Evening star., 1940-07-25
Germans Sink
French Ship;
300 Missing
1888 Revealed Lost
On British Liner
In B. (. F. Evacuation
BY the Associated Press,

BY the Associated Press.
LONDON, July 25.-A German
motor torpedoboat, which darted
close to England's great Portland
naval base sank the 6,127-ton French
ship Meknes last night, with the
probable loss of 300 of the 1900
French naval officers and men being
repatriated to France.
simultaneously authorized sources
said that 1928 persons were missing
in the sinking of the Cunard liner
Lancashire, at anchor of st. Nazaire
during the evacuation of British
troops from France.
There were 2,477 known survivors
of the $500 aboard. Others, how
ever, may have saved themselves by
swimming or wading ashore and
falling into German hands.
Sank Within Half Hour.
The 16,243-ton Lancashire, struck
by bombs from Nazi planes, took a
heavy list which hampered the
launching of lifeboats. She cap
sized and sank within half an hour
OF tne atLacK.
The exact date was not given, but
the evacuation was lin mid-June.
A number of women and children
refugees were among the $500 pas
sengers. How many of these were
lost is not known, nor was it known
what percentage of the total they
made up.
Most of the survivors were picked
up by small craft which were car
rying other troops from the docks
to troopships in the harbor. One OF
the survivors said perfect disci-
pline" was maintained.
The big ship formerly was in the
cruise service between New York
and the West Indies.
French Flag Disregarded.
First Lord of the Admiralty A. v.
Alexander told the House of Com
mons the German torpedoboat dis
regarded the French flag flying at
the Meknes' mast and the French
colors painted on her decks and sides
In delivering the attack.
British warships picked up 1000
survivors after this deliberate and
callous attack" Mr.. Alexander said
"The Meknes was torpedoed by a
motorboat at 1890 last night" he
told the House. Passengers and
crew were given five minutes to take
to the boats, but each time she tried
to signal her name she was again
fired on, and sank in four or five
minutes"
Although it was too early to say
just how many persisted, Mr.. Alex
ander said the dead might number
300.
He asserted the Meknes was one
Of a number of ships used in ac-
cordance with the terms of the Ger
French armistice and that the
French governments representatives
had been informed in advance Of
the British intention to repatriate
the men in French ships.
The Meknes left SOUTHAMPTON
yesterday for Marseille.
Colors Painted on Sides.
precautions were taken to make
her neutral character apparent" /"
Alexander emphasized.
"She was flying the French flag
and the French colors were wildly
painted on her deck and sides. At
night the ship was fully Illuminated,
her navigation lights burning"
After the Meknes had been NOR
tally damaged, Alexander said Brit
ish naval units and aircraft sped
to the rescue.
Asked if "every step would be
taken by the war cabinet to see that
the French people are fully in
formed of this outrage" Alexander
replied emphatically:
Certainly"
Some survivors landed at south
west port expressed the belief the
number lost would exceed $50.
Many Of them were injured and a
number were barefooted and in
their underclothing.
They were given food and trans
ported to another part of the coun-
try by motor bus and special trains.