NAZI METHOD

Opotiki News, Volume II, Issue 274, 22 December 1939, Page 3

NAZI METHOD

OUTRAGES AT SEA COWARDLY RAIDS DEFENCELESS fcRAFT BOMBS—MACHINE GUNS FIRING INTO BOATS (British Official Wireless). RUGBY, Dee. 20. The recent German campaign, of bombing and machine-gunning unarmed trawlers and small fishing vessels, which is creating considerable indignation in England, is generally considered to result from the failure of the German) endeavour, both in the illegal mine sowing campaign and all Other forms of sea warfare. Tlio skipper, Air. J. At. Hull, of the trawler Isabella Grieg, gives an account of how hi.s ship was bombed and machine-gunned by German aircraft last Sunday l —an example typical ol many such cowardly and merciless attacks. “The trawl was down when two aircraft. recognised as twin-engined Heinkels, were sighted coming from east-south-east,” lie said. “The trawler’s crew of 10 took cover. “The -aircraft came en flying low and passed one on each side ol the trawler with the rear gunners firing their machine-guns. Altogether they circled the Isabella Greig eight times with the wing tips of the machines nearly touching the water as they turned. “Besides machine-gunning, they also dropped between Jo and 20 bombs.” During one short respite, the crew started to lower a boat, but the aeroplanes returned andi opened heavy fire and wounded two men. The skipper meanwhile with great difficulty had managed to get off a distress signal. Boat Riddled With Bullets. Finally a boat was lowered and put into the water. It was riddled with bullets a mil the water barrel was punctured. The crew, taking the two wounded men with them, abandoned tho ship. When the boat was 500yds. away from the trawler, which was still aflont, the aircraft returned and opened fire on the boat, luckily without insult, and dropped three more bombs. British aeroplanes then appeared and the Germans made off in the direction of home. This trawler was entirely unarmed! and was flying the British mercantile (lag. It was engaged in fishing. The German aircraft gave no warning whatever before opening lire and had apparently flown J-jO miles Irom Germany for the set purpose of attacking Scottish fishermen. The evening papers gave details ol further similar outrages. The trawler Trinitv was bombed and machine-gun-ned in the North Sea yesterday. 'I he survivors, while escaping from the sunken ship, were machine-gunned in the water by the Nazi bombers.. Two of the crew of the Trinitv were killed and one was wounded. Last night the Gorman announcer brazenly admitted air attacks on 21 defenceless fishing vessels, and tried to excuse them by describing the vessels as warships and naval auxiliaries.