MILLIONS INVOLVED

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVIII, Issue 21822, 27 November 1940, Page 5

MILLIONS INVOLVED

Action Over German Ships By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received November 26, 6.30 p.m.) LONDON, November 25 Lloyds’ underwriters attach such importance to an action regarding German ships whose cargoes were lost as a result of German action that they indicated their intention to pay the cost of going to the House of Lords even before the Court of Appeal issued judgment against them to-day. Millions sterling are reported to be involved. The King’s Bench earlier upheld the underwriters’ contention that claims concerning cargoes by three companies to which they were consigned were not allowable because the loss was not due to causes covered by the policies. The Court of Appeal reversed this ruling on the ground that the frustration clause afforded the underwriters no defence. One ship, the Wangoni, took refuge at Vigo two days before the outbreak of war and sailed for Hamburg last March. The others, the Halle and Inden, were scuttled in order to escape capture. The appellants contended that the German Government was guilty of converting the goods to its own use. As a result the owners suffered loss on the voyage in addition to loss on the goods.

Gaol for Spy A message from Manila states that Captain Rueo Romero was sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonn.ent for photographing defence documents, presumably for a foreign Power-