NAVY AT WORK

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 April 1940, Page 5

NAVY AT WORK

THREE GERMAN SHIPS TORPEDOED AND SUNK Off the Norwegian Coast HEAVY LOSS OF LIFE IN ONE INSTANCE BRITISH SUBMARINE COMMANDER’S ORDER TO STOP DISREGARDED The British Navy has sunk three German ships. One, the Rio de Janiero, of about 6000 tons, was sunk off the south-east coast of Norway; another, a tanker of about 12,000 tons, also off the Norwegian coast, and the third, a ship of 2350 tons, just outside Norwegian territorial waters. The Rio de Janiero disregarded the order of a British submarine commander to stop and the ship was torpedoed. The first torpedo did not sink the ship, but immediately she was struck the crew began to jump overboard. Norwegian ships, including trawlers, rescued between 140 and 150 men, while 29 bodies have been washed ashore. The total number of people lost in the Rio de Janiero is about 150. The ship apparently was being used as a troopship, as the survivors landed were wearing uniforms. The tanker, of about 12,000 tons, obeyed the British warning and stopped, the crew taking to the boats. The third ship was sunk just outside Norwegian territorial waters. An unconfirmed report states that British warships have also sunk a German submarine.