THRILLING STORY

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20995, 23 December 1939, Page 8

THRILLING STORY

ADRIFT FOR DAYS EXPERIENCE OF DUTCHMEN INHUMAN NAZI METHODS (United Preas Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received Dec. 23, 3.15 p.m.) LONDON, Dec. 22 It is now possible to tell a fuller story of the sinking of the Dutch tanker Sliedrecht by a Üboat. This neutral ship, bound for a neutral port, was 150 miles from land in bad weather and no provision whatever was made for the safety of the crew. It will be recollected that Germany sought to cover up this disgraceful act by a statement that a British Q-ship, flying Dutch colours, had been sunk by a U-boat in the Atlantic. Their claim was naturally dropped when five members of the crew of the Sliedrecht reached a west coast port after they had been adrift in an open boat in the Atlantic for seven and a-half days before being picked up by a British trawler.

M. Pieter Brons, mate of the Sliedrecht, who comes from Holland, said in an interview in hospital that the Sliedrecht was about 150 miles west of Ireland at 8.30 p.m. on November 16 when a German submarine signalled her to heave to. A small boat was launched and M. Brons and four others rowed across. Owing to the heavy swell it was with difficulty that they could get alongside the submarine. After examining the ship’s papers the submarine commander said he would have to sink the Sliedrecht. He gave half-an-hour to abandon ship.

“We told him it was a neutral ship, bound for a neutral port,” said M. Brons, “but he said that he would still have to sink it. We then asked him to take us aboard the submarine and transfer us to another vessel, but he refused saying that he had no room. Warning By Commander “The commander warned us that if we sent any distress signals we would be immediately sunk without further warning. “The sea was so rough that we took nearly half-an-hour to row back and we had only time to tell those on board to abandon ship. The remaining 26 of the crew then launched a lifeboat and rowed away from the tanker. “ Soon afterwards the submarine fixed a torpedo, which exploded with a terrific flash. After the ship had sunk we stayed near the spot in the hope of being picked up by a friendly ship, but none cane in sight.” The mate of the Sliedrecht went on to describe the efforts of the boat in which he was in to keep up with the other boat, which was overcrowded. It had disappeared when dawn came. “ Toward the evening of the day following the sinking of our boat the weather became worse, and we set a course as best we could, hoping that the wind would blow us toward the Irish coast in spite of the northward drift of the Gulf Stream. We had no compass and relied on the stars when we could see them. Only Bread and Water “We had only bread and water on board. Our clothes were never dry. After enduring cold and hunger for seven days we at last sighted land on November 16, and were picked up by a trawler, which conveyed us to port, where we were taken by ambulance to the West Highland cottage hospital.” BRITAIN AND YUGOSLAVIA EXCHANGE OF GOODS (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received Dec. 23, 3.15 p.m.) BELGRADE, Dec. 22 Press reports an Anglo-Yugoslav agreement for the exchange of ores, concentrates and timber, for wool’ leather, rubber, cotton, tin and petrol.