LATEST CRIME AT SEA

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVIII, Issue 21624, 9 April 1940, Page 7

LATEST CRIME AT SEA

Norwegian Vessel Torpedoed Men Left Struggling In Water British Official Wireless RUGBY. April 7. “Norwegian vessels on voyage from Britain with coal or other similar cargo will not be attacked by German naval forces unless in convoy, but they may be examined.” This wqs one pre "ise by ViceAdmiral Schmiewlndt to Mr M. T. Halvorsen, who visited Germany on January 24 on liehalf of the Norwegian Shipowners’ Association, and who was authc ised by the Admiral to acquaint the Norwegian Minister in Berlin with the promise. In the early hours of April 6. the Norwegia - ' steamer Navarra (2118 tons), carrying coal from Swansea to Oslo, illuminated, and with her nationality marks painted large on her sides, sailing alone and on the ordinary course, was torpedoed without warning by a German submarine. The Navarra sank in two minutes. All the officers and nine of the crew were killed. - -io U-boat stood by watching the ten from one lifeboat struggling in the water after the boat hr.d -rpsized in launching, but made no effort to re:- '.er any assistance. The remaining lifeboat was left many miles from land and the occupants were rescued by a Finnish steamer which was guided to the lifeboat by a British patrolling aircraft. It is suggested in London that one can only hope for the sake of the tradition of future German sailors that the reason for the U-boat’s officer’s conduct can be explained in the words of the German captain of the Columbus, who said of the scuttling of his fine vessel, “but — orders are orders." The Norwegian Foreign Minister (Dr Koht) said yesterday that at least 12 Norwegian ships had been sunk by U-boats or bombers. The Navarra, therefore, is the 13th. A Norwegian spokesman said to-day that Norway had lost 64 ships since the beginning of the war.