SAVING OF CREW

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20917, 23 September 1939, Page 8

SAVING OF CREW

SHELLS NEARER AND NEARER GALLANT BRITISH AIRMEN SEQUEL TO SUBMARINE ATTACK (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received Sept. 23, 3.15 p.m.) LONDON, Sept. 22 Captain J. Schofield, master of the Kensington Court, the crew of which were rescued by British airmen, said a submarine, without warning, shelled the vessel, which was bound for Birkenhead with Argentina wheat. He sighted the submarine, ordered full steam ahead, and sent out an "5.0.5." The submarine continued firing shells, continued the captain. "Each came nearer and near until I decided I must save the crew, so I ordered the boats to he lowered. Shells fell close on either side of the ship as we were abandoning her. "IHnlf-an-hour later we saw the planes. We did not dream that they would come down, and we were astonished and delighted when we saw’ two alight. The crew were ferried tw’o or three at a time to the flyingboats in the latters’ emergency rubber dinghies.’’ TRADE AGREEMENTS THE POSITION OF NEUTRALS WARNINGS BY GERMANY BRITAIN DENIES BREACH (Official Wireless) (Received Sept. 25, 3.15 p.m.) RUGBY, Sept. 22 The validity of the reported warnings by Germany that neutrals would be giuilty of a breach of neutrality in making war trade agreements with Britain which resulted in limiting exports to Germany and of overseas goods allowed transit through their territory to Germany is not admitted by authorities on international law in London. They point out that neutrals might counter the German claim by replying that by reason of its sea-power Britain could and would enforce the agreement that goods in transit shall not reach Germany. Thus, in order to assure her own supplies, such agreement must be made by a neutral in her own interests and is, in fact, made for no other reason than to benefit herself. War trade agreements limiting exports to Germany could be justified by a neutral by reference to her own needs, especially if she had already a system of export restriction licensing, but the technical answer to Germany in this regard is that there is no breach of neutrality in making an agreement with one belligerent if the neutral does not refuse to discuss and if practicable enter into an agreement with the other belligerent. Germany in the last war no doubt had many agreements with neutrals who also had agreements with Britain.