WARFARE AT SEA

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24221, 13 February 1940, Page 9

WARFARE AT SEA

THE OREGON’S EXPERIENCES DRIFTED FOR THREE DAYS APPROACHED BY U-BOAT (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) LISBON, Feb. 11. The British steamer Oregon arrived in tow. It reported that boiler trouble was experienced off Cape Finisterre, and the ship sent out an SOS and drifted for three days, when a U-boat approached but did not fire. It was presumably short of ammunition and left the Oregon to her fate. The next day a tug made contact, but the hawser snapped and the second officer and, two seamen were killed and another seriously injured. The Oregon was previously reported as torpedoed. TANKER TORPEDOED ABLE TO REACH PORT LONDON, Feb. 11. The tanker Ceronia has reached Britain after travelling 10 days practically broken in two by a torpedo 400 miles out in the Atlantic. The Burgerdijk (Dutch; 6853 tons) radioed that she was sinking on the south-west coast after a collision.

PASSENGERS AND CREW SAFE AMSTERDAM, Feb. 11. The captain sent a message to the owners that the Burgerdijk’s passengers and crew were safe after a collision. BOSTON TRADER ATTACKED TWO OF CREW INJURED LONDON, Feb. 11. An enemy plane dropped 12 to 16 bombs near the Boston Trader which was damaged in the shipping raids on February 9. The plane also circled the ship and machinegunned the crew, two of whom were slightly injured. The Gallia (Norwegian; 9968 tons) was mined off the south-east coast but remained afloat, and lifeboatmen helped to tow her to a safe anchorage. LOSS OF H.M.S. SPHINX VICTIMS CHOKED BY OIL (British Official Wireless) RUGBY, Feb. 11. The survivors of H.M.S. Sphinx reveal that oil poured from the vessel to calm the tempestuous seas choked many of the crew. COLLISION IN A FOG BRITISH FREIGHTERS OTTAWA, Feb. 11. (Received Feb 12, at 11 p.m.) Naval sources announced that the British freighters Kbranton and Comedian collided in a fog in the Atlantic on Saturday, but were brought in safety to a Canadian port. Three were injured. OFFICERS OF GRAF SPEE TRYING TO REACH HOME MONTEVIDEO, Feb. 11. The newspaper El Pais says several of the crew of the Admiral Graf Spee and Tacoma, mostly officers and experts, have disappeared. It is suspected that they have flown to Brazil to take ship for Italy and Germany.