ANOTHER U.S. SHIP SUNK

Timaru Herald, Volume CL, Issue 22065, 11 September 1941, Page 5

ANOTHER U.S. SHIP SUNK

Torpedoed On Way To

Iceland

Three Members Of Crew Saved

By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (6.30) WASHINGTON, Sept 10. The State Department announced that the former Danish ship Sessa (1700 ton) taken over by the Maritime Commission and flying the Panama flag, was torpedoed 300 miles south-west of Iceland on August 17. Tweilty-four members of the ctew were lost and three were saved, including an American sailor.

The vessel was carrying supplies for the Iceland Government. The crew included three British subjects and one American subject. The remainder of the crew consisted of Danes, Norwegians and Portuguese. The ship was one of the former Danisli ships taken over by the United States. Although' she Was flying the flag of Panama, she Was owned and operated from New York. The cargo did not include munitions of war.

The United States Secretary of, State (Mr Cordell Hull) said that there was no question as to who made the attack. The ship Was owned by the United States, he . emphasised.

The latest outrage follows the Sinking of the American freighter Steel Seafarer (5719 tons) in the Red Sea by an aerial bomb on September. All hands were saved. Thp vessel, which was sunk on Sunday by an Unidentified aircraft, was fully lighted and was displaying the American colours and there could have been no mistake as to her identity. The attacking aircraft was not positively Identified, but the Germans report an attack by aircraft on shipping in the Gulf of Suez, Six of the crew of the Steel Seafarer were landed at Suez to-day. They had spent 24 hours on a bare raft before they were picked up. A Berlin spokesman said that any shipping venturing into that area was liable to be sunk. According to reliable sources in Cairo a German long-range bomber operating from Greece sank the Steel Seafarer. The announcement of the sinktag caused a sensation in Cairo where it is realised that any interference with the increasing Red Sea traffic must have far-reaching results. It is understood that the attack was made in bright moonlight, 200 miles wuth of Suez. Twenty-four survivors were landed at an island and British warships found the remainder in an ° P Berlta a clrcles declare that the staking of the Steel Seafarer need surprise no one. The ItaUans declared the afek a War zone long ago. Survivors from the Steel Seafarer were landed at a Red Sea port from a British warship after being 12 hours in an Open boat. They declared that the attack occurred about 11.30 p.m. when a German StUka, flying low, hardly above the topmast, dropped tWo bombs. One exploded aft and the other seemingly beneath her oiltank. The ship went down in 20 minutes. The “New York Times” commenting on the Sessa incident, says America is heading for a showdown with Germany oil Whether we shall yield control of the seas to a Government which seeks to destroy democracy. Washington sources now expect the navy at any moment to receive orders to shoot German warships and planes oh sight in the waters between America and Iceland.