MORE TENSION

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20953, 4 November 1939, Page 8

MORE TENSION

RUSSIA AND FINLAND REJECTION OF CLAIMS DISCUSSIONS IN MOSCOW (United Press A«sn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) (Received Nov. 4, 3.15 p.m.) MOSCOW, Nov. 3 The Finnish-Russian negotiations at the Kremlin lasted an hour. The Government spokesman at Helsinki had declared that while Finland would reject the territorial claims on the southern coast any basis for further discussions would be considered. M. Molotoff attended the conference, following which no statement was issued. No second meeting has been fixed. The tension has not relaxed. EPIC OF THE SEA AWARDS FOR GALLANTRY BRITISH MERCHANT NAVY A SUBMARINE ELUDED L'Dl!*'- A.--. -i'-c. Tf*i Cnnyrtffßl' (Received Nov. 4, 3.15 p.m.) LONDON, Nov. 3 The first awards of the merchant navy during the war have been announced. Captain Hugh Roberts, master of the ship Mopan, gets the 0.8. E. for “great courage, resolution and skill in saving an unarmed ship when it was under continuous fire from a submarine for four hours.” Mr Richard Smith, chief engineer, was officially commended. Mr J. G. Turner, wireless operator on the Manaar, gets the Empire Gallantry Medal. The Mopan was nearing home when a U-boat came to the surface. Captain Roberts ordered the men to take cover and zig-zagged the vessel into the wind, compelling the submarine to follow, thus placing out of action the after gun and causing waves to break over the fore gun. The submarine fired intermittently for 37 minutes, and the Mopan was struck by fragments of shells. After two hours the U-boat seemed to be slowly gaining. The Mopan made a supreme effort and increased her speed from the normal 13£ knots to 16£ knots, and increased her lead to four miles, whereupon the submarine gave up and disappeared.