SUBMARINE ATTACK

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20919, 26 September 1939, Page 7

SUBMARINE ATTACK

FRENCH COLLIER SUNK TWO OF CREW INJURED (tubed Pr.BB Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright (Received Sept. 26, 11 a.m.) LONDON, Sept. 25 A submarine, without warning, attacked the French collier Phryne off the English coast on September 24. Longshoremen heard an explosion and saw a column of smoke. The crew, numbering 24, put off in two boats, from which a lifeboat from the shore rescued them. Two were injured. Two destroyers which raced to the scene departed after the Phryne sank. 4 STOCKHOLM, Sept. 25 The 1839-ton Swedish steamer Silesia, bound for England with lumber, was torpedoed and sunk off St. Avenger. The Swedish steamer Sisecia rescued the crew. Foul Act of Firmer The Ministry of Information confirms the fears expressed on Saturday that all hope must be given up for the officers and crew of the Royal Sceptre, a steamship which was sunk on September 6. She carried a crew of 32, who were cast adrift in their boats without possible hope of reaching land. After giving the names of the victims the Ministry states: "The sinking was a foul act of piracy. In direct contravention of the submarine protocol signed by Germany in 1936, which was binding for all time. The protocol made it abundantly clear that no warship, or submarine was justified in sinking merchantmen unless the crew was placed in safety.” Engineer's Arm Blown Off Twenty-three survivors of the | Hazel Ide were landed by a coastal i steamer. \ A member of the crew described how the captain decided to run for it. He finally ordered the engine to be stopped, which was done by an engineer who had had an arm blown off during the attack. Two British aircraft arrived and the submarine disappeared. The survivors were four hours in a boat. The dead include the first officer, whose father was drowned after being topedoed in the last war.