THRILLING RESCUE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24226, 19 February 1940, Page 7

THRILLING RESCUE

BRITISH MERCHANT SEAMEN CAPTIVES ON GERMAN SHIP GRAF SPEE’S SUPPLY VESSEL HUNTED DOWN BY WARSHIPS (United Press Association) ' (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) - . LONDON, Feb. 17. (Received Feb. 18, at 8 p.m.) British destroyers rescued between 300 and 400 merchant seamen prisoners from the Altmarck, which was intercepted in the North Sea-off the Norwegian boast. The Altmarck put up resistance before a destroyer was able to get alongside and take off the prisoners* who later arrived at Leith on the Cossack. An Admiralty communique states: “It will be remembered that the Admiral Graf Spee sank seven British merchantmen in the South Atlantic before Christmas. Officers held prisoners aboard the pocket battleship were tolerably treated, but the contrary was the case in respect to seamen confined in the Altmarck, which is an auxiliary of the German Fleet. According to reports from prisoners liberated from the Admiral Graf Spee, the Altmarck, which is armed with concealed guns, held between 300 and 400 British seamen as prisoners, who, upon the evidence of those transferred to the . Admiral Graf Spee and subsequently rescued, suffered grievous hardships and severities, The Altmarck vanished from the seas after the River Plate battle and no trace of her could be found until approximately last Thursday, when the Altmarck appeared moving down the Norwegian coast, taking advantage of its peculiar configuration and endeavouring to convey her captives through Norwegian territorial waters to confinement in Germany. Accordingly, certain of his Majesty’s ships which could be conveniently disposed were set in motion, and certain aircraft reconnaissance flights were instituted, with the result that a vessel bearing the name Altmarck and conforming in every respect •with her description took refuge in a Norwegian fjord called Josing cm Friday. This was after coastal reconnaissance aircraft had sighted the vessel and H.M.S. Intrepid (Commander R. G. Gordon) had intercepted her. « The Admiralty, with the full authority of his Majesty’s Government, gave orders to enter neutral waters and search the Altmarck, and rescue any prisoners if found aboard. Josing fjord has a dead end and two Norwegian gunboats appeared at its mouth. Captain P. L. Vian, of H.M.S. Cossack, under Admiralty instructions offered to place a joint British and Norwegian guard upon the Altmarck and escort her, with British and Norwegian warships, to Bergen, where a search could be conducted and the whole position investigated according to international law. This offer was not accepted. The captain of the Norwegian ; gunboat stated ilras:lini|krmed "and' he knew ' nothing about any prisoners aboard the ship, which was examined at Bergen the previous day and permitted to Use Norwegian territorial waters en route to Germany. ENEMY TRIES TO SINK DESTROYER V “Upon these assurances the British destroyer force withdrew from territorial waters, but after dark, on receipt of Admiralty orders, the destroyer Cossack, with the British commander aboard, re-entered the fjord. Norwegian gunboats refused co-operation in the search, but remained passive. The Altmarck manoeuvred so as to try to sink the Cossack as preparations were made to board the Altmarck, but. the German vessel went aground stern first. The Cossack then came alongside and boarded her. Fighting followed, in which, according to a wireless message from the Altmarck, four Germans were killed and five seriously injured, while there wa§ one British casualty. Sailors from the Cossack overpowered the Altmarck. Some of the latter’s crew fled to the shore and the remainder submitted.

■ “ The Cossack found and Rescued between 300 and 400 British prisoners, who had been battened down. The re--5 leased men were transferred to the Cossack, which, with ether British vessels in company, is now approaching British shores. The liberated men state that during the Norwegian r examination of the Altmarck at Bergen their efforts to make their presence known to the seraching party were not heeded. “A full report has been called from Captain Vian,.whose conduct is highly commended and a report is also called from the released prisoners, upon all the circumstances. SHOT FIRED BY DESTROYER An Oslo communique states that a Norwegian torpedo boat was escorting the Altmarck in .Norwegian territorial waters at 4.30 p.m. on Friday when one of two British destroyers fired a shot in order to try to halt the Altmarck and prevent her from entering Josing fjord. Shortly afterwards a British cruiser and five destroyers appeared inside the three-mile limit. One destroyer sailed close to the coast and used i‘s searchlights. The British warships suddenly entered the fjord and removed a number of prisoners from the Altmarck, and sailed away. ' The Government has asked the Norwegian Legation in London ieriously to protest against this violation of Norway’s neutrality. GERMAN SHIP NEAR STAVANGER A German ship, believed to be the Altmarck, is reported to be anchored near Stavanger, with a British warship standing by. Cpastal residents observed a plane over both ships, but whether it was a British or a German plane is not clear. It is reported that shots were exchanged between the ships at close range before the Altmarck entered territorial waters. Shooting was also heard aboard the Altmarck, suggesting that the British prisoners tried to overpower the German crew when the destroyer attacked RUNNING BATTLE REPORTED ‘ Messages from Copenhagen and Oslo state that British and German ships are reported to have engaged in a running battle at several points on the Norwegian coast after the Intrepid engaged the Altmarck before the Altmarck entered Norwegian waters. It was later reported that a German vessel, believed to.be a cruiser, was either beached or stranded off Stavanger. The relationship between the beached cruiser and the Altmarck is not clear in London, but a naval battle possibly followed interception of the Altmarck. All sources in Berlin still assert that they have no knowledge of a naval battle off Norway. BERLIN VIOLENTLY INDIGNANT A message from Berlin states that official circles and the press are violently indignant at what is described as a British attempt to capture the Altmarck in Norwegian waters. Official circles describe the seizure as one of the “ most swinish ” and most dastardy actions throughout history. i The Voelkischer Beobachter is hysterical and says: “It is a typical demonstration of the fact that Britain is resorting to the methods of a maritime robber to retain its reputation of ruling the seas.” Germany sharply protested to Norway, which protested to Britain. It is reported that Norway demands the return of the Altniarck’s prisoners and full compensation.