A “HELL SHIP”

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

A “HELL SHIP”

BRUTAL NAZI CAPTAIN TREATMENT OF PRISONERS HERDED IN CRAMPED SPACE NAVY KEEPS ITS VOW (United Press Association) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) LONDON, Feb. 17. (Received Feb. 18, at 9 p.m.) Hunted by the British Navy day and night after the scuttling of the Admiral Graf Spee, the infamous Nazi “ hell ship ” Altmarck, with captives including New Zealanders, had evaded capture for over three months. Her prisoners were herded in compartments in which there was no room to move. They were given only a quart of water a day for drinking and washing, while food was scarce. Old tins were used as drinking cups, and the mattresses were in indescribable condition. Machine-guns commanded the decks and any real or imagined insubordination was punished with solitary confinement under shocking conditions. The captain has been described as a hard, bitter Nazi. The brutal treatment of the Altmarck’s prisoners roused exceptional anger in the Navy, which vowed to get her. Admiralty officials at a northern port describe the rescue as “ a very fine job indeed.” Destroyers were despatched from stations when word was received that the Altmarck was somewhere off Norway.

It is authoritatively stated that if the British Navy had not intervened against the Altmarck Norwegian territorial waters would have made a channel for an un-neutral act, the conveying of British prisoners of war to Germany. Britain is confident that Norway would not have permitted such prisoners to be taken over Norwegian territory. The British action resulted from the failure of Norway to secure the neutrality of its waters. Germany continually used Norwegian waters to escape British pursuit and perform acts of war against Britain and other States. OPINION IN AMERICA JUSTIFICATION FOR ACTION NEW YORK, Feb. 18. (Received Feb. 18, at 9 p.m.) The Washington correspondent of the New York Times says that official comment is not available regarding the legality of the Cossack’s action in Norwegian waters. The view expressed by those well informed here is that the presence of British prisoners indicated that the Altmarck was acutally a Reich naval auxiliary cruiser. Thus there is considerable justification for the British action. Nevertheless the incident has aroused misgivings since the PanAmerican States feel that it is likely that they will be obliged to deal with even more difficult situations than the one in Norway. The Washington correspondent of the United Press of America says that the administration officials have intimated that the incident is likely to hasten the action of pan-American countries in strengthening the safety of their zone. The, Washington correspondent of the Associated Press of America says that informed circles believe that the incident marks the first move by Britain to close Germany’s supply chute ” from Russia, through Norwegian territorial waters, along the path of the Bremen. NAZI TANKER INTERCEPTED SCUTTLED TO PREVENT CAPTURE LONDON, Feb. 17. (Received Feb; 18, at 11 p.m.) The destroyer Ivanhoe intercepted the German tanker Baldur early in the proceedings. The tanker was passing outside territorial waters. . Commander P. H. Hadow, of the Ivanhoe, ordered the tanker to halt, whereupon the tanker scuttled herself in typical German fashion.