THE WAR AT SEA

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20115, 8 December 1939, Page 7

THE WAR AT SEA

SEVERAL VICTIMS BRITISH AND NEUTRAL SOME LOSS OF LIFE GERMAN CARGO SUNK COLLISION IN CONVOY (Klee. To], Copyright.—United Press Assn.) (Reed. Dec. 8. Noon.) LONDON, Dec. 7. The loss of a number of vessels, British and neutral, as a result of enemy action has been reported during the past day or two. The Greek steamer, Paralos, of 3934 tons, was sunk either through striking a mine or being torpedoed in the Thames estuary on Wednesday. Three members of the crew were killed. The remaining 26 were rescued and were landed by a British steamer. Ten are receiving hospital treatment. The Paralos was on route from Antwerp to Piraeus, carrying German coal. A naval trawler, H.M.S. Washington, was mined in the North Sea, eight persons being drowned. It is officially announced in Amsterdam that tire motor ship Tajandoen. of 8159 tons, was torpedoed in the English Channel. The ship was en route to Java with general cargo after calling at the British contraband station. Sixty-eight persons were aboard. An Italian vessel picked up 34, including six of the 14 passengers. Later, the other eight passengers were rescued. Only six members of the crew are now missing. The ship went down in flames. A report from Oslo says that the Norwegian vessel Primula, was sunk in the North Sea after an explosion on Monday, and eight members of the crew are missing. The remainder were landed at a Scottish port by a Danish steamer which picked them up from a raft.

The steamer Chancellor, of 4607 tons, has been sunk in the Atlantic as a result of a collision while in a convoy. All the crew were rescued. The German radio announces that the Glasgow steamer, Orsa, of 1475 tons, has been sunk. The British steamer Huntsman, of 8196 tons, is missing and it is presumed that she has been lost. The Danish steamer Ovetoft struck a mine and sank in the North Sea. Six of the crew of 21 are missing. A Berlin message states it is officially announced that a naval coastguard vessel was lost in the Great Belt, believed due to a mine.