WAR AT SEA

Evening Star, Issue 23379, 23 September 1939, Page 13

WAR AT SEA

TRAWLER SINKS U-BOAT ACCIDENT IN NORTH SEA LONDON, September 22. (Received September 23, at 10.40 a.rn.) Captain Arthur Darwood, the skipper of a trawler, related how he believed he accidentally rammed and sank a German submarine. The trawler sighted two British warships and a British aeroplane circling over the warships signalled that there was a submarine in the vicinity. Consequently the trawler went at full speed. Suddenly there, was a crash and the bows of the vessel rose high in the air. With a second crash amidships a.moment later, the trawler was partly thrust out,of the water. A third crash followed, when the stern seemed pulled down. The force of the impact was such that the trawler was brought to a standstill, despite the fact that her engines were going full speed ahead. Looking astern, the crew saw the water boiling, with air bubbles and a quantity of oil then rose to the surface. The trawler’s propeller was damaged and she was leaking when she reached port. BRITISH STEAMER LOST GREW SAFE LONDON, September 22. (Received September 23, at 10 a.mj) The British steamer Arkleside has been lost 11 at sea.” It is understood that the crew is safe. SUBMARINE FAILURE LONDON, September 22. (Received September 23, at 11 a.m.) An analysis of the submarine campaign shows that the losses in the first fortnight of war, despite the German advantage of having the U-boats at focal points before the declaration of war, are only half in tonnage and one-third in number of the peak month losses in 1917 of the Great War. Not a ton of British shipping has been lost to submarines since the night of September 18. RESCUE BY FLYING BOATS CREW ASTONISHED AND DELIGHTED LONDON, September 22. (Received September 23, at noon.) Captain J. Schofield, master of the Kensington Court, said: “ A submarine, without warning, shelled my vessel, which was bound for Birkenhead with Argentina wheat. When I sighted the submarine 1 ordered full-steam ahead,' and sent out an SOS. The submarine continued firing, and the shells came nearer and nearer, until I decided I must save the crew, and ordered the boats to be lowered. Shells fell close on either side of the ship as we were abandoning her. Half an hour later we saw the planes. We did not dream they wopld come down, and we were astonished and delighted when' we saw the two alight. The crew ferried two or three at a time to the flying boats in the latter’s emergency rubber dinghies.” GERMAN SHIPS DEPARTURE FROM BRAZILIAN PORT MAKING FOR VLADIVOSTOGK NEW YORK, September 22. (Received September 23, at 11 a.m.) The correspondent of the Associated Press of America states that three German ships, including the speedy Ham-burg-South American line: Cap Norte, left a Brazilian port carrying large cargoes of foodstuffs and petroleum products, although the local companies declined to supply them with the fine oils used by submarines. Shipping circles understand that the vessels n ill attempt to reach Vladivostock around Cape Horn. The vessels’ tonnage exceeds 25,000. FOREIGN SUBMARINES SIGHTED IN AMERICAN WATERS PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT DISTURBED WASHINGTON, September 22. (Received September 23, at 11 a.m.) President Roosevelt announced that two foreign submarines had been sighted off Alaska and Nova Scotia. He jokingly replied to questioners that “ they might be Swiss,” but infereptially denied that they were Canadian. The President left the impression that be Was disturbed at the penetration of neighbouring territorial waters, and drew attention to the continuous activity of the neutrality patrol since September 6. A message from Ottawa states that Canada possesses no submarines. i

MEN OF THE COURAGEOUS FRENCH MINISTER'S ADMIRATION (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, September 22. (Received September 23, at 11 a.m.) Mr Winston Churchill, First Sea Lord, has received a telegram from the French Minister of Marine expressing admiration for the magnificent spirit of the men of the Courageous and sympathy for the relations of those drowned, Mr Churchill"replied on behalf of the officers and men of the Royal Navy. CONTACTING GERMAN FREIGHTER FLYING JAPANESE FLAG WASHINGTON, September 22. (Received September 23, at 12 30 p.m.) The Navy Department was aware of the submarines a fortnight ago. The radio station intercepted identifiable calls, estimated at 59 to 75 miles offshore, trying to contact the German freighter Portland. The Ketchikan (Alaska) correspondent of the ‘ New York Times ’ states that the master of the steamer Mary Eleanor sighted a submarine in Clarence .Strait, eastward of Prince of Wales Island, on September 19; A later message from Santiago states that the Portland arrived at Coquimbo (Chile), flying the Japanese flag).