Evening star., 1939-12-24

German liner Columbus, luxurious cruise
ship that ranked third in Nazi merchant
marine, slipped out of Vera Cruz Harbor
in attempt to reach Germany.
Late on Tuesday afternoon came
startling word that Columbus burning
and with seacocks open, was sinking
some 240 miles southeast of Nantucket
Lightship. Standing
S. S. Columbus close by was British
Is SeuttIed cruiser; also nearby
was American cruiser
Tuscaloosa, neutrality patroller. AS in
case of Graf Spec, verdict of naval
suicide was returned.
To Tuscaloosa hustled $40 survivors of
Columbus. to be brought next day into
New York Harbor, where immigration
Service questioned them preliminary to
deciding whether internment or ordi-
nary 60-day seamen's entry permits
would be ordered.
You get an order and you obey"
Capt. William Daehne remarked lacon-
ically in New York. You don't ask
questions
Actually, inquiry revealed that Ger
man ships today carry trained "scuttle
crews" under automatic orders to de-
stroy their own ships rather than per-
nit their capture by the British. In
cluding Columbus and Graf Spec, suicide
toll has numbered IL in last three
months.
Meanwhile, off Fort Lauderdale. third
naval encounter of week on this side OF
Atlantic took place.
Out of Veracruz. Nazi freighter Arauca
was hailed by British cruiser near three
mile limit of Florida waters. Ordered
to follow cruiser toward British Ba-
Arouco FIees l hamas; German s skipper per
to v. ). Fort vessel close to two Amer
ican ships, in their lee worked his way
into Port Everglades for refuge. There,
while United States Government debated
status of Nazi vessel libel attachment
was served by Texas sugar company.
But 81 American governments, includ-
ing this one, were interested from aca-
demic standpoint in effects of Graf Spec
and later incidents on Western Hemi-
sphere neutrality as proclaimed by Pam
anna declaration. Clearly, the fight off
Uruguay was in violation of declaration
that waters adjacent to Americas should
be free from the commission of any hos
tile act by any non American belligerent
vessel"
Although no provision for use of force
was included in declaration, vigorous
joint protest against naval action was
announced by American governments
as week ended. Their words, Under
secretary of State Welles implied in New
York speech on Tuesday, would make
very much less likely in the future such
disregard" for rights of Western
neutrals.
That British government intends to
fight its naval battles wherever fate de-
crees was indicated in London comment
later in week.
Even this grist of naval news was not
all for week.
In London, admiralty claimed that two
British submarines had scored against
German warships; crediting undersea
boat Ursula with knitting through pro-
tective screen of Nazi destroyers to sink
unidentified >6,000-ton cruiser of Koeln
class at mouth of Elbe River, and cred-
iting submarine Salmon with damaging
6,OOO-ton cruiser Leipzig and unidenti-
fled heavier cruiser. Earlier London
claimed. Salmon had encountered and
sunk German U-boat. Dispatches of pre-
vious week named Salmon as sub which
sighted but lost Bremen.
And as Germans turned their principal
maritime offensive to bombing attacks
on North Sea shipping, French COM
munique claimed that Nazi submarine
menace was being rapidly dissipated with
toll of some so undersea raiders de-
stroyed by allied patrols since war be-
gan. Estimating German reproduction
at two Uboats per week, French said
Nazi fleet must now be down to IS.
Still. Churchill cautioned that rough
and violent times lie ahead"