GERMAN SEAMEN CAPTURED

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVIII, Issue 21559, 23 January 1940, Page 7

GERMAN SEAMEN CAPTURED

Intercepted By British Warship United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright LONDON, January 22. Twenty-one German seamen who were attempting to make their way home from Japan and Russia have been captured by a British naval vessel in the North Pacific, according to an announcement made in Hong Kong. All the men were reported to be of military age, and it is believed that they were members of the crew of the German liner Colombus, which was scuttled some time ago, and who had been landed in New York. These men had last been reported from San Francisco. They were caught when the Japanese liner Asama Maru was stopped in the North Pacific ocean. Under international iaw, a country has the right to take all enemy subjects of military age from neutral vessels. The Nippon Yusen Kaisha agency in New York announces that all German bookings have now been cancelled. “Very Disagreeable” The Japanese Foreign Office spokesman said: “The incident occurred very near our shores. We consider it a very disagreeable action. Whether or not a protest will be lodged will be decided when more information is received.” The spokesman added that Britain notified Japan three weeks ago of her intention to seize German seamen on Japanese liners. The. San Francisco representative of the Nippon Yusen Kaisha Line said it was improbable that the company would carry any more Germans across the Pacific. "We do not like shots across the bows, have our ships searched and passengers removed.” Fight Stopped on Ship It is stated from Tokio that Dr. Robinso” Duff, a Chicago passenger, reported that a German struck a member of the British armed party during questioning. Captain Gross, leader of the Germans, intervened to stop a fight. The German Embassy in a statement said that apparently tne British Navy did not hesitate to capture Germans who were non-members of the active military services from a Japanese ship in the neighbourhood of the Japanese coast. Tire Emt-ssy is investigating the detail, to determine future action. A number of German sailors aboard the Ginyo Maru who sailed from San Francisco on January 15 are expected to be seized in the North Pacific.