DISGUISED RAIDER

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVII, Issue 21508, 22 November 1939, Page 7

DISGUISED RAIDER

Departure From West Africa Flying British Flag United Press Association— By Electric Telegraph—Copyright (Received November 21, 6.30 p.m.) LONDON, November 20. The British United Press correspondent at Cape Town says that the Windhuk, a German liner of 16,662 tons, is reported to be disguised as British. She is carrying a full armament, with her speed increased beyond peace-time requirements. The crew- were picked from the crews of German vessels that are taking refuge at Lobito Bay (Portuguese West Africa). The Adolf Woermann, of 8577 tons, is believed to be used as a decoy to enable the Wlndhuk to get away. A cablegram received yesterday stated: The Windhuk and the Adolf Woermann left the port of Lobito Bay where they have taken refuge since the outbreak of the war, under cover of darkness recently. Both vessels belong to the Woermann Line, one of the largest German shipping companies. Their destination is not known. Their departure after weeks of inactivity has caused considerable speculation in Lobito Bay. It is being suggested that they have been summoned to a rendezvous with the German raider which disclosed its whereabouts by recently sinking the British tanker Africa Shell inside Portuguese territorial waters 180 miles north-east of Lourenco Marques (Mozambique). Crew of Africa Shell Tlie “Daily Telegraph’s” correspondent at Cape Town says that the crew of the Africa Shell were released conditionally upon not disclosing the identity of the attacking raider. It is suggested that the Windhuk and Adolf Woermann were to have joined the raider in an attempt to be convoyed to Germany. Prisoners From German Ship Fifty-eight prisoners from the German steamer Uhenfels, which was captured by a British vessel early this month, were brought from Freetown, West Africa, where they were temporarily interned. They were marched through the streets of a town on the south coast, guarded by troops with fixed bayonets. The prisoners included 10 officers, who were given the freedom of the ship en route from Freetown, but the others were kept under guard.