DANISH SHIPS HIRED

Southland Times, Issue 24112, 29 April 1940, Page 8

DANISH SHIPS HIRED

Britain's Right To

Seize Vessels

GERMAN VESSELS IN BAD REPAIR

(British Official Wireless) (Received April 26, 6.30 p.m.)

RUGBY, April 27. The Allied attitude towards the Danish mercantile marine was explained by the Minister of Shipping, Mr R S. Hudson, today. He said that as long as a ship was under the Danish flag she could be requisitioned by the Danish Government which, in the existing circumstances, meant by the Nazis, who dominated the Government of Denmark. “When we have driven the German merchant fleet from the seas,” he continued, “can anyone expect us to look supinely on and watch the place ot that fleet taken by ships flying the Danish flag but under German control with the proceeds of their earnings going into German pockets? In international law we have every right to seize a Danish ship found on the high seas and condemn her as a lawful prize. By law we can justly condemn her without compensation. We are sorry, however, for Danish owners and especially tor Danish masters and crews. We have offered to pay reasonable hire rates tor such ships on two conditions: First, that they are transferred to the British or French flag; and second, that the proceeds of the hire do not get back to Germany.” After paying a tribute to the British merchant service, Mr Hudson said that while the losses of British shipping through enemy action represented three per cent, of the total British merchant tonnage, this had been almost wholly made good by new building, purchases and captures. “In a recent week, Mr Hudson continued, “our gains from new construction and purchases were actually over double our total losses from all causes.” NAZI SHIPS NEGLECTED

Speaking of captured ships, Mr Hudson said he had cause to ask why such a long time had been taken to get these running in the British service, and he found that in practically all cases the Nazi ships had been neglected and required a thorough overhaul and repairs, while more than half of the crews’ quarters were so unsatisfactory as to necessitate extensive structural alteration. “This state of affairs, he added, “may well reflect the economic strain under which Nazi Germany has been living during the last few years and augurs well for the effect our blockade must have on her.” < Speaking from the report of a Britisn official living near Copenhagen, Mr Hudson revealed interesting facts about Danish trade before the Nazis’ invasion. Although the Danish Government was under an obligation to issue licences under the 1936 trade agreement to Danish importers of British goods, no such licences were forthcoming after the partial issue in January. As a result, by the time of the German invasion, warehouses in the free port were overflowing and importers of United Kingdom goods were clamouring for licences to clear their merchandise, but were unable to obtain them. “What was the reason for this reluctance on the part of the Danes?” Mr Hudson asked. “It was a real lack of foreign exchange, the result of direct German pressure or the wish to be in a position ‘to feed the brute’ and avoid a worse fate. Whatever the reason, the plan of the invaders was immediately evident. Early on the morning of April 10 all roads to the famous Liengelinie harbour and to the free port were blocked by armed guards, and a general looting of Copenhagen began. Down adjacent streets began an endless procession of lorries loaded with goods of every description. Drums of oil and grease, rubber tyres, boots, shoes, cement, scrap iron and every conceivable commodity were rushed in a steady stream. The show rooms of importers of British cars began to be emptied. Everything which the maurauders could lay hands on was removed for shipment to parts unknown, but which are easy to identify.” Mr Hudson also revealed that Norway had now joined the inter-Allied shipping executive and was thus working in close co-operation with Britain and France in unified control over the Allied shipping resources. CONVOY BROUGHT TO SAFETY MERCHANT CAPTAIN TAKES CHARGE (British Official Wireless) RUGBY, April 26. A thrilling exploit is now revealed of a merchant captain, who, on hearing the news of the German invasion of Norway, took the responsibility of bringing a convoy of 37 ships across the North Sea without a naval escort. Captain Pinkney had arrived in a Norwegian fiord in his ship the Flyingdale (2918 tons), of Whitby, to lead the convoy when he was informed by a Swedish ship at 9 a.m. that German troops were in Bergen. The fiord where the convoy had assembled was narrow and there was little room for the 37 ships to manoeuvre safely while waiting orders to proceed. A wireless message was brought up to the bridge instructing all British ships in Norwegian waters to sail immediately. Captain Pinkney turned his ship up the fiord and at that moment saw the German tanker Skagerrak come round its southern corner. “She bolted back,” he says. Within a few hours the Skagerrak scuttled herself, but Captain Pinkney had seen her decks crowded with men. Here was proof that something unusual was happening, so the signal “Convoy proceed to sea at once” was hoisted.

The first job of Captain Pinkney, upon whose shoulders the responsibility for the 37 merchant vessels had fallen, was to get the convoy safely away to sea. In the convoy there were 31 neutrals who might not. follow. Quietly, the Flyingdale moved slowly out to sea. Every neutral followed. At 4.30 p.m. the Flyingdale sighted three warships hull down on the horizon. Other ships of the convoy sighted them, too, and their signals fluttered out, “What do you intend to do?” Captain Pinkney had to decide whether the warships were friends or foes. The warships altered course straight for the convoy and he hoisted the signal to scatter. The warships, however, were a British escort sent to meet the convoy, and 37 more ships reached Britain safely. , FEARS OF INVASION OF SWEDEN PARIS, April 27. A French War Ministry Spokesman said the departure of several German troopships from the eastern shores of the Baltic increased fears of an invasion of Sweden. It was not known whether they were bound for Sweden or taking reinforcements to Norway. “That is tomorrow’s secret,” he said.

The Spokesman added that the Allies’ warships were closely patrolling the Skagerrak.