NIGHT OF TERROR

Evening Star, Issue 23371, 14 September 1939, Page 11

NIGHT OF TERROR

ATHENIA'S AMERICAN SURVIVORS SUDDEN AND COLD-BLOODED ATTACK U-BOAT TRIED TO UPSET LIFEBOATS NEW YORK, September 13. (Received September 14, at 11 a.m.) American survivors of the Athenia arrived at Halifax aboard the City of Flint to-day, and corroborated that the liner was shelled after being torpedoed. American newspapers publish at length grim accounts of the torpedoing, and stories of death at sea and privation in the open boats. Some survivors say the submarine also tried to upset the lifeboats. Mr C. O. Bowen, of Vancouver, said: “ The submarine came up under us, and tried to upset Nos. 1 and 4 lifeboats. It later pulled away, and fired at least two shots at the Athenia.” Mrs M'Millan Wallace, of Ontario, an eye-witness of the torpedoing, said it came without warning. “ A boy in the crow’s nest shouted out, and !• looked over the side, and saw a periscope 200yds away and a white streak of foam. Then I heard a crash. I could not get a lifebelt, as the stairs were blasted away.” Many of the 223 survivors were near collapse after their rough nine-day voyage across the North Atlantic on a freighter built to carry six passengers. Women’s hands were blistered from hours of rowing. Miss Mary Humlong, of Texas, said: “ When the sea became rough the night after the rescue, the passengers started screaming at every noise, and became hysterical, some shouting that they were being torpedoed.” Mr John Hayworth, father of a ten-year-old girl, who died from head injuries aboard the City of Flint, was the first aboard. His wife ran up, and said; “Dear God, John, she’s gone!” The two clung together sobbing, and then were lost in the crowd jamming the decks.

DUKE OF WINDSOR TAKING UP WAR APPOINTMENT \ LONDON, September 13. (Received September 14, at 11 a.m.) The Duke and Duchess of Windsor arrived at Major Metcalfe’s house by car. They spent the night in Admiralty House, Portsmouth, to avoid a black-out drive. • The Duke issued a statement that he intended staying in the country for a short while before taking up a war appointment. IN BUDAPEST POLISH OFFICIALS ARRIVE NEW YORK, September 13. (Received September 14, at 11 a.m.) The Budapest correspondent of the American Press states that M. Cernauti (Rumania) and the Polish Finance Minister (M. Kwiatkowski), with 10 other Polish officials arrived there.