FACTS ESTABLISHED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 7 September 1939, Page 7

FACTS ESTABLISHED

ATTACK ON THE ATHENIA BY SUBMARINE STATEMENT BY FIRST LORD. OVER 120 PERSONS STILL MISSING. (Received This Dav, 9.25 a.m.) LONDON, September .6. The First Lord of the Admiralty, Mr Winston Churchill in the House of Commons, said 125 persons who were on board the Athenia are' still missing. The submarine came to the surface after torpedoing the steamer and fired a shell, which exploded in the middle deck. The disaster might be of greater magnitude than had earlier been reported. It was now clearly established that the disaster was due to a submarine attack, made without warning at 7.45 a.m., British standard time or. September 3 The Athenia was unarmed. Twelve eye-witnesses had sworn affidavits that the submarine cruised round the sinking ship. Possibly some of those unaccounted for were aboard the Southern Cross. A radio report stated that Mr Churchill said that numerous British and American subjects had testified that the sinking of the Athenia was due to an attack by torpedo from a submarine made without warning. A shot was also fired and exploded on the middle deck. There were 1418 people on board, 1103 being passengers. So far 125 passengers and crew had not been accounted for, though it was possible that a number were on board of an American yacht. The Athenia was not defensively armed.