ORDER OBEYED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 22 December 1939, Page 5

ORDER OBEYED

MASTER OF THE COLUMBUS TELLS HIS STORY WHY HE LEFT NEUTRAL PORT. CREW DRILLED IN READINESS FOR SCUTTLING. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright NEW YORK, December 21. Captain Wilhelm Daehne, master of the German liner Columbus, revealed that the ship left Vera Cruz “escorted American destroyers. There were always one or two American cruisers with us in the beginning. They were friendly, signalling ‘God. speed, a safe return home and Merry Christmas’ as they left.” The Tuscaloosa began escorting him on December 18. ‘At 2.30 p.m. on December 19.” he added, "a destroyer appeared. nearing very quickly. At 2.55 p.m. I could make out the British flag and a minute later 1 gave the general alarm to scuttle and burn the ship. I had drilled the crew a mouth for this and they knew what to do. “At 2.57 the destroyer signalled ‘Stop immediately. We are sending a boat.' At 3.5 p.m. she fired two shots across our bow. I ordered the lifeboats to be lowered.’ Captain Daehne added that there were nine women aboard, stewardesses who had insisted on accompanying the Columbus. "The two missing firemen were hap-py-go-lucky fellows. Evidently they delayed too long in leaving and perished with the ship.” Asked why he left the safety of a neutral port, Captain Daehne shrugged and replied: ‘lf you get an order you fulfil that order.”