SHIPPING WARNED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 29 August 1939, Page 5

SHIPPING WARNED

MEDITERRANEAN CLOSED TEMPORARILY INSTRUCTION BY BRITISH ADMIRALTY. NO VISITS TO ITALIAN PORTS. By Telegraph—Press Association— Copyright. MELBOURNE, August 28. The British Admiralty has authorised the publication of the following message:— “The Mediterranean is temporarily closed to British merchant shipping. Ships already in the Mediterranean should continue their voyages, while ships bound into the Mediterranean from the Atlantic should call at Gibraltar and await orders. Ships in the Red Sea should proceed to Suez or Aden. Ships bound for the Red Sea from the Indian Ocean should proceed to Aden and await orders. No ships are to visit Italian ports. Ships leaving the Black Sea are to remain in the Sea of Marmora.” ACTION IN CANADA NAVAL CONTROL SERVICE. (Received This Day. 9 a.m.) OTTAWA, August 28. The Government has assumed control of all merchant shipping on the Canadian Registry and instituted a naval control service. WAR RISKS RATES FURTHER RAISED. (Received This Day, 9.25 a.m.) LONDON, August 28. The Institute of Underwriters has raised war risk insurances as follows: United Kingdom to Mediterranean, from 355. to 60s; to the Black Sea, 40s. to 80s; to Australia and New Zealand from the United Kingdom, 355. to 605.; to the United Kingdom from Australia to New Zealand, 40s. to 80s. MEASURES IN HOLLAND. (Received This Day, 9.25 a.m.) AMSTERDAM. August 28. British ships are leaving Rotterdam without unloading. The Batavier Line to Harwich has been suspended. It is officially announced that, in order to be fully prepared for all emergencies, the Government has decided to guard Dutch neutrality on all sides against all other parties, and consequently has thought it necessary to order the mobilisation of the Army and Navy. The Government appeals to the nation to bear its difficulties calmly. DUTCH BANK RATE. (Received This Day, 9.25 a.m.) AMSTERDAM, August 28. The bank rate has been trebled. It is now 3 per cent. CANADIAN MILITIA SWIFT RESPONSE TO CALL. NEW YORK, August 27. Ten thousand members of Canada’s non-permanent militia are under arms following the call of the Prime Minister, Mr Mackenzie King, to man the Atlantic and Pacific Coast defences and guard vulnerable utilities and public properties. The militia responded swiftly and willingly and there was no delay in the mobilisation. GOOD & BAD FEDERAL PRIME MINISTER ON OUTLOOK. EXPECTATION OF EARLY DECISION. (Received This Day. 11 am.) MELBOURNE. This Day. Basing his opinion on a continuous stream of diplomatic messages from Britain, the Federal Premier, Mr. R. G. Menzies, said: “There are good and bad featuers in the events of the last 24 hours. The position is still intensely critical, but on the whole I don’t think there has been any noticeable alteration. The next 24 hours should give uj the answer.”