BLOWN UP BY MINES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 October 1939, Page 5

BLOWN UP BY MINES

GERMAN PATROL VESSEL ALL BUT FIVE MEMBERS OF CREW DROWNED. RESCUES BY DANISH PLANE. By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright LONDON, October 21. A message from Stege, Denmark, reports that all'but five members of the crew of 74 on the mine patrol vessel Este 701 were drowned when she was blown up after striking three mines between Falsterbo and Moen. Flames were seen to follow the flash and wreckage flew sky high. A Danish patrol vessel saw four survivors clinging to a spar and pulled them aboard. One of them, Willie Gehring, said the majority of the men perished owing to the sudden plunge into the icy waters after the intense heat below' decks. The ship sank in a minute. Men struggled for horn's, but were' drowned one by one as the heavy swell exhausted them. The explosions gave them no chance to grab lifebelts. “Everyone, jumped into the sea, taking a chance of survival,” he said. “A Danish seaplane arrived after we were six hours in the water. The pilot very bravely landed, despite the high waves, took us on and taxied to the fishing boat.’.’ Fritz Inig, an engineer from the Este, swam to the shore, reaching Moen after 10 hours in the water. He crawled to an inn. collapsed and was taken to hospital. SEVEN BODIES FOUND (Received This Day, 10.45 a.m.) STEGE (Denmark), October 22. Fishermen found seven bodies, victims from the Este 701.