The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1917-10-21
11SHIPSSUNK
BY RAIDERS
Two British Destroyers and
Nine Neutral Merchantmen
Victims Of Germans.


LONDON, Oct 2o.-NIne neutral mer-
chant ships were sunk on Wednesday in
the North Sea of the Shetland Islands.
with two British destroyers conveying
them. by two German raiders. It is an
nounced tonight. All on board the de-
stroyers. 1875 men In all. were lost. and
most Of those on the merchant ships.
which were on the way from Norway to
England. About 100 men were saved.
Berlin reports there were thirteen ves-
sells in the fleet. all OF which were sunk
except one. This is denied by the Brit
ish Admiralty, which says three vessels
escaped. A report from Christiania
states twelve vessels were sunk, OF
which five were Norwegian. aggregating
3 400 tons; two Danish. two Swedish, one
Belgian and two British
The attack was made by fast and
heavily armed cruisers, which after do
ing their work escaped before the ar
rival of the British patrol. which came
promptly. No effort was made by the
Germans to rescue the men on the Brit
ish destroyers which were sunk
Destroyer Fought to End.
The British Admiralty statement
! reads:
Two very fast and heavily armed
German raiders attacked a convoy in
the North Sea about midway between
the Shetland Islands and the Nor
wegian, coast on Wednesday. Two
British destroyers his Majesty's ships
Mary Rose Lieutenant Commander
Charles Fox. and Strongbow. Lieu
4
which formed the anti-submar.ne
escort. at once engaged the enemy
vessels and fought until they were
sunk after short and unequal en-
gagement
Their gallant action held the Ger
man raiders sufficiently long to en-
able three merchant vessels to effect
their escape.
II IL to be regretted. however, that
five Norwegian. one Danish and three
Swedish vessels. all unarmed, were
thereafter snnk by gunfire, without
examination or warning Of any kind
and regardless Of the lives Of their
crews and passengers. Lengthy COM
ment on the action Of the Germans is
unnecessary. but adds another ex-
ample to the long list of crimnaly
innuman deeds Of the German navy.
Anxious TO make good their escape
before the British forces could inter
rupt them. no effort was made to res
cue the crews OF the sunken British
destroyers, and the Germans left the
doomed merchant ships while these
were ss:'t sinking. thus enabling the
British patrol craft, which arrived
shortly afterward. to rescue some
thirty Norwegians and others. regard
ing whom the details are not yet
known. The German navy by this
act once more and further degraded
itself by the disregard OF the historic
chivalry of the sea.
Denies German Statement.
The German official communicate on
this subject states that the attack took
place within territorial waters in the
neighborhood of the shetland Islands,
and that all the escort vessels. includ-
ing the destroyers. were sunk with the
exception Of one escort fishing steam
ship. The statement as to the locality
of tho attack Is untrue. as is also the
statement regarding the destruction of
the escort vessels.
Tho enemy raiders succeeded In
evading the British watching squad
rons on long. dark nights. both on
their hurried outward dash and their
homeward flight.
II is regretted that all the eighty
eight officers and men OF H. NJ =
Mary Rose and forty-scyen officer.
and men of II. NJ. S. Strougbow were
lost.
In contradiction of tho Admiralty
statement, a Reuter- despatch from Bcr-
gen, Norway, says that ten Of the crew
of the Mary Rose. probably the only
survivors OF that vessel. have reached
that place.
Nny Re- More Survivors.
Although only 100 survivors are def.
nitely reported so far tho number may
he largely Increased a. men are being
landed all along the shore, The Chris
tiinia reports give tho names Of five
vessels with the following rcscues
kristine, : Sorhaug. II; Silja, : ,
Ilahil Z. All these were Norwegian
From the Wikandcr two mon were
saved and from the Wistur nine. both
OF these ships were swedish. All the
vessels apparently We're very small
none Is listed In the shipping records.
Copenhagen reports that the Danish
stea amer Stella was one of those sunk
Seven 81 her crew were saved and have
landed at Norwegian port.
A despatch from Bergen says that
several survivors arrived there last night
and related narrowing stories Of their
two days sufferings and privations in
small hoats before landing. The cap
tain Of ono Of the Norwegian steamers.
the sole survivor Of that vessel, said
that he ordered his crew into the boats,
but tho Germans began hring imme.
diately. After the boats were lowered
n she'll hit one and killed nine men.
Tho crew In despair returned to tho
steamship and signaled to the German
to cease firing. but their appeal was not
needed. The bridge was then hit and
knocked overheard with the captain and
| the rest OF the crew. The captain man,
| aged TO save himself by swimming to q
raft. and he was picked up two hours
Conttnacd ON Second Psocn