SHIPPING LOSSES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 28 November 1939, Page 5

SHIPPING LOSSES

HUNDRED THOUSAND TONS DURING PAST WEEK NEARLY HALF NEUTRAL SHIPS. FEW KNOWN SURVIVORS FROM RAWALPINDI. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. LONDON, November 27. The sinking of the British armed merchant cruiser Rawalpindi, of 16,100 tons, and the Polish liner Pilsudski. 14.294 (also in the British naval service) brings the total Allied and neutral losses during the past week to 100,000 tons. Nearly half of these losses are represented by 12 neutral ships. In the Rawalpindi the loss of life is believed to be heavy, totalling possibly over 280 men. It is understood that the Rawalpindi’s complement was 300. The Rawalpindi was well known from England to Japan as a P. and O. liner. On the outbreak of the war she forsook her peaceful pursuits and was requisitioned by the Admiralty. After a few weeks in a dockyard where many of her luxurious fittings were taken out and guns fitted, she sailed again, painted grey, and flew the White Ensign. As an armed merchant cruiser the Rawalpindi was a . warship and an integral part of the Royal Navy, and took no part in commercial activities. She was a very different type of vessel from the defensively armed merchant ships which continue to carry Allied trade on the seas of the world in spite of German submarine and mining activity. The latter have no broadside or bow guns, only stern guns and an anti-aircraft gun, which comprise a purely defensive armament for merchant ships in strict accordance with international law.

TRAWLER MEN MISSING. Anxiety is felt regarding 13 of the crew of the Fleetwood trawler William Humphries who took to a boat on November 21 when a German submarine sank the trawler Sulby, five of whose crew are missing. Seven of the crew of the Sulby who escaped in a lifeboat saw the William Humphries under shell fire and, before landing, saw a lifeboat containing 13 men who may have been her crew, but the latter did not hear their hail and they have not since been reported. The P. and O. liner Sussex, which was damaged by a mine in the English Channel, reached London under her own steam, escorted by tugs. There is a hole in the bow. There was no immediate danger to the passengers, who stayed aboard overnight. It is uncertain whether a mine or engine trouble caused damage to the Swedish oil tanker Gustav E. Reuter off the north coast of Britain while en route to Curacao in ballast. A trawler ; responded to an SOS call and rescued I 19 of those aboard. Two lifeboats put ■ out for the remainder. TERRIFIC EXPLOSIONS ATTACK ON PILSUDSKI. RESCUE OF SURVIVORS. LONDON, November 27. A British destroyer landed 103 survivors from the Polish liner Pilsudski' in a north-east port, and a British trawler picked up 68. Three died, including the captain. M Hamart Stankiewicz. A terrific explosion listed the ship and another two minutes later crippled her. The survivors when picked up were scantily clad and were injured by flying glass. Six were taken to hospital. . The captain, when he saw the position was hopeless, ordered the bandonment of the ship. Lifeboats were swiftly manned and lowered. The captain, though wounded, stood by until the last was in the water and thendived into the sea because the boats were full. He was pulled aboard a raft, to which the occupants clung for an hour before the destroyer arrived. Stoker Bell and two other members of the crew of the destroyer jumped overboard and brought the raft alongside. The skipper died a few minutes after he was taken aboard. The second officer, M John Michalsky, said that about 140 persons escaped in the six boats. Some were injured by the collapse of their berths, while wreckage pinned others and possibly killed some. The wireless operator said the lights went out and it was impossible to send a message. Radwan Frank, aged 19, held the captain by one arm and swam with the other until he got him to the raft. Local A.R.P. men took the survivors ashore and made them comfortable. The British survivors extol the calm orderliness of the whole crew. The Pilsudski, a former luxury liner, was chartered by the Royal Navy.

SURPRISE FACTOR GERMANY’S TEMPORARY ADVANTAGE. HOPES OF SPEEDY REVERSAL. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY, November 26. The new turn to Germany’s war on shipping in the last week is the subject of much public discussion here. It is recognised that a surprise factor can always be introduced by an enemy which does not scruple to violate international law, and, as is to be expected, the surprise factor has brought immediate gains to Germany. The indiscriminate sewing of mines in the North Sea has resulted in the sinking of several ships, many belonging to neutral countries. The reflection is frequently heard, however, that, as experience of the past has shown, the advantage is likely to be merely transitory. That, it is pointed out, was so in the case of Germany’s “sink at sight” policy in the last war, which not only failed in the end, but recoiled with deadly force upon herself. It is not doubted that methods to deal with the menace of the so-called magnetic mine have been considered by naval experts in anticipation of their use, and there is in fact reason to believe that these methods are being urgently developed. Apart from what may well prove to be a short life of technical advantage whicn Germany appeal's to have secured, she has now to reckon with the effects of the reprisals she has brought down upon herself in the form of the Allied decision to seize her exports in neutral vessels. NO ALLIED PORT CLOSED. This confronts her with Hie loss of

“ a considerable part of what remains in war time of her export trade —and that part upon which she chiefly depends for free exchange. Though by using aeroplanes as mine-carriers Germany can sow mines in waters which are closed to her warships, so far she has not succeeded in compelling the closing of any French or British port. In any case, all British eastern ports are totally unaffected. Considerable interest has also been i' aroused by the announcement that the r Danish Board of Trade has proclaimed - the existence of a- “fairway” to the - British coast. This is taken as a significant anticipation of what was to 3 be expected—that neither Denmark 1 nor other neutrals will be prepared to 3 submit to German intimidation of neuI tral shipping. That Denmark clearly - intends to maintain her normal exports to Britain is the meaning many here - read into her announcement. NEUTRAL SHIP MINED r (Received This Day, 9.20 a.m.) > LONDON, November 27. i The Gustaf E. Reuter was mined on ’ Sunday off the Scottish coast. i ENEMY SHIP ; SUNK BY GERMAN MINE. (Received This Day, 10.20 a.m.) COPENHAGEN, November 27. A 300-ton German ship struck a mine and foundered off Langeland in the same vicinity in which a minelayer . was lost during the weekend. The fate of the crew is unknown. DUTCH LINER MINED AND SUNK IN THAMES ' ESTUARY. FOUR MEN AND WOMAN ! KILLED. j (Received This Day, 10.20 a.m.) $ LONDON, November 27. j The Holland-Ainerika liner r Spaarndam struck a mine in the Thames Estuary and sank. A Kentish lifeboat found her badly damaged and sinking. Four members of the crew and an elderly woman passenger lost their lives, three being drowned and two killed by the explosion. Forty-one members of the crew were taken aboard a pilot . cutter. The loss occurred at 10 a.m. while £ the ship was en route to Rotterdam. The bows of the vessel were torn open as far as the upper deck. The fore 3 hatch was blown off and an S.O.S. was sent. out. The crew took to the boats, and later were picked up by a

pilot cutter. ROYSTON GRANGE SUNK WITHOUT LOSS OF LIFE. (Received This Day. 10.20 a.m.) LONDON, November 27. The sinking of the Royston Grange in the Atlantic, without loss of life, announced today, brings the total British losses by mines, torpedoes, and gunfire during the week ended Novem- ] ber 25, to 11 ships, of 25,787 tons. The ( Royston Grange was torpedoed.