GERMAN RAIDERS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23985, 7 December 1939, Page 9

GERMAN RAIDERS

BRITISH NET CLOSING IN SWIFT NAVAL PATROLS DOMINION VESSELS ASSISTING (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraiph—Copyright) LONDON, Dec. 5. (Received Dec. 6, at 11 p.m.) Swift and heavily armed British naval patrols are strung out from the Arctic seas across the Atlantic to the fringe of the southern polar waters, and eastward to the Indian Ocean, drawing the net closer round the German raiders, who are getting hard pressed for overhaul and adequate refuelling facilities, and face the severity of advancing winter. The Dominion navies are assisting in sweeping the seas from the African coast to the Pacific. A summary of the latest reports confirms that the Deutschland has lately been operating in northern seas, while the Admiral Sch'eer has been in the eastern Atlantic in the vicinity of the “deep water route” to Australia. It is unlikely that the raiders have materially changed their zones of operations during the past few days owing to the importance of conserving fuel and the necessity of making wide sweeps from normal waters to avoid the British hunters. The Daily Telegraph’s Capetown correspondent says that there is no further news of the Doric Star or the 64 members of the crew. It is believed that she was sunk on December 2 400 miles west of Walvis Bay. The Times Durban correspondent says the officers of the Africa Shell are under the strictest orders not to disclose the identity of the raiders or the waters in which the sinking occurred. The chief officer, Mr Frank Masfield, detailing the attack, said that the raiders appeared at surprising speed, fired a .warning shot from three miles, swung broadside oh and lowered a boat when half a mile away. The boarding party wore lifebelts and were a nondescript crowd clad in white and blue oilskins, with boiler suits and no names on their caps! “The officer spoke perfect English and ordered us to the boats. The Germans placed bombs in the ship and departed at 12.30 p.m., and the fbredeck blew up at 12.40 p.m. and the engine room at 12.55 p.m. The funnel was blow into the air and there was wreckage everywhere. Our two boats were beached and we encamped hear native fires. A mail plane flying pver dropped a message attached to a spanner, but it dropped into the sea. We swam out, but could riot Arid it. We then walked 25 miles to Zavora Point lighthouse arid got a rescue party.” CONTRABAND CONTROL FRANK GERMAN ADMISSION ZURICH, Dec. 5. (Received Dec. 6, at 11.45 p.m.) Emil Helferrich, one of the most notable German economists, In an; article in Field-marshal Goering’s periodical “The Five Year Plan,” admits that the British contraband control has strangled Germany’s export trade. Hundreds pf German ships are trapped in ports throughout the world and huge quantities of goods awaiting shipment' are piled up at the larger German ports. Importers were unable to- unload and store goods which might arrive. The tragedy •of the last war was beirig repeated, and firms were unable to build tip financial reserves owing to taxation and interest payments. He adds: “ The Government must provide capital immediately to keep them afloat, release them from rent obligations, and provide substitute business." The article has occasioned great surprise throughout Germany arid it is suggested that the differences which have existed for some time between Goering and the Reichbank may be the reason for the publication of the article.