WAR SENSATION

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 April 1941, Page 6

WAR SENSATION

AMERICAN SEIZURE OF SHIPS SEVENTY VESSELS IN ALL. AGGREGATING 320,000 TONS. j (By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 12.15 p.m.) WASHINGTON. March 31. The Treasury today published a formal compilation of seventy ships th'e seizure of which has ranked as one of the highest of the war's sensations, even tending to rival the thrill of Admiral Cunningham's naval victory. The Treasury statement shows that 28 Italian, two German and 26 Danish ships have been taken into custody by the Coastguard. Army and Navy in ports of the United States and the Panama Canal Zone. Four other Danish vessels were taken over by the Navy in Philippine waters. The Treasury said that all the crews : had been removed. The seventy vessels aggregated 320,000 tons, including 168.000 tons Italian, 9000 tons German, and 142,000 tons Danish. Sabotaging, which has resulted in ex- 1 tensive damage to at least 20 Italian ships, 'spread to Central America today, when crews set fire to one Ger- ; man and one Italian ship'in Costa Rica.

AXIS SHIPS LYING IN CHILENO PORT. SET ON FIRE BY THEIR CREWS. (Bty Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright) (Received This Day, 11.30 a.m.) SAN JOSE, March 31. The German freighter Esinach and the Italian freighter Fella, anchored at Punta Arenas (in the Straits of Magellan), were set on fire by their crews this morning. An official report of the burning of the German and Italian vessels said that 40 armed police, under the Police Director, Colonel Manuel Rodriguez, moved to place a special guard aboard the ships, in . order,, to avoid sabotage. This morning, just as they were boarding the vessels, an explosion occurred and fire rapidly enveloped the Eisenbach entirely. The Eisenbach is considered a total loss, but strenuous efforts are being made to control the fire aboard the Fella. One hundred and twenty Italian and German members of the crews were detained and charged with committing sabotage.