EIGHTEEN SHIPS

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20129, 26 December 1939, Page 5

EIGHTEEN SHIPS

WEEK'S LOSSES SMALL BRITISH BOATS AMERICAN ON FIRE SABOTAGE SUSPECTED NEW BRITISH MINE AREA (Klee. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.j (Reed. Dec. 26, 11.30 a.m.) LONDON, Dec. 25. The Admiralty states that 10 British ships with a tonnage of 0581 and eight neutral ships with a tonnage of 10.839 were sunk last week, a total of ‘17.420 tons, compared with the German loss of 32.505 tons by the scuttling of the Columbus on December 20. This shows an excess German loss of 15,145 tons. A war communique issued in Berlin says that British and neutral shipping which ventured into the danger zone on Saturday suffered heavy losses amounting to 11 ships, eight of which were British. The total tonnage involved was about 51,500. The Admiralty has announced the mining of an area 500 miles long, closing the approaches to the EnglishScottish coast between 53 degrees 20 minutes north and one degree east, and 51 degz-ees 43 minutes north and 2 degrees 32 minutes east, beyond which narrow control channels are prescribed Fire on Freighter A Cristobal report says that the United States freighter Windrush, with a crew of 37 and 10 passengers, including women, arrived on fire, which the owners allege is a result of sabotage. The fire department prepared to flood the hatch immediately the deck cargo of inflammable celluloje was unloaded. A Copenhagen message stales that the Danish steamer Jagersborg, of 1254 tons, with a crew of 18, is missing. It is reported from Amsterdam that the Italian steamer Comitas, of 5245 tens, which was mined in the North Sea and towed to Flushing, was beached seriously damaged amidships. It is feared she will be a total loss. A message from Oslo states that the Norwegian steamer Rudolf, of 924 tons, was mined in the North Sea. The master and seven of the crew v’ere landed. Six members of the crew are still afloat in a boat.