STRIKES MINE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23512, 24 November 1939, Page 7

STRIKES MINE

BRITISH DESTROYER 10 RATINGS MISSING TWENTY-ONE INJURED WRECKAGE BEACHED By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright (Received November 23, 7.15 p.m.) LONDON. Nov. 23 An official report says that the British destroyer Gipsy struck a mine off the east coast on Tuesday night and was subsequently beached. Twenty-one officers and men are reported to have been injured and about 40 ratings are missing. Violent explosions offshore attracted hundreds of people to the coast, from which they 6aw the stricken destroyer apparently sinking. Huge volumes of smoke hung over the scene and when it cleared away searchlights from the land and naval vessels re.vealcd the sea dotted with swimmers and floating wreckage. Small boats quickly picked up the survivors, over 100 being landed during the night. One vessel which was anchored close to the scene picked up 80 men. Survivors came singing into port, wearing all kinds of clothing from dress-ing-gowns to bathing suits. One man said the destroyer struck tho mine amidships. When she was beached in shallow water she appeared to be broken in half, and portion of the hull was visible above water at dawn. Prior to the mishap the Gipsy had picked up three German airmen from a collapsible J)oat, and had also rescued the crew of a ship sunk in the North Sea a few days ago. GREEK VICTIM GRAIN-SHIP SUNK MINE OFF SOUTH COAST WHOLE OF CREW RESCUED (Received November 24, 12.25 a.m.) * LONDON, Nov. 23 The latest vessel to be sunk by German mines is the 4600-ton Greek steamer Elena R. The vessel was sunk off the south coast of England while on the way from the River Plato to Antwerp with a cargo of grain. The crew of 24 took to the boats. Lifeboats \Vent out and brought them ashore. The Elena R. went down after about an hour. Nine of the crew of 10 lost their lives in a French trawler which was sunk off the south coast on Monday night. The hull of the Italian steamer Fianona, which struck a mine off the Kentish coast last night, as previously reported, apparently split above Water level. The ship was almost empty, and therefore more buoyant, and efforts are being made to tow her to port. The violent explosion when she struck bhe mine shook coastal residences. SHELLED BY WARSHIP GERMAN MERCHANTMAN RAN ASHORE IN ICELAND LONDON, Nov. 22 The Admiralty announces that a British warship intercepted the German steamer Bertha Fisser, of 4110 tons, near Iceland. The vessel ignored warnings to stop, so was shelled. The Germans began to scuttle their ship and then took to the boats. They were picked up by the warship. The Reykjavik correspondent of the Associated Press of America reports that a ship, the wreckage of which hears the name Bertha Fisser, is lying in two pieces on the rocks outside Harnafjord Harbour. The name Ada' Bergen had been painted on her sides. TWO U-BOATS SUNK FRENCH TORPEDO-BOAT I (Received November 23. 7.30 p.m.) British Wireless LONDON, Nov. 22 A French official communique says two enemy submarines, one of which was spotted by naval aircraft, were sunk by the same French torpedo-boat at throe daj's' interval. DEFENCE OF FIJI DONATION BY COMPANY (Received November 23, 6.15 p.m.) SUVA, Nov. 23 The Colonial Sugar Refining Company has voluntarily donated £2500 toward the cost of Fiji's local defence. Collections in Fiji for the Red Cross, London, exceed £2OOO.