NAZI PIRACY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 February 1940, Page 5

NAZI PIRACY

DENOUNCED BY SEAMEN IN NORWAY FIRING ON HELPLESS MEN. DEMAND FOR NATIONAL ACTION. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY. February 19. A commentary on tendentious outbursts'by the Nazis against Britain’s alleged violation of international law and the rights of neutral countries in regard to the Altmarck case is contained in a resolution by Norwegian unions presented to the Norwegian Foreign Secretary last Friday. “Acting on information in our. possession," the resolution states, “we have resolved to protest with the greatest indignation against the form of sea warfare which is now being waged and which seems to have as its prime object the terrorisation of neutral ships. We also wish to express our disappointment at the prevailing powerlessness in the face of demands that international law should be respected. “Neutral shipping nations, seem to know of no means of demanding the cessation of the massacre of shipping. A number of the sinkings which have recently taken place must be condemned as demonstrably conflicting with international law and human feeling. In this connection we • will mention the Songa, which was proceeding from America to a neutral port in Europe, and was sunk far out in the Atlantic and the crew driven out into open boats in mid-winter. . “We will also mention the sinking of the Tempo as the most monstrous thing that can be imagined. This ship was proceeding on a neutral voyage when it was attacked by German aeroplanes, which, not content with sinking the ship, went so far as to shoot at the crew when they got into the boats. ■ “So much has been proved by official inquiry. From official inquiries into the sinking of the Enid it is also apparent that the crew was exposed to gunfire after they got into their boats. “It may perhaps be possible to destroy Norwegian shipping but it is impossible co frighten them into staying on land. We can urge upon our members not to go in ships which carry cargo to a billigerent Povyer which has declared itself proud of war and of aimlessly murdering defenceless seamen.

“The seamen's organisations are resolved further to demand that the authorities give due attention to the war on our merchant ships when trade agreements are concluded, and to ensure that in future seamen will not be exposed to the illegal warfare which is now in progress.” Norway so far has lost, it is believed in London, 47 ships, and 270 lives as a result of German action. BRUTAL CAPTAIN TREATMENT OF PRISONERS. ACCOUNTS BY RESCUED NEW ZEALANDERS. An Australian and a New Zealander who were prisoners on the German auxiliary ship Altmarck last night broadcast from Daventry their experiences from the time of their capture by the Admiral Graf Spec and their rescue by H.M.S. Cossack. Of particular interest was a _ comparison made between the hospitality of Captain Langsdorff, who was described as a gentleman, and that of the captain of the Altmarck. who became very bitter toward his prisoners after the scuttling of the Graf Spec. The Australian who broadcast is a ship’s steward from Sydney, and the New Zealander is William Wheeler, a youthful gunner from the Doric Star.

They were /told that Captain Langsdorff was killed in action, said the Australian, but they were informed of the full details of the scuttling of the Graf Spee and Captain Langsdorff's suicide by a member of the German crew of the Altmarck, who was punished by being placed on bread and water for 24 days. After the Graf Spee scuttling the captain also became worse and the treatment of the prisoners was harsh. They were all assembled on deck one day with rifles and machine-guns trained" on them as a warning against mutiny. "The captain told us that he hated the British people, who were trying to make Germany into a slave State." the Australian said. They would never be able to do that, he said,

and Germany was going to win the war. He also told us that we need not ask for any privileges as we would not get any.” The crew of the Altmarck tried to be friendly, but the captain blocked that. Prior to being placed on the Altmarck the Australian and others from vessels captured by the Graf Spee were quartered on the German battleship. They were well treated and had every admiration for Captain LangsdorfT. Wheeler, who said he had never previously been outside New Zealand waters, dealt with the meagre rations, the efforts of the men to relieve the tedium by making sets of chess, ludo and draughts for play, the trying living and sleeping conditions, and the alnjost complete lack of news. What news they did get, he said, was from purely German sources and was recounted to them by their guard. Some of it was so ridiculous that the prisoners could not. but help chuckling, much to the embarrassment of the guard who turned as red as a beetroot.. The deplorable conditions of the British captives in the Altmarck were also recounted by a 8.8. C, commentator, who met eight of the prisoners, of whom two were from Melbourne and another from Toronto. "They were well but tired, and their nerves were shaken, which was not surprising. 1 asked the Doric Star’s cook if he felt like a good rest ashore. He replied that he would like a rest for a day ox two, but was very anxious to get back to sea again and get a little back for what they had received. “That goes for all the men,” said the commentator. NO GERMAN FIRING ACCORDING TO CAPTAIN OR ALTMARCK. LONDON, February 19. In a broadcast to the United States full of inconsistencies, Captain Dau. of the Altmarck, said he ordered the crow not to resist because the Altmarck was unarmed. “I was determined Io respect Norwegian neutrality at all

costs,” he said. "Not one German shot was fired." He added that the English left hurriedly and seemed very nervous. Many persons, including the Altmarck officers and men. and German officials, attended the burial of the six killed. Herr Hitler, and Herr von Ribbentrop sent wreaths, and Norwegian marines formed a guard of honour. A seventh German has died in hospital.