LOSSES AT SEA

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20995, 23 December 1939, Page 7

LOSSES AT SEA

MORE SHIPS SUNK ORDEAL OF CREWS DRIFT IN OPEN BOAT (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyrlg-ht) LONDON, Dec. 22 It is reported from Amsterdam that the Italian steamer Comitas, of 3685 tons, was mined in the North Sea. She was towed to Flushing. Thirty members of the crew, some of whom were wounded, reached the shore in the boats. The steamer Vega, wich was carrying gold, was mined and sunk. Six members of the crew were wounded. All were rescued. A report from Oslo states that a British trawler, believed to be the River Annan, of 200 tons, was bombed and sunk off the Norwegian coast. Among those on board were a number of men who had been on a Danish ship which had also been sunk. These men and 10 of the crew of the trawler were picked up by a Norwegian vessel and landed in Norway. They had drifted for 36 hours in lifeboats in rough seas. German Liner Captured The German liner Cap Norte (13,615 tons), which was captured on October 13, has arrived at a British port with a cargo of wheat, wool, skins, tobacco, coffee and horseflesh. It is now revealed that the CunardWhite Star liner Samaria (19,597 tons), which returned to Britain on Wednesday, slightly damaged, after leaving for America last Saturday, came into collision with a British troopship in a thick fog. Disaster was avoided by only a few feet. The troopship’s superstructure was slightly damaged. Russian Steamer Sunk The Russian steamer Kirov is reported to have been sunk in the Gulf of Finland. The vessel was previously reported to be seriously damaged. A Finnish steamer reports being attacked by a Soviet aeroplane. Fifteen bombs were dropped. Oil Tanker Mined The British oil tanker Donisia, of 8053 tons, was mined and reached port with a slight list and with 40 members of the crew in a lifeboat. THE LAST SCENES LATE CAPTAIN LANGSDORFF 1000 SAD-FACED GERMANS FUNERAL AT BUENOS AIRES (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyrig-nt) BUENOS AIRES, December 21. One thousand sad-faced Germans marched into the Argentine naval arsenal this afternoon to pay a final tribute to the late Captain Langsdorff, commander of the scuttled Graf Spee. Outside only a thousand spectators waited for a glimpse of the coffin en route to the German cemetery. Three hundred German seamen were given permission to leave the arsenal precincts and accompany the body for burial. Captain Kay, second in command of the Admiral Graf Spee, accompanied by two Argentine officers and eleven automobiles bearing officers of the Admiral Graf Spee, followed. 10,000 At Cemetery Ten thousand people were massed at the gates of the cemetery, whence three officers and five men carried the coffin. The ship’s band played a dirge and a Lutheran pastor read the burial service. The German Ambassador, Herr von Thermann, clad in Nazi uniform, spoke at the graveside, after which German residents, officers and the crew gave the Nazi salute and sang “I Had a Comrade.” It is reported from Berlin that only one newspaper, the Deutsche Allgemeine Zeitung, revealed the suicide of Captain Hans Langsdorff, commander of the Graf Spee. The news was in the form of a brief notice on the front page. It was published without comment.

GERMAN PROTEST

REJECTED BY URUGUAY HARSH LANGUAGE USED (United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright; NEW YORK, Dec. 22 The Government of Uruguay has energetically rejected Germany’s protest against its action in ordering the departure of the Graf Spee, says the Montevideo correspondent of the New York Times. The text of the Note has not been published, but it is stated that it was couched in the same tone as the German protest, which was unusually harsh and in anything but diplomatic language. A message from Rio de Janeiro says the Pan American Republics’ protest to Germany is expected to be issued at the end of this week blaming the Graf Spee for starting the battle. THE SCUTTLED COLUMBUS

POSITION OF THE CREW (Untied Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright) LONDON, Dec. 22 All the members of the crew of the Columbus whom immigration inspectors have examined have been graded as bona-fide distressed seamen. As such they are entitled to remain 60 days in the United States. However, pending the examination of the remainder and the completion of formalities they will remain on y.ltift Island over G-fr r W trr>aa