ACT OF PIRACY

Waikato Times, Volume 126, Issue 21039, 15 February 1940, Page 7

ACT OF PIRACY

TORPEDOING OF LINER LOSSES BY NEUTRALS GERMANS’ BARBARISM (Official Wireless) (Received Feb. 15, 11 a.m.) RUGBY, Feb. 14 The torpedoing of the Holland America liner Burgerdijk when returning from New York to Rotterdam with grain for Dutch consumption is described by the News-Chronicle as one of the most calculated acts of piracy yet committed by the Nazis. An officer on the Burkerdijk explained to the U-boat commander that the ship was not calling at any British port but the reply was: “My orders are to sink all neutral ships.” There could hardly be plainer evidence, says the newspaper, that Germany is at war not merely with the Allies but with every civilised nation. The Manchester Guardian, commenting on this outrage, writes: “International law has never taken the view that neutral shipping in coastal waters of a belligerent can be penalised in any way, yet the Deutsche Allegmeine Zeitung repeatedly announced that such ships are liable to be sunk by mines or torpedoes without warning. This is a piece of barbarism. The Germans terrorise neutrals and insult them by their arguments. Yet the neutrals stick courageously to their rights and will go on doing so.” Advice to Neutrals The News-Chronicle points to the success of the convoy system and suggests that to preserve their shipping and their seaborne trade neutral countries should join the convoys in ever-increasing numbers. As the figures published yesterday revealed, only eighteen of the 0284 ships sailing in British convoys have been lost. Of these two were neutral, one being sunk by a mine and the other by submarine action. The newspaper comments: “Britain, in short, can offer a safe passage to neutral shipping. Neutrals should take greater advantage of that offer. By doing so they may offend Berlin, but, as they have discovered to their cost, placating Berlin does not save their ships.”