THE SEIZED VESSEL

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20950, 1 November 1939, Page 7

THE SEIZED VESSEL

ANOTHER BOAT SUNK SEAMAN’S DRAMATIC STORY (United Press Assn. —Eiec. Tel. Opyrltr&ti LONDON, Oct. 31 The seizure of the American steamer City of Flint by the German battleship Deutschland is described by a member of the crew of the British steamer Stonegate, who has reached England. The Stonegate, he says, was sunk in heavy seas in which the lifeboats would not have lived. The crew was accordingly taken on board the German warship, where they remained for five days. They had no complaint to make of their treatment. The City of Flint was then sighted and the Deutschland forced her to stop. A German boarding party went to the American ship, which was placed under arrest. The captain of the City of Flint was asked whether he would prefer to have his vessel sunk or taken to a German port, and he is reported to have replied that he would prefer the latter.

The Stonegate’s crew were then transferred to the City of Flint and imprisoned below decks. The German prize crew threatened them with hand-grenades if they attempted to escape. The American crew, on the other hand, were allowed to walk about, and did all they could to assist members of the British crew by bringing them food and clothing. The German crew painted out the City of Flint’s name, substituted another, and hoisted the Danish flag. German Plan Foiled But their plan was foiled when they reached the Norwegian port of Tromso. The Norwegian pilot was informed by one of the Americans that the ship was really the City of Flint and that the British crew of the Stonegate was imprisoned below. A Norwegian boarding-party came off, disarmed the German prize crew, and released the British sailors, who were taken ashore. The City of Flint was then escorted out of Norwegian waters, and went to the Russian port of Murmansk. The City of Flint, which is in the charge of a German prize crew, is reported to have left Tromso, Norway, on her way to a German port, possibly Hamburg. Report by Minister The vessel arrived at Tromso yesterday afternoon flying the German flag, and sailed three hours later. The United States Minister to Norway, Mrs Florence Harriman, has sent to Washington an unofficial report to this effect. A Stockholm newspaper says the German Consul at Tromso boarded the vessel in the roads at one o'clock. The American crew and the German prize crew were on board. The City of Flint left port at the request of the Norwegian authorities, the report states.

The City of Flint is stated to have put into Tromso on the pretext that fresh water was required, but it is pointed out that the vessel left Murmansk only last Friday and had been at sea but a few days.