The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1939-11-21
Germans Press Most
Dangerous of Threats
Continued from Page u


II was watching the vessel from
the shore for some time. The sun
was shining on her. She was real
picture of a ship. Suddenly the
liner appeared to explode. ] did not
hear the explosion, but great clouds
Of water shot high into the air.
Afterwards the liner was partly
submerged and then she disappeared
saw lots Of ships racing to the spot
from all directions"
Some Of the survivors were landed
witness said. He saw life boats
and other craft rushing to the res
cut as the Terukuni Maru sank
Japanese embassy officials left
London for the scene Of the sinking
Eyewitnesses said that the liner
was a large one with two tunnels
after the explosion the liner was
partly submerged" one eyewitness
said.
Thereafter 1t disappeared COM
pletely.
"I saw lots of ships racing to the
scene fro mall directions"
German mines, including a new
magnetic apparatus that Is attracted
to the steel Of ship, were blamed
by the British for the record-break-
ing series Of disasters. Britons in
terpreted a radio broadcast from
Hamburg as admission that the
Nazis had turned to planting mines
In the path of Allied and neutra.
ships after their U-Boat menace
began to fade. Officially, Germany
charged that the mines were British
The floating mines, like the first
terrifying attacks by U-boats during
the World War, presented hazard
Gus and vital problem to the Allies
in Connection with maintenance OF
their supply lines.
Scare OF Neutral Ships
Unless the increased danger OF
mines can quickly be overcome, rleu-
trail shipping may be frightened
away from England and Allied ves-
sells may suffer losses comparable to
the World War when, at one time
the threat of exhaustion Of supplies
was grave.
Two immediate reactions were In.
dictated. The first was on the natur.
al precaution of organizing vast
mine sweeper fleets to locate ano
destroy the floating packages Of ex-
plosives, as was indicated by the
sinking Of the Mastiff. The second
measure suggested was retaliatory
"a blockade Of exports from Ger
many as we'll as to Germany In or.
der to complete the organizat io1;
designed to destroy the Nazi econ.
omy.
The second suggestion would be a
grave one as 1t would involve neu-
trail shipping-there Is a World Wal
precedent-and might do more harm
than good. Italy, for instance, still
Is keeping her position of advantage
as a powerful neutral and the Allies
want to take no action that would
impair the possibility that Premier
Benito Mussolini eventually will
break away from Adolf Hitler and
join them.
Europe At Disadvantage
But despite the lack Of action on
the actual military fronts, the con-
sideration Of the blockade measure
indicated the drastic stage to which
Europe's economic conflict has adj
vanced.
The plans on the German side
according to charges by the French
general staff today, included large
scale offensive between November Il
and IA, including invasion of both
Holland and Switzerland. This plan
was called off, the general staff
claimed, only at the last moment
presumably because of dissension
among the Nazi leaders.
Because the French would like TO
circulate the idea that Hitler con-
siders invading the small neutral
countries, the official statement ap-
peared to have about the same
weight as the official NaM denial
issued In Berlin, but in any event
1t illustrated the possibilities that
could burst over Europe at a mo-
ments notice. That Hitler Is PLAN
ming a spectacular thrust and that
the intensified sea war and aerial
reconnaissance may be the first
stage of that thrust has been re-
peatedly indicated in high Nad cir
cles.
Allies See Danger
Nor are the Allies under estimat-
ing the danger of such German
offensive. although they say their
preparations are complete. In Brit
ain especially the German World
War fleet which surrendered 81
years ago today is vividly remem-
bered.
And with the Nazi sea war gain
ing momentum Britons recalled Earl
Beattie's words on the day OF sur
render-Nov. 81, l9lS--when he Or
dered the Gel man flag struck.
The German ensign will be low
cred at sunset" he said, land not
hoisted again without permission