LATE NEWS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24226, 19 February 1940, Page 8

LATE NEWS

THE RESCUED SEAMEN NAVY CONGRATULATED LONDON, Feb. 18. (Received Feb. 19, at 2 a.m.) Armed with cutlasses and revolvers, 25 British seamen swarmed across grapples to the Altmarck and routed the Nazi crew of over 100. They burst open shell rooms and an oil tank, releasing 400 Britons who had been herded for months under the foullest conditions.

Mr Churchill radioed to Captain Vian congratulating him on the rescue of Britons from captivity. “ Britain glows with pride in her navy and a deep sense of thanksgiving that 400 foully treated Britons are now safe at home.” The Admiralty reveals that the Altmarck carried two pompoms and four machine-guns and members of the crew used rifles and revolvers.

THE LANGLEEFORD SUNK SURVIVORS LANDED LONDON, Feb. 18. (Received Feb. 19, at 2 a.m.) Fifteen survivors of the Langleeford (British, 4246 tons) landed on the west coast of Eire after 56 hours in an open boat. Their vessel was proceeding home from Boston when she was sunk by.enemy action on February 14. One boat containing the captain and members of the crew is missing. Three are dead through the explosion or exposure. Th~ tanker Cresfield (Britisn; 838 tons) is a fortnight overdue and is presumed to have been lost. RUSSIAN AIR RAIDS FOURTEEN TOWNS BOMBED HELSINKI, Feb. 18. (Received Feb. 19, at 2 a.m.)

The Russian announcement of successes comes simultaneously with the statement from Dr Koht, Norwegian Foreign Minister, that Fin- 1 land .cannot expect aid from Norway.

Marshal Mannerheim issued the following proclamation: “ The time has come when the enemy offensive must be halted by a new defensive line, in support of which I have sent new forces and artillery from the reserves. Finland no longer fights alone. Help, is coming continuously from abroad and there is every possibility of victory.” The Finns suffered the worst day of air raids, with 300 bombers constantly raiding 14 towns, chiefly ports on the Gulf of Bothnia and rail junctions in West Finland. Incendiary machinegun bullets set fire to buildings. Bombs killed 10 civilians. Fighting broke out on the Petsamo front, where patrols are most active. VICTIM OF MINE A BRITISH STEAMER LONDON, Feb. 18. (Received Feb. 19, at 2 a.m.) The Baron Ailsa (British; 3656 tons) was mined in the North Sea and sank in three minutes. The navy picked up 32 survivors. THE WESTERN FRONT UNSUCCESSFUL NAZI ATTACK PARIS, Feb. 18. (Received Feb. 19, at 2 a.m.) A night communique states that enemy units, amounting to a company, last night unsuccessfully attacked two of our outposts. , There has been artillery fire, especially in the Vosges region.