ILLEGAL WARFARE

Wairarapa Times-Age, 22 November 1939, Page 5

ILLEGAL WARFARE

GERMAN LISE OF MINES INDICTED BY BRITISH PREMIER MEASURES OF RETALIATION ANNOUNCED. REICH EXPORTS MADE SUBJECT TO SEIZURE. (British Official Wireless.) (Received This Day, 10.50 a.m.) RUGBY, November 21. Questioned in the House of ('ominous on the sinking oi the Sinton Bolivar ami the indiscriminate mine-laying on 1 rade routes by Germany, t he Prime Minister (Mr (’hamberlain) announced that *1 he British Government was not prepared to allow these illegal methods of conducting warfare to continue without retaiiat ion. He said: "In the last war, as a measure of justified reprisal for submarine attacks on merchant ships, exports of German origin or ownership were made subject to seizure on the high seas. The many violations of international law and the ruthless brutality of the German methods have decided us to follow a similar course now and an Order-in-Counci.l will shortly be issued giving effect to the decision.” Mr Chamberlain prefaced his announcement by recalling that during the last three days upwards of ten ships, of which six were neutrals, have been sunk, with serious loss of life, by German mines. The Hague Convention, to which Germany is a party and which she announced her intention to observe as recently as September 17 last, provided that when anchored mines are used, every possible precaution must be taken for the security of peaceful navigation. This was the very essence of the Convention, as mines could not discriminate between warships and merchant ships or between belligerent or neutral. None of the provisions of the Convention, which required that a danger zone should be notified and that mines, on breaking loose, became harmless, had been observed by the German Government. The outrage of the sinking of the Simon Bolivar was the culmination of a series of violations of the international law of warfare at sea, beginning with the sinking of the Athenia. These events pointed to increasing disrespect by Germany for the rules of war and the most elementary dictates of humanity. Mr Chamberlain’s important announcement was warmly cheered in the House of Commons. “SAD FOR NEUTRALS” MOCKING GERMAN COMMENT. t. “HARVEST OF THE SEA MUST BE REAPED." LONDON. November 21. A broadcast in English from the Hamburg. Cologne and Zeesen stations said that Germany's aim was to strike al her foes in maritime waters. Britain was not in a position to make British waters safe either for her own or for neutral ships. "Germany regrets if the results are rather sad for neutrals, but can do nothing about it,” says the broadcast. “The harvest of the sea must be reaped. Britain started the war but is unable to run it in the way anticipated by London.” The Berlin "National Zeitung” says: "Britain is using neutral ships as the spearheads of the defence of her territorial waters. Germany regrets this, as five neutrals already have been its victims, but we are unable to do anything to alter it." ARMED SHIPS DUTCH LINER INCLUDED IN LIST. AN INDIGNANT PROTEST. LONDON. November 21. Dutch official circles have been amazed to find that the latest German list of liners allegedly armed to resist U-boats included the Dutch vessel Veendam. An indignant protest has been sent to Germany. According to a Hague message, the "Handelsblad” says: "Holland has lost as many lives in this war as have been lost on the whole Western Front. We do not know whether British or German mines sank the Simon Bolivar, but Holland feels only the deepest gratitude for the British rescue efforts and the loving care extended to the rescued," LATEST VICTIM JAPANESE LINER SUNK. OFF EAST COAST OF ENGLAND. (Received This Day. 9.45 a.m.) LONDON. November 21. The Japanese liner, Terukuni Maru, bound for London from Japan, was sunk by a mine off the East Coast. She carried a crew of 180 and 26 passengers, one of whom is British. The commander is Commodore of the Nippon Yusen Kaisha Line. The sinking was seen from a hill. Great volumes of water rose high in the air. Lifeboats and other craft rushed to the scene and the survivors were landed. All the passengers and the crew are believed to have been saved, being brought ashore in relays. The Terukuni Maru was alloat for a considerable time after the explosion. It is revealed that she was due last week but was held up off the’ coast. MINESWEEPER LOST MEMBERS OF CREW KILLED & FIVE MISSING. TWO BRITISH TRAWLERS SUNK. (Received This Dav. 9.45 a.m.) LONDON, November 21. One member of the crew is dead mid live are missing from the minesweeper Mastiff which was sunk by a

German mine off the east coast. Tile trawler Thomas Hankins was sunk by a submarine. A companion trawler rescued the crew of twelve, after they had spent twelve hours in an open boat, and landed them in Northern Ireland. The trawler Seasweeper was sunk by enemy action and a steamer. picked up the crew. BRITISH MINE WASHED UP AT OSTEND. (Received This Day. 9.45 a.m ) BRUSSELS. November 21. A British mine was among a number washed up at Ostehd.