Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-11-29
Two Nazi Ships
Ddshing toSea
FdceCdpture
British War Vessels
Reported Sent to
Intercept Craft
By the Associated Press.

by Lne hbSOCldteu fttsS.
TAMPICO, Mexico, Nov. 29-The
German merchantmen Idarwald and
Rhein steamed southwark out OF
Tampico tIday on their second
attempt to leave their haven here
and slip Through the British block
ade to Europe.
On Mexico City it was reported
that BON British and Canadian
warships in the Caribbean were
under orders to intercept the
ships, which apparently were try
ing to enter the Caribbean via
the Yucatan PeninsulaD
With the Rhein in the lead, the
freighters were following the coast
about 4 miles from shore. Famed
around the eastern horizon were
three foreign warships. too distant
from shore to be identified, but be-
lieved to be United States neutrality
patrol craft. To the southeast was
another warship. reported to be the
Mexican gunboat Durango, charged
with escorting the freighters out OF
territorial waters.
Idarwald Runs Aground.
The Idarwald, it was learned, ran
aground on a sandbar earlier in the
day outside the harbor. but refoated
herself without assistance. Then
she sailed steadily almost due south,
in the trail of the Rhein, and both
ships moved rapidly out of sight.
To pass the Yucatan Peninsula
and reach the Caribbean for escape
into the Atlantic, the ships must
altar their courses sharply to the
east. passing the peninsula probably
under cover of darkness tonight.
The 5,033-ton Idarwald entered
the open sea. sailing eastward. at
8:19 am, while the 6,031-ton Rhein
followed several miles in her wake.
They had found haven here since
early in the war.
Both ships were reported carrying
limited cargoes of fuel and pro-
visions.
The crews stood on deck waving
and shouting "Adios!" to workers on
the river docks as they slipped out
on their venture. Some ships in the
harbor whistled farewell.
Idarwald's Name Painted Over.
The Rhein reached the open sea
about am. The Idarwald's name
had been painted over, but the
Rheims was clear. The Idarwald
carried a crew of So, the Rhein As.
There was no evidence that either
ship was carrying part of the heavy
cargo of provisions and fuel which
they took on prior to their frustrated
sally earlier this month.
Both German ships filled all clear
ance requirements with the Mexican
government last night. The Idarwald
gave Vigo, Spain, as her destination
and the Rhein said she was headed
for Tenerife, in SPANS Canary
Islands.
Tried Dash Unsuccessfully.
These ships were among four
which tried unsuccessfully to dash
to sea November Is, turning back
when they sighted warships offshore
which they believed to be British.
Later it developed that United States
destroyers had been on neutrality
patrol in those waters.
The crew of one of the ships in
the earlier dash, the ASHTON Phry-
gia, scuttled her. The fourth ves-
sci, the Orinoco, was undergoing re-
pairs at her moorings 10 miles down
| the Panuco this morning She de-
veloped engine trouble in the No
vember Is attempt
There was speculation in connec-
ton with both today's sailing and
that of two weeks ago that the ships
might be planning to keep rem
devious with German war vessels.