TERRIBLE ORDEAL

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20129, 26 December 1939, Page 7

TERRIBLE ORDEAL

dutch SEAMEN

SEVEN DAYS ADRIFT SINKING IN MID-OCEAN VICTIM OF U-BOAT STORY OF PRIVATIONS (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.) (British Official Wireless.) Reed. 1.30 p.m. RUGBY, Dec. 22. It is now possible to the fuller story of the sinking of the Dutch tanker, Sliedrecht, by a U-boat. This neutral ship bound for a neutral port was 150 miles from land in bad weather, and no provision whatever was made for the safety of the crew. It will be recollected that Germany sought to cover up this disgraceful act by. a statement that a British Q-ship, flying the Dutch colours, had been sunk by a U-boat in the Atlantic. Their claim was naturally dropped when five members of the crew of the Sleidrecht reached a west coast port after they had been adrift in an open boat in the Atlantic for seven and a half days before being picked up by a 'British trawler.

Time to Abandon Ship Pieter Brons, the mate gf the Sliedrecht, who comes from Holland, said in an interview in the hospital, that the Sliedrecht was about 150 miles west of Ireland at 8.30 p.m. on November 16 when a German submarine signalled her to heave to. A smalt boat was launched and Brons and four others rowed across. Owing to the heavy, swell, it was with difficulty that tjiey- could get alongside the submarine.

After examining the ship's papers, the submarine commander said he would have to sink the Sliedrecht. He gave half an hour to abandon the ship.

“We told him it was a neutral ship bound for a neutral port, but he said he would still have to sink it, ’ explained Brons. “We then asked him to take us aboard the submarine and transfer us to another vessel, but he refused, saying he had no room. “The commander warned us that if we.sent any distress signals we would be. immediately sunk without further warning. The sea was so rough that we took nearly half an hour to row back, and we had only time to tell those on board to abandon the ship. ‘The remaining 26 of the'crew then launched a lifeboat and rowed away from the tanker. Soon afterwards the submarine fired a torpedo which exploded with a terriffic flash.

Overcrowded; Boat “After the ship had sunk, we stayed near the spot in the hope of being picked up by a friendly ship, but none came in sight.” The mate of the Sliedrecht went on to describe the efforts of the boat he was in to keep up with the other boat which was overcrowded. It had disappeared when dawn came. “Towards evening- of the day following: the sinking of our boat, the weather became worse and we set a course as best we could, hoping the wind would blow us towards the Irish ■ coast,” continued the mate. “In spite ot the northward drift of the Gulf StEdam, we had no compass and relief! on the stars when he could see them.

"We had only bread and water on board. Our clothes were never dry and we endured cold and hunger for seven days. “At last we sighted land on November 18 and were picked up by a trawler which conveyed them to port where they were taken by ambulance to a West Highland cottage hospital.