ORDER DISCLOSED

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20088, 7 November 1939, Page 5

ORDER DISCLOSED

GERMAN ORIGIN THE CITY OF FLINT REFUGE IN NORWAY THREAT TO AMERICANS NAZI CLAIM REJECTED (Bloc. Ti 4. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Rccd. Nov. 7, 10.30 a.m.) NEW YORK, Nov. 6. Broadcasting from Bergen, the master of the American freighter, City of Flint, Captain Joseph Gainard, revealed that the ship was acting in compliance with instructions from the German merchantman Sclnvaben, and not because an American sailor was ill. when it put into the Norwegian port of Haugesund, where the German prize crew were subsequently interned and the vessel released by the Norwegian naval authorities.

Captain Gainard said that the Schwaben circled the City of Flint and tlie commander megaphoned the order.

Threat to Sink Ship

Captain Gainard added that when the City of Flint was first seized, the German commander said to the crew: “If you make trouble. I’ll put you in open boats and sink the ship.”

A message from Oslo states that Norway has sent a note to Germany rejecting the request that the City oi' Flint should be held pending negotiations and also the request that the German prize crew interned at Haugesund should be released.

The commander of the prize crew informed the authorities that the German Government had ordered him to anchor at Haugesund, despite the Norwegian prohibition. Norwegian doctors had disproved the claim that a member of the American crew was ill. Thus the prize crew flouted the Hague neutrality conventions. Rack to America Tile Berlin correspondent of the British United Press learns' that in accordance with the new neutrality bill the City of Flint is proceeding to America direct, taking back the British cargo and not calling at an English port. The Bergen correspondent of the New York Times says that the City of Flint sighted a British cruiser while within Norwegian territorial waters on November 2. Sailors from tlie City of Flint declared that several German prize ships were seen at Murmansk.