BRITISH WARSHIPS OFF PETSAMO

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 84, Issue 44, 22 February 1940, Page 5

BRITISH WARSHIPS OFF PETSAMO

. NO MORE BLOCKADERUNNERS GERMAN SHIPS IN NORWEGIAN WATERS : | (By Telegraph—Press Association Copyright) ! LONDON, Feb. 20. h The Rome correspondent of The Times says the Italian Press and radio ] give prominence to the reported I, presence of a British cruiser and 11 other warships off Petsamo. It is con- j .lectured that Britain is preparing for ; action against German blockade-run- • ners using the far northern passage. : The German official news agency! slated that Mr. Neville Chamberlain’s i reprimand to Norway proves Britain ■ is openly demanding military aid from ! the neutrals. The captain of the Altmarck, Cap- . lain Dau, declared that he was now ' free to sail his ship. Norway has not ; placed any restraint. Tugs are needed to pull the Altmarck off the rocks ■ where she is ice-bound. Captain Dau said the ship’s stern I was ashore, the rudder broken and | one propeller damaged. The ship, in | the Gulf of Mexico at the outbreak’; of war, received orders to place her- ■ self at the disposal of the Admiral Graf Spee to which she acted as a supply ship throughout her activities. ; Desiring to observe the law on neutral waters he ordered no retaliation to the Cossack crew’s fire, to which not a shot was returned. ’ The newspaper Aftonbladet says it is grotesque that the Norwegian Navy , should protect foreign submarines sinking Norway’s ships and killing her people. Danish seafarers’ organisations have sent an open letter Io the British and German Governments. The letter to Britain protests against the Government forcing neutral ships sailing between countries to enter danger zones. | The letter to Germany protests against sinkings without warning. I