CAPTURE BY THE DEUTSCHLAND

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 255, 28 October 1939, Page 7

CAPTURE BY THE DEUTSCHLAND

RADIO OPERATOR'S STORY Received Oct. 27, 9.35 p.m. LONDON, Oct. 27. The Daily Mail publishes the work copyright story of the Deutschland’: capture of the City of Flint, giver by an eye-witness, James G. McConnochie, of Glasgow, radio operatoi aboard the vessel, who escaped hi: captors and arrived at Bergen. H( said: “Six days out from New York wt fell in with the Deutschland. At first we thought she was a British warshif and then we saw the German flag, Ai the guns were trained on us and she signalled us to stop and ordered us tc shut down the radio. A number o German officers and sailors, armec with revolvers and hand-grenades came aboard and discovered wc carried large quantities of oil. The crew lined up and were told that < prize crew was coming aboard to take us to Germany. An officer said th* Deutschland already had sunk tin Stonegate and intended to put 38 o her crew aboard us. Thereupon th* Deutschland departed, leaving th* prize crew in command. “The City of Flint’s funnels were re painted and the ship's name and th* United States Hag painted out. A false name was substituted. “We arrived at Tromso at 5 p.m on October 20. Customs officers cami aboard and discovered the trui nationality and the Norwegians wouk not permit us to depart until th* American flag was repainted. Noi wegian destroyers stood by. The Gelmans landed the Stonegate’s crew. The Stonegate’s men said their officer, forced them to sign a declaration noi to fight before going aboard the City of Flint.”