NAZI CONVOY

Wairarapa Times-Age, 4 March 1940, Page 6

NAZI CONVOY

REPORTED IN SOUTH ATLANTIC RUMOURS OF SEA BATTLE. NO CONFIRMATION OBTAINED BY BRITISH AUTHORITIES. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. LONDON. March 2. A inosstige I'rotti Montevideo siiys lliiH an inlercepled wireless message has revealed tlu‘ presence in the South Atlantic. ol' several German merchantmen accompanied by two submarines and a bailieship. It is believed iliey left a ('mitral American wesl coast port for Japan but changed their course southward and widely rounded Cape Horn in order Io avoid patrols. The newspaper “Dia" announced yesterday on its bulletin board that a battle was in progress 200 miles off Cape Rolon io. The British Legation insist that this cannot be confirmed. A message from Aruba (Dutch West Indies) says it is reported that the German freighter Heidelberg was captured by a British warship and is being towed to Trinidad. The German freighter Antilia, which was attempting to run the blockade, has put back to port at Aruba. In reference to the report of the scuttling of an unnamed German merchantman. the Gorman freighter Troja (2390 tons) is still burning off .Tore. The Troja sailed simultaneously with the Heidelberg, of which no reports have been received.

AN UNSOLVED MYSTERY. It was reported from Washington that a submarine attacked the British steamer Southgate (4862 tons), which sent out a distress signal when it was 130 miles north of Puerto Rico and 1000 miles south-east of Miami. The United States destroyers MacLeish. Saterloc, and Mason and the coastguard vessel Unalga, which were cruising in the vicinity, went speeding to the scene. United States navy officials did not state whether the destroyers were on neutrality patrol, but suggested that the attack was probably within the safety zone. However, the Navy Department subsequently announced that United States naval planes had located the Southate in "no apparent danger." A report from San Juan. Puerto Rico, says that United States defence authorities there revealed that two United States submarines were in the vicinity of the Southgate when the alarm was given, and it is suggested she may have mistaken one for a Üboat. The Southgate was silent after the first S.O.S. A later message says the Southgate question remains a mystery which the Navy authorities are unable to clear up. Despite the reports from San Juan, Navy officials are now definite that no United States submarines were in the vicinity of the Southgate when it signalled its S.O.S. They are not blaming the captain for maintaining silence during the 18-hour search, apparently agreeing that fear of raiders made his action justifiable.