SUBMARINE MENAGE

Evening Star, Issue 23377, 21 September 1939, Page 12

SUBMARINE MENAGE

BRITISH STEAMER’S ESCAPE REFUSES COMMAND TO STOP ♦ LONDON. September 20. (Received September 21, at 10-30 a.m.) A Ministry of Information communique says a homeward bound steamer, name undisclosed, outdistanced and escaped a submarine. It ignored two shots across its bows crowded on steam, and shook off its pursuer after an hour’s chase. FRENCH MERCHANTMEN SAFE PARIS, September 20. (Received September 21, at 10.30 a.m.) It is revealed that 50 French merchantmen which were on the high seas when war was declared escaped the German patrols. WARNING TO SHIPPING NEW DANGER AREA BERLIN, September 20. (Received September 21, at 11 a.m.) The German High Command broadcast a warning that “ there is a new dangerous area outside Danish territorial waters south of the Danish Islands between lOdeg smin east longitude, extending two sea miles in the direction of the high seas. This area makes fishing impossible and dangerous to all ships.’.’ SEA BATTLE 1 HEAVY EXPLOSIONS OFF JUTLAND COPENHAGEN, September 20. (Received September 21, at 1 p.m.) The Copenhagen correspondent of the ‘ New York Times’ states that the inhabitants of the east coast of Jutland heard heavy ex-, plosions, leading to the belief that a sea battle was in progress somewhere ip the Kattegat, : PROLONGED FIRING LARGE WARSHIPS REPORTED IN VICINITY COPENHAGEN, September 20. (Received September 21, at 2.30 p.m.) Heavy firing lasting several hours was heard in the Kattegat between the north-east coast of Jutland and Sweden leading to the Baltic. It was too intense to be training ships or .planes. Fishermen recently reported several large warships in the neighbourhood. POTENTIAL RAIDER PANAMA SHIPPING MAY BE AFFECTED NEW YORK, September 20. (Received September 21, at 1 p.m.) The ‘ New York Times ’ correspondent at Panama states that the German ship Leipzig, which took refuge at Quayaquil, put to sea yesterday. It is feared she may engage in raiding British and French commerce bound for the canal. . AMERICAN SAILORS' PAY COMMISSION GRANTS INCREASE WASHINGTON. September 20. (Received September 21, at 12.30 p.m.) The Maritime Commission has announced a 25 per cent, increase in saliors’ pay during the emergency, a ISOdol clothing bonus if clothing is damaged, and base pay plus 25 per cent, in the event of a sailor being interned. No insurance is possible under the law. CONTRABAND CONTROL GERMAN PROPAGANDA FAILS BRITAIN'S RIGHT RECOGNISED BY NEUTRALS (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, September 20. (Received September 21, at 11.30 a.m.) The attempts of German propaganda to represent the exercise of contraband control now in force as invasion of neutrals’ ..rights have failed in countries most intimately concerned-. Contraband control docs not constitute a formal blockade, but is selective in its action, affecting only certain classes of goods reaching the enemy directly or through countries. Further blockade is lawful only if it is effective —passage- across the blockading line must be rendered virtually impossible or highly dangerous. Contraband control, on the contrary, may be lawfully exercised by a belligerent to such an extent, great or small, as his means allow. The legality of the action is not dependent on ability to hold up and examine all vessels carrying goods to an enemy destination. Again, the penalty for a breach of the blockade is confiscation of the ship and in most cases of its cargo, which in any case would not be allowed to proceed. The ‘ Daily Telegraph ’ says; “ Wo may be confident that it will bo possible before long to restrict Germany’s imports as severely as in 1918 and with the goodwill of all the civilised world.”

Asked how the submarine got within striking distance, as the carrier had a fulh complement of escorting de storoyers, Air Churchill assured the House that he had no reason to doubt the soundness of the views expressed by the Admiralty in peace time as to the effectiveness of the means the Admiralty possessed for coping with tho submarine menace. Mr A. V. Alexander asked Air Churchill to convey to the Admiralty for distribution to the Fleet the House’s view of the fine spirit shown in this first important action by one of Britain’s ships. CONTRABAND SEIZED CONSIGNED TO GERMANY (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, September 20. (Received September 21, at 11 a.m.) A bulletin issued by the Ministry of Information states that during the week ended September 16, approximately 110,000 tons of goods, of which there was evidence that they were contraband consigned to Germany were intercepted and detained by British contraband control. The goods included metallic ores, petroleum products, chemicals, soya beans, copra, rubber, and graphite.