TORPEDOED LINER

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 September 1939, Page 5

TORPEDOED LINER

THREE HUNDRED PERSONS REPORTED MISSING FIRST SURVIVORS REACH ENGLAND. SUBMARINE SEEN ON SURFACE. By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright. NEW YORK, September 4. A wireless message to the United Press ol’ America IToni the yacht Southern Cross, one of the rescue vessels, states that 300 passengers who were on the torpedoed liner. Athenia, are missing. The first of the survivors of the Athenia, have reached England. They state that a submarine was seen to come to the surface after the vessel had sunk. One survivor estimated that it was only 100 yards away from his lifeboat. The vessel was torpedoed 250 miles west of inishtrahull Island, off the coast of Donegal. LOSS OF LIFE FEARS THAT IT IS SERIOUS. NO DOUBT THAT THE LINER WAS TORPEDOED. \ Daventry reports rebroadcast by the New Zealand national stations state that it is feared that there has been a very serious loss of life in the sinking of the Athenia. A total of 430 survivors have been landed at Galway and 300 at the Clyde, while it is known that eight others, who were injured, have been taken to New York. Survivors who have reached the British Isles report an appalling ordeal. Many had to be carried straight to hospital. The United States representative has cabled to the State Secretary stating that he had interviewed the captain, members of the crew and passengers of the Athenia and there was no doubt that the ship was torpedoed. The captain said the torpedo struck the engine room and after firing the torpedo the submarine rose to the surface and fired a shot. The submarine was also seen by others. A good many casualties were caused by the explosion and others lost their lives when they jumped into the sea. Survivors spent from ten to twelve hours in the boats before they were picked up. NUMBERS DROWNED SOME LIFEBOATS SWAMPED. HEROIC EFFORTS BY SURVIVORS. (Received This Day, 9.10 a.m.) NEW YORK, Sept. 5. An eye-witness aboard the Southern Cross gave a graphic story of the rescue of the people from the Athenia. He said lifeboats with flares dotted the sea and desperate shouts for help came from all directions. The lifeboats were crammed, many filling with water. People sat waist-deep. One lifeboat turned turtle when nearing the Southern Cross and another swamped near the bow. “All hands were engaged hauling aboard survivors from another boat/’i the narrator said, “and we were helpless to save the occupants of the swamped lifeboat. We saved around 100 persons The lifeboats’ crews were marvellous and passengers were heroic, many women pulling oars along with the men for eight to ten hours.” There are probably 300 persons missing. FACTS NOT IN DOUBT STATEMENT BY LORD STANHOPE. ATTACKING SUBMARINE SEEN. (Received This Day, 9.55 a.m.) LONDON, September 5. Lord Stanhope told the House of Lords that there is no doubt that a submarine sank the Athenia, although there is no official confirmation that the submarine fired a shell after torpedoeing her. Reliable witnesses declare that there was no warning signal and that the submarine came to the surface after firing the torpedo. Lord Stanhope added: “That area of the ocean is so deep that a mine could not be moored there. It would moreover be an absurd place to mine, because we are anxious to keep our trade going in and out without interference.” SURVIVORS AT GLASGOW INJURED TAKEN TO HOSPITAL. (Received This Day. 9.55 a.m.) WASHINGTON, September 5. The State Department advises that at least one hundred of the Athenia survivors were landed at Glasgow. Those seriously injured were immediately taken to hospital. CARGO SHIP SUNK NORWEGIAN TANKER RESCUES CREW. (Received This Day, 10.30 a.m.) LONDON. September 5. The Cunard cargo liner Bosnia (2.400 tons) has been sunk. All hands were rescued by the Norwegian tanker Eidenger. but a fireman named Woods is dead. ACTION IN U.S.A. FIXING RESPONSIBILITY. REPORT BY MINISTER. (Received This Day. 10.5 a.m.) NEW YORK. September 5. The Associated Press of America Washington correspondent says the Government has begun gathering testimony to fix responsibility for the sinking of the Athenia. The American Minister in Ireland (Mr Cudahy) who interviewed survivors, has cabled that all confirmed the sinking of the liner by a submarine. The United Press London correspondente says approximately five hundred of the Athenia’s passengers are still unaccounted for, according to a survey in British and Irish ports.

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