NEUTRAL SEAMEN PERISH

Southland Times, Issue 24056, 21 February 1940, Page 7

NEUTRAL SEAMEN PERISH

LATEST VICTIMS OF NAZI CAMPAIGN

FISHERMEN PICK UP SURVIVORS

TWO U-BOATS EVERY THREE DAYS CLAIMED

(United Press Assn.—Telegraph Copyright) (Received February 20, 10.30 p.m.) LONDON, February 20. Fishing boats from La Coruna (Spain) picked up survivors from the two latest victims of the Nazi war against neutrals. The crew of 26 of the Elli, bound for Greece laden with coal from Cardiff, took to the boats after a torpedo hit the ship. The U-boat then sank her with a second torpedo.

Twenty-two of the crew of 29 of the Banderas perished after an explosion sank the ship six miles from Cape Pilano. Two were seriously injured.

It is officially stated in Berlin that Germany is no longer bound by the London Submarine Convention because Britain is arming all ships. The Geneva Journal de Geneve says Germany is turning out two submarines every three days, and is preparing 200 U-boats for Herr Hitler’s “second phase of the naval war.” A State Department spokesman said at Washington that the German claim that Britain violated neutrality in taking the captured Dusseldorf with prisoners aboard through the Panama canal was not tenable as the canal was an international highway. NORWEGIAN SEAMEN PROTEST INDISCRIMINATE SINKING OF NEUTRAL SHIPPING (British Official Wireless) RUGBY, February 19. Commentary on the tendentious outbursts by the Nazis against Britain’s alleged violation of international law and the rights of neutral countries in regard to the Altmarck case is contained in a resolution passed by Norwegian seamen’s unions and presented to the Norwegian Foreign Secretary (Monsieur H. Koht), on February 16. The resolution states: “Acting on information in our possession we are resolved to protest with the greatest indignation against the form of sea warfare which is now being waged and which seems to have as its prime object the terrorization of neutral ships. We also wish to express our disappointment at the prevailing powerlessness in the face of demands that international law should be respected. “Neutral shipping nations know of no means of demanding a cessation of the massacre of shipping. The number of sinkings which recently have taken place must be condemned as demonstrably conflicting with international law and human feeling. “It may perhaps be possible to destroy Norwegian shipping, but it is impossible to frighten the men into staying on land. We can urge upon members not to go in ships which carry cargo to a belligerent Power which has declared itself proud of war and of aimlessly murdering defenceless seamen. “The seamen’s nrs>ar>i-z-+ solved'further to demand that the authorities give due auenuu,. ... ... ..« on our merchant ships when trade agreements are concluded and to ensure that in future seamen will not be exposed to the illegal warfare which is now in progress.”