FATE OF VESSEL

Waikato Times, Volume 126, Issue 21038, 14 February 1940, Page 7

FATE OF VESSEL

CONFLICTING REPORTS WAS SHE SCUTTLED? FEAR OF BRITISH CRUISER (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) 1 NEW YORK, Feb. 12 Conflicting reports have been received from Rio de Janeiro concerning the fate of the German freighter Wakama, of 3771 tons, which sent an S.O.S. message when off Cabo Frio, 72 miles east cf Rio de Janeiro, whence she had sailed at midnight last night. Indications are that she has been scuttled by her crew. The vessel is reported to have been carrying a cargo valued at 1,000,000 dollars and comprising lard, hides, cotton, seed oil, mica, wool and waste. The correspondent of the New York Times says it is believed that the Wr.kama was scuttled when she sighted a British cruiser. Set Ship On Fire The representative of the United Press says a sailor from the British cruiser Hawkins stated that the Wakama was scuttled off the coast north-east of Rio de Janeiro. The sailor added that the Germans opened the sea-cocks and set the ship on fire. The last-mentioned correspondent says officials at the British Embassy denied knowledge of a British cruiser sinking the Wakama. • The correspondent of the Associated Press of America also quotes a sailor from the cruiser Hawkins, which docked in Rio de Janeiro shortly after receipt of the S.O.S. message from the Wakama. This rating is reported as saying: “We think one of the other warships got her, but we are not certain.” Later, sailors from the Hawkins said that the Germans set fire to the Wakama when she was overhauled by three cruisers, the Hawkins, Shropshire and Dorsetshire, after which, presumably, she sank. A spokesman said: “We had been proceeding to Rio when I suddenly realised that we were going rapidly in the opposite direction. One of the officers said: ‘We must be chasing the Wakama.’ Then we saw her, but we soon saw fire coming from her and we turned back. Order To Surrender “I learned that the Dorsetshire sent an aeroplane over the Wakama and ordered her to surrender, whereupon the crew took to the lifeboats, after setting her on fire. As far as I know the Wakama’s crew is still in the small boats. At least, they definitely are not on board the Hawkins.” The Hawkins is the only cruiser to put into Rio de Janeiro. It is thought in Rio de Janeiro that the Germans are on board the Shropshire. This belief is prompted by the appearance of sailors wearing “Shropshire” cap ribands among men from the Hawkins who have gone ashore. This would indicate that some of the Shropshire men had been transferred to the Hawkins to make rocm for the Germans after they had been rescued. It is reported that the Spanish freighter Ariaga-Mendi, of 5525 tons, and the Brazilian steamer Eage. of 8235 tons, arrived at the spot whence the S.O.S. originated, but found no trace of the Wakama. Other Vessels Sail Six other German freighters—the Konigsberg (6466 tons), Sao Paulo (4977 tons), Wolfsburg (6201 tons), Bahia (4117 tons), La Coruna (7414 tons) and Santcs (5943 tons) —have sailed from ports in Brazil since January 1. The Konigsberg was off the mouth of the River Amazon yesterday, but the others have not been reported.