CALLOUS NAZIS

Waikato Times, Volume 126, Issue 21082, 8 April 1940, Page 7

CALLOUS NAZIS

STEAMER TORPEDOED PROMISE NOT KEPT CREW LEFT TO PERISH (Omclal Wireless) (Received April 8, 11.15 a.m.) RUGBY, April 7 “ Norwegian vessels on a voyage from Britain with coal or other similar cargo will not be attacked by German naval forces unless in convoy, but they may be examined.” This was one promise by ViceAdmiral Schmiewindt to Mr M. T. Halvorsen, who visited Germany on February 21 on behalf of the Norwegian Shipowners’ Association, and who was authorised by the Admiral to acquaint the Norwegian Minister at Berlin with the promise. In the early hours of April 6 the Norwegian steamer Navarra, of 2118 tons, carrying coal from Swansea to Oslo, illuminated and with its nationality marks painted large on the sides, sailing alone and on the ordinary course, was torpedoed without warning by a German submarine. The Navarra sank in two minutes, and all officers and nine of the crew were killed. The U-boat stood by, watching the men from one lifeboat struggling in the water after the boat had capsized in the launching, but made no effort to render any assistance. The remaining lifeboat was left many miles from land and the occupants were rescued by a Finnish steamer, which was guided to the lifeboat by a British patrolling aircraft. It is suggested here that one can only hope, for the sake of the tradition of future German sailors, that the reason for the U-boat officers’ conduct can be explained in the word of the German captain of the Columbus, who said of the scuttling of his fine vessel: “ But—orders are orders.” OSLO, April 7 The Foreign Minister said yesterday that at least 12 Norwegian ships have been sunk by U-boats or bombers. The Navarra, therefore, is the thirteenth. Eight Separate Attacks German bombers attacked the Norwegian steamer Mira, of 1152 tons, on eight separate occasions in her six-day voyage from Newcastle to Norway. Warships shot down two attackers and damaged a third, which was forced down at Stavanger on April 3. In the latest bombing attack two of the vessel’s 107 passengers were injured. A British destroyer rushed up during the attack and drove off the aeroplanes. Another Norwegian ship has been torpedoed without warning. She is the Navarra, of 2118 tons, and was attacked in northern Scottish waters yesterday morning. She foundered in-a few minutes. The U-boat remained in the vicinity for half an hour, but made no attempt to pick up survivors. All the officers and nine men of the Navarra’s crew were killed, but 14 others were picked up by a Finnish vessel and landed in Britain last night. Nazis Fire on Lighthouses German bombers, in the recent raid on Scapa Flow, machine-gunned the Dunconsby Head and Storma lighthouses, in the Pentland Firth. The keepers heard the bullets rattling on the masonry, but no material damage was caused. German aeroplanes machine-gun-ned three Belgian fishing boats in the North Sea. One has returned to port, but the others continued fishing. The Maritime Inquiry Commission states: “ The attacks were completely unjustified.”