Nov. 14 The Admiralty announced to-day thai a British destroyer, the name of which is not given, was sunk by a German submarine. One rating is dead and six ratings are missing. Three officers and 12 ratings are injured. Tugs heard the explosion and rushed to the scene. One tug took the destroyer in tow, but the warship soon sank by the stern. Tugs and drifters rescued over 70 members of the crew. Several of the survivors landed practically without clothing, and all were covered with oil. This is the first destroyer lost since the beginning of the war. A cargo vessel of 8000 tons, from Liverpool, was sunk by an explosion in the North Sea last night. Two men were killed and 22 injured. The captain, pilot, officers and crew of Lascars were rescued.

Tho trawler Creswell, of Fleetwood, is believed to have been sunk by a submarine in the North Sea. Six of the crew were rescued by the trawler Felicia which reported the loss by radio. S' x other members of the crew are missing.

SINKING OF LINER MINE AT SINGAPORE SOME CHILDREN DROWNED AMERICANS' MISFORTUNE (Received November 14, 6.40 p.m.) SINGAPORE, Nov. 14 It is now officially stated that the loss of the British India Steam Navigation Company's passenger liner Sirdliana, of 7745 tons, at Singapore was due to a mine. Eleven deck passengers, chief!} 7 children, were lost, and nine other Asiatic passengers are missing.

A total of 137 Chinese, who were being banished to Hongkong, were below decks behind a grille when the explosion occurred. The European police officer in charge blew off the locks with his revolver and all the Chinese escaped from the sinking vessel.

The American magician Nicola, who recently toured Australia and New Zealand, and nine members of his company, were among those rescued. The troupe, all of whom are. Americans, lost 100,000 dollars' worth of uninsured equipment.

CONTRABAND CONTROL' LESS DELAY TO SHIPS (Received November 14, 7.30 p.m.) British Wireless LONDON, Nov. 18 Delay to ships at the British contraband control bases is steadily decreasing. Naturally, there are now fewer ships carrying cargoes loaded before the war, and shipping of all kinds is responding to the advice to send advance manifests to the Ministry of Economic Warfare. Where this procedure is followed it is only necessary to check the cargo against the manifest and often the delay is no longer than one day. The difference between absolute and conditional control has almost disappeared, because a great many materials can be used either for military or civil purposes at option. For instance, during the last war when milk was scarcely interfered with, German children were deprived of milk in order to provide the German Army with nitro-glycerine. Until the end of October, only 16.8 per cent of seized cargoes was foodstuffs, consisting mainly of fats and other edibles easily convertible into specifically military materials. The ultimate decision whether a cargo is contraband rests with the Prize Court, which is not subject to executive control, but administers wellknown rules of international law. Holland and Belgium suffered acutclv from the shipping delay in the early "days of the war because their seaports were natural gateways to Germany. But the delays are now very considerably less.

CHARTER OF VESSEL AMERICAN COMPANY (Received November 14, 9.30 p.m.) NEW YORK, Nov. 14 The Black Diamond Line is the first in the United States to charter a foreign vessel with a foreign crew to trade in the combat zone. The company announced to-day that it lias chartered the Norwegian steamer Olaf Bergh, of 5711 tons, for service to Antwerp and Rotterdam.