DUTCH LINER SUNK WITH HEAVY LOSS OF LIFE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 November 1939, Page 5

DUTCH LINER SUNK WITH HEAVY LOSS OF LIFE

Many Survivors Seriously Injured DISASTER IN THE NORTH SEA TWO OTHER STEAMERS DAMAGED (By Telegraph.—Press Association.—Copyright.) LOXDOX, X’ovember 19. The biggest civil shipping disaster of the war occurred last night when the Netherlands liner Simon Bolivar (8000 tons) was sunk by a mine in the North Sea. Of 260 survivors who landed on the East Coast of England many were seriously injured. Survivors included 150 members of the crew. It is believed that 280 passengers perished. Other reports state that the total complement was 400, which reduces the number lost to 140. “We were off the eoast when, without warning, a terrific explosion shook the ship.” said a steward. "People ran to the lifeboats which were lowered on the starboard side. The boats could not be lowered on the port side because the ship eanted. Then there was a second explosion, presumably caused by a mine linked by chain with the first mine, and the ship capsized.” Another survivor said the ship was 20 miles from port at the time of the explosion. If is learned that two other steamers, standing by within a quarter of a mile of the Simon Bolivar, also were damaged by a mine but managed to limp into port.