Evening star., 1939-12-03
Russian Invasion Of Finland Marks Thirteenth Week Of War

Nazis close to English shores, British had
new headaches last week end in reported
destruction Of several valued ships.
Admitted by admiralty in London was
sinking Of Pilsudski, trim Polish mer-
chant ship Of 14,494 tons, off northwest
English coast. Less than years old,
Pilsudski was flagship of transatlantic
service between New York and Gdynia
in recent days of peace. Fast and ultra
modern, vessel had achieved popularity
with sister ship Batory in recently de-
veloped American-North Europe trade.
With disappearance of Polish nation,
both vessels were chartered from NOM
inal owners by British interests.
Last weeks London announcement
said Pilsudski was victim of mine; Berlin
claimed torpedo was weapon of success
Loss of lives numbered seven, with I'll
being saved.
Spectacular and more costly to British
naval might was sinking of Rawal Pindi,
16,697-ton armed mer-
Sinking Of chant cruiser, after
Rowol Pindi game but futile en-
gagement with Ger
man pocket battleship Deutschland and
companion cruiser.
One-time luxury liner in Orient serv-
ice, Rawal Pindi had been armed and
transferred to tough North Atlantic navy
patrol duty. From admiralty came
dramatic story of ships interception by
Deutschland and companion fighter off
southern coast of Iceland, refusal of
Rawal Pindi to strike colors, vicious can
nonading of heavier-armed German
ships, ultimate sinking of blazing Brit
isher, with estimated $50 officers and
men going to death.
Less than tWo-score of RaWal Pindis
crew were saved by Chitral, second Brit
ish patrol ship, and unnamed British
cruiser which attempted to engage Nazi
raiders, but lost them in night.
Denied by London, but claimed in Ber-
lin, was destruction by submarine of
unidentified l0.0OO-ton
Cruiser Loss British cruiser of Lon
Denied don class. According
to German sources, war
ship was sent to bottom east of Shetland
Islands by undersea boat commanded by
1t. Capt Guenther Prien, whose sinking
of Royal Oak in Scapa Flow brought
him personal decoration from Hitler.
In recapitulation on Friday, DNB, Off
cial Nazi news agency, claimed German
sinkings of allied and neutral shipping
totaling 1874 vessels of 639. .689 gross ton
mage. Fifty-two of ships, DNB said, were
neutrals; 150.867 of tonnage was in
tankers.
Countering, Lloyds of London released
list of casualties. naming 153 ships sunk,
fetal tonnage 603,985.
While daily additions to list of stricken
ships throws all such apitulations out
of line by time of publication, Lloyds
claimed that British losses have been
only slightly more than l per cent OF
her estimated 21,OO1 1926 total tonnage
available when war began.
German losses, Lloyds adds, have been
nearly score of ships, nearly 2 per cent
of nations tonnage.
Two major casualties among neutrals
we're listed in past week, one being 8859-
ton Dutch freighter Spaarndam, second
being 6,336-ton Swedish freighter Gustat
E. Reuter-. Both were victims OF mines.
Spaarndam going down just outside of
Thames River estuary.
For their part, allied admiralties
claimed destruction of 43 Nazi subma-
rines, high toll if true
II Boot Losses from German feet es-
Inrreose timated at below 100
when war broke. At
Scottish port during past week, British
landed 73 German prisoners, said to be
survivors of crews of one Nazi sub, three
freighters. One Nazi freighter was re-
ported fired by German submarine while
under British prize crew, another was
brought safely into English port.
I'VE shall soon master the magnetic
mine as we have already mastered the
U-boat" Chamberlain assured in radio
broadcast.
Nal communique on Monday disclosed
fatal explosion aboard German patro
boat in Danish waters, loss of ship and
16 men.
In maritime manifestations of Baltic
war, Firms were reported offering such
effective resistance to Soviet lombard
ment of strategic city Of Hangoe at
entrance of Gulf of Finland that un-
identified warship was sunk.
On Tuesday was issued British order
in council extending blockade tactics
against Germany to Nazi exports Bear
ing signature of George vi, drastic order
was entitled "Reprisals Restricting Ger
man Commerce" Effective date was
specified as December 4, tomorrow.
Suffering most under this policy will
be neutral shipping carrying German
products. Already on record in protest
Holland, Belgium, Greece Italy indicated
that they will continue to attempt COM
mercial operation at sea.