SUNK BY SHELLS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20096, 16 November 1939, Page 7

SUNK BY SHELLS

NORTH SEA TRAWLER NO WARNING GIVEN ATTACK BY SUBMARINE ORDEAL OF SURVIVORS (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Reed. Nov. 15, 2.15 n^n.) LONDON, Nov. 14. It is now reported that the trawlei Cresswell, which was sunk, by a submarine, -carried a crew of 13. Six of the crew are missing.

The trawler, which was of 2:5 tons, was off the north of Scotland Aiid wirelessed the trawler Phvllisia, which picked up the survivors.

The submarine shelled the Ci esswell without warning. The crew of the Cresswell escaped. Ten were on a 'raft and two iwere clinging to a smashed lifeboat and one had a lifebelt. The thice lastnamed and three who dropped off the raft exhausted are believed to have been drowned.

The submarine took on the survivors from the raft after two hours and gave them clothes and put them in the Phvllisia after seven hours. Message to Mr. Churchill

The submarine commander said: “Tell Churchill we are not the heartless murderers you are led to believe.” The survivors landed at Fleetwood. Frederick Lee, aged 17 years, a deckboy, said that those in the trawler did not know the submarine was near until shells began whizzing round the vessel. “There was no time to iaunch the boat, which was smashed anyhow," he said. “The submarine fired at least 20 shots.

“It was just before dawn. We clung to the raft crushed together on the sea lev rain pelted down unmercifully.”

The mate, Mr. Fausset, said the raft was tossed and submerged. "I tried to hold up an exhausted companion, but it was impossible. He disaopeared. One by one the others went. Finally the submarine took us aboard.”