SEA DISASTERS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20045, 18 September 1939, Page 7

SEA DISASTERS

FRENCH WARSHIP BLOWN UP WHILE LOADING EXPLOSION OF MINE MANY FEARED DEAD MORE FREIGHTERS SUNK (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Reed. Sept. 18, 11 a.m.) LONDON, Sept. 17. In Paris it is officially stated that the French cruiser-minelayer, Pluton, suffered an “accident aboard somewhere at sett. One hundred sailors were killed. Details have not been revealed. This much was made known, the French authorities said, in order to counteract a report that the warship was torpedoed.”

According to a report from Ceuta, (Spanish Morocco), an unconfirmed message from Casablanca states tliat over 100 were killed . or wounded when the Pluton was blown up while loading. Cue hundred of .the crew of 424 are dead. Other casualties occurred on the dbeks.

Rome reports the receipt of a dispatch from Saint Louis, Senegal, stating: “Travellers from Casablanca declared that a mine exploded while the Pluton was loading causing the ship to sink immediately. Buildings on the outskirts of the city were damaged”

Belgian Ship Sunk

A Greek vessel rescued 40 survivors from the Belgian coaster Alex Vanopstal, which was sunk in the channel by a submarine, and landed them at Belfast. Six of the injured were taken to hospital. Those rescued included a woman passenger. The Ministry of Information states that the Alex Vanopstal, belonging to the Maritime Beige, Antwerp, was sunk as a result of enemy action. She was either torpedoed or sunk from the action of a mine.

There were no British mines laid near the spot. Whatever was the method of sinking, the enemy had violated international law.

The captain stated that the ship carried eight passengers and a crew of 49, of whom seven were injured. The ship was broken clean in half by a terriffic explosion. The crew of the Greek steamer Atlanticos, which picked up some of the survivors, stated that .they saw a submarine. British Losses Ships smile during the week-end include the 5200-ton cargo ship Fanad Head, owned by the Ulster Steamship Company. She was sunk by a submarine on the borders of the North Sea and Atlantic. The crew of 40 is safe. A New York message states that in addition to the Fanad Head, it is believed that submarines sunk two other vessels on September 15. Interrupted messages were received from two ships, sne stating, “being shelled, going down.” It is believed that the signals, which did not give identification or position, originated near the southern United States Coast. It is officially stated that the Anglo-American tanker Cheyenne has been sunk. The crew were rescued by the Norwegian steamer Idabake. The British trawler Davara, was sunk and the crew of 13 escaped, toeing finally rescued after an exhausting five hours, baling a leaking lifeboat. Accidental Capture Tiie Daily Mail states that a Germany submarine was captured “accidentally” when it came to the surface a' few hundred yards from a British destroyer. The destroyer trained her guns on the U-boat, which surrendered and was towed to port. A New York report states that the American Farmer has radioed that she has rescued 29 members of the crew of the British steamer Kafiristan, which was torpedoed in the Atlantic. Six people are missing.

The Davara was a steam trawler of 291 tons, built in 1912 and owned by Mount Steam Fishing Company. The Cheyenne was a motor tanker of 8825 tons, built at Newcastle in 1930, and owned by the AngloAmerican Oil Company. The Fanad Head, which was owned by the Ulster Steam Ship Company, was a steamer of 5200 tons, built in 1910 by Messrs. Workman, Clark and Company, Belfast.