NAZI THREAT

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20103, 24 November 1939, Page 7

NAZI THREAT

MINE WARFARE REACTION TO ALLIES CONTROL OF EXPORTS ALARM OF NEUTRALS PROTESTS INDICATED (F.lec. Tel. Copyright—-United Press Assn.) (Reed. Nov. 24, 11.45 a.m.) LONDON, Nov. 23. The Rotterdam correspondent of the Daily Telegraph says it is officially stated in Berlin that Germany will meet the Allied control of German exports, which was decided upon as a reprisal for the indiscriminate laying of mines by Germany, with “unrestricted mine warfare.”

The Amsterdam correspondent of the Daily Mail says the Government has issued a statement regarding the German export control and the “cruel character of the British measures for the Netherlands,” and admits there is no doubt it is manifest how much damage has been caused when ships remain for weeks in British ports owing to the disorganisation of the control service. It is stated that this means an unbearable expenditure, and a neutral Government cannot allow itself to be forced to declare that goods aboard its ships shall not be reexported in any form to any country. It is officially announced at The Hague that the Netherlands Government is strongly protesting against the British decision to seize German exports from neutral ships. The Dutch Minister in London is conveying- the protest to the British Government. Simon Bolivar Disaster An official communique says that the Netherlands Government drew attention to the fact that the British decision is disagreeable in character because it was taken after the ship disasters, of which that which befel the Simon Bolivar was the most important. The Belgian and Netherlands Ministers of Economics are conferring with a view to intensifying mutual trade.

The Brussels correspondent of The Times says that Belgian shipping circles are alarmed at the export control scheme and the Government has decided to protest to Britain.

Press comment in neutral countries most affected by the extension of the allied contraband control to German exports show a cbmprehensible apprehension of the effects on their carrying trade, but in most cases a real appreciation of the necessity to take reprisals against German violations of international law.

Judgment of History

The Svenska Daghladet draws an interesting parallel with the last war in which it says: “No one can challenge the judgment of history. The German Empire torpedoed itself with the unrestricted submarine war.”

The Copenhagen newspaper sadly reflects on the jettisoning of the last remnants of the Hague Convention revealed in the reports of German action in laying mines on trade routes near the British coasts. In Holland, the Haagsche savs that while the British reprisals are bad news for neutrals they are not surprising.

The Vaderland sees the reprisals as a complete disorganising of Dutch shipping, but adds that they will also be a hard blow to Germany.

JAPANESE SHIP’S LOSS

NEUTRALS’ . INDIGNATION (British Official Wireless.) Reed. 9 a.m. RUGBY, Nov. 22. Further evidence that the recent losses of British and neutral ships oil' the east coast of England have been due to German mines purposely laid in order to inflict loss on neutrals, is provided by the testimony of the captain of the Japanese liner Terukuni Maru, which was sunk by a mine on Tuesday. He states that it was broad daylight and visibility was good. He had five look-outs posted. The explosion occurred underneath the ship, lifting it and throwing the men off their feet. This fact to which the Japanese master attests would dispose summarily of the suggestion—which Nazi propaganda would doubtless repeat—that the sinking of the vessel was due to a British mine, even if it has not already been established that British mines are carefully designed and constructed so as to become harmless on breaking away from their moorings. Contraband Clearance The Terukuni Maru had visited a British contraband control station, from which she had been cleared after only five hours’ delay. She had, a British pilot on board, of whose conduct the Japanese captain expressed himself in the warmest terms, stating that the pilot remained on the bridge with him and had been reluctant to leave even when ordered lo do so by the captain. That there was no loss of life is due to a combination of circumstances — daylight, calm weather, and the fact that the captain gave the order to lower the boats. Moreover, there were in the vicinity several British auxiliary craft, and these played a big part in the rescue of the passengers and crew.

The greatest indignation is naturally shown by Japanese and other neutral shipping companies at the illegal and wanton mining by Germany of shipping channels, with the obvious intention of inflicting loss on foreign and the intimidation of merchant shipping.

“UNRESTRICTED”