RUTHLESS ACTS

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20921, 28 September 1939, Page 7

RUTHLESS ACTS

U=BOAT CAMPAIGN MET BY THE BRITISH CONTROL OF CONTRABAND (omclal Wireless) (Received Sept. 28, 11.0 a.m.) RUGBY, Sept. 27 Mr Winston Churchill prefaced his account in the House of Commons of the many cruel ruthless acts of the U-boat campaign by a word in recognition of those U-boat commanders who had tried to behave with humanity. Some had given good warning, and some had endeavoured to help crews to find their way to port, and he recounted the story of one U-boat captain who “signalled me personally the position of a British ship which he had just sunk and urged that rescue should be sent. “ I was in doubt at the time,” the First Lord observed, “as to the address to which I should direct my answer.”

He added, after a slight pause, amidst laughter: “However, he is now in our hands and is being treated with all consideration.” In contrast to the hard and bitter U-boat warfare, Mr Churchill was able to tell the House: “In all the farreaching control which we are exercising upon contraband no neutral snip has ever been put in danger and no law recognised amongst civilised nations has ever been contravened. Even when German ships have deliberately sunk themselves to avoid the formalities of the Prize Court we have so far succeeded in rescuing their crew.” Less Shipping Lost An interesting detail contained in Mr Churchill’s statement was the fact that against 60,000 tons of oil lost by submarine action in the first fortnight of the war must be put 50,000 tons seized in transit to Germany, apart from the enormous additional stores brought to the British Isles without mishap. A Ministry of Information bulletin states that the German wireless station broadcast a statement that the British Government intends lo cut off supplies of paper for Latin American countries unless their newspapers agree to adopt a proBritish attitude. It seems hardly necessary to point out that the British detention of contraband goods applies only to goods going to Germany, our enemy, and not to those goods destined for South America or any other countries.