DOWN WITH LOSS OF 140 LIVES

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20099, 20 November 1939, Page 7

DOWN WITH LOSS OF 140 LIVES

GERMAN OUTRAGE IN NORTH SEA

HUNDRED OF 260 SURVIVORS INJURED

CONDEMNATION BY BRITISH ADMIRALTY

UTTER DISREGARD OF LAW OF NATIONS

Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (Reed. Nov. 20, 11 a.m.) LONDON, Nov. 19.

The biggest civil shipping disaster ot the war occurred last night when the Netherlands liner, Simon Bolivar, was sunk bv a mine in the North Sea.

It is believed that 140 lives were lost. The 200 survivors included three babies under 12 months of age.

The Amsterdam correspondent of the British United Press says that the owners of the vessel report that it carried 400 people, 170 being members of the crew and 230 passengers. The Simon Bolivar, which was bound for Guiana, carried 75 British and a number of German refugees and Norwegians. One hundred of the survivors were injured, 50 seriously. Two hundred and fifty proceeded to London. Six were babies. One hundred and seven were admitted to hospital, including stretcher cases.

Official circles in London consider that the Simon Bolivar undoubtedly struck a German mine. Following the news of the sinking of the vessel and landing of the survivors, the Admiralty issued the following statement: “The mining of the Netherlands passenger ship, Simon Bolivar, off the cast coast of England, is a further example of the utter disregard of international law and dictates of humanity shown by the present German Government. Mines were laid without any notification in a channel followed by merchant shipping, both British and neutral, and there is no doubt they were laid for the specific purpose of destroying such shipping.” It is learned that two other steamers standing by within a quarter of a mile of the Simon Bolivar were also damaged by a mine, but they managed to limp into port.