Desperate Blockade Challenge Decision NAZI SHIPS TO RUN (OR SCUTTLE)
LONDON, TO-DAY.
ACCORDING TO THE "EVENING NEWS” · A CABLE HAS BEEN RECEIVED IN THE CITY OF LONDON TO THE EFFECT THAT SIX GERMAN SHIPS QUITTED THE SPANISH PORT OF VIGO UN- DER DARKNESS ON SATURDAY NIGHT IN AN ATTEMPT TO RUN THE BRITISH BLOCKADE. Three others have left Brazilian ports in addition to the
Wakama, making a total of 10.
The newspaper says the German vessels, which have been sheltering in neutral ports since the beginning of the war, received orders to attempt to return home, or scuttle themselves, if necessary.
CHINESE RETAKE PINGYANG
Chungking, To-day.
It is officially announced that the Chinese forces have recaptured the important town of Pingyang, north-east of Nanning, in south Kwang- si.
The Chinese on February 11 launch- ed a strong attack on the Japanese forces holding the town, and after an all-day battle the Chinese forces OC- cupied the town, inflicting 5,000 ca- sualties on the Japanese.
The communique says that after three days of irresistible Chinese en- circling and outflanking movements the Japanese forces in the Pingyang area are beginning a general with- drawal towards Nanning-Reuter.
SPEED-UP IN ARMAMENTS INDUSTRY
London, To-day.
Proposals for an intensified effort
The ships which left Vigo are the Wangoni (7,848 tons) Wahche (4,700 tons); Orizaba (4,354 tons); Arucas (3,389 tons); Rostock (2,542 tons) and Morca (1,927 tons).
left
Three German ships which Brazilian ports recently are the Wolfs- burg (0,201 tons), La Coruna (7,414 tons) and Koenigsberg (6,400 tons).
From Rio de Janeiro it is reported that when the crew of the Wakama noticed the presence of the cruiser H.M.S. Hawkins they scuttled the ship off the coast of Brazil 13 hours after leaving Rio.
CONTRADICTORY REPORTB
Meanwhile, contradictory reports are being circulated in Rio de Janeiro regarding the fate of 43 members of the crew.
Some newspapers state they were saved by Hawkins, while others say they were drowned.
ENEMY ACTIVE
IN FRANCE
Paris, To-day. Last night's French war com. munique states that cant of the Moselle an enemy rald, preceded by trench mortar and artillery preparation, falled completely.
There was infantry fire on the Rhine, and also aviation activity. -Router.
NAZI-ACTION AGAINST
THYSSENS
(SPECIAL TO "CHINA MAIL")
AMSTERDAM, TO-DAY.
IT IS REPORTED FROM GER- MANY THAT THE GERMAN HOME MINISTRY HAS SIGNED A DECREE DEPRIVING DR. FRITZ THYSSEN, AND HIS WIFE, OF GERMAN NA- TIONALITY.
DUTCH
FRONTIER INCIDENT
Amsterdam, To-day. The Dutch authorities are investigating an inci-" dent on the German fron- tier in which an employee of a Dutch electricity firm is alleged to have been shot at by Germans.
It appears that when he came to read the meters in a few houses on the German side of the frontier which are served by the Dutch electricity com- pany, he was not allowed to cross Into the German frontier, and shouted to the house-owners to come and show him their cards.
Fire was opened at him from the German side of the frontler. He put up his hands and walted un- tll some Germans carrying ro- volvers came across the border and questioned him.
He was able to satisfy them, but the women to whom he had been talk- The Thyssen fortune, amounting to ing in connexion with reading of the 200,000,000 marks, has been confiscat-meters were arrested and taken off to
the town of Vreden.-Reuter,
The Wakama was bound for Recifeed. (Pernambuco), carrying a full cargo of 6,000 tons of grain, coffee, lard, leather, minerals and cotton.
She was the last German ship at Rio de Janeiro, where she arrived a week before the outbreak of war. Reuter.
INTERCEPTED BY PLANE
New York, To-day. The "New York Times" reports from Rio de Janeiro that some members of the Wakama's crew are aboard H.M.S. Hawkins and others in other British warships. Reuter.
Havas discloses that the Wakama was not intercepted by a British war- ship, but ordered to awalt the arrival of a British warship by a plane of
in the engineering industry, to speed the Fleet Air Arm,
up production of armaments, were The master immediately proceeded handed last night to representatives to scuttle the ship.
of the 34 Unions in the Confedera-
tion of Shipbuilding and
Engineer-
ing Unions by Mr. Ernest Brown, the Minister of Labour.
The conference between the Minis-
ter and representatives of the Union lasted two and a half hours, and when the proposals have been con- sidered a further conference will be held. Reuter.
IRAN AND U.S.A.
Washington, To-day.
Iran resumed fuil diplomatic rela- tions with the United States yester- day when the Iranian Minister, Mo- hammed Schayesteh, presented his credentials to President Roosevelt.
All The Crew Safe
Rio de Janeiro, To-day. The crew of the Wakama are safe.
On his arrival here yesterday, Rear- Admiral Harwood told the press that the German Uner Wakama was set on fire by her crew when she was Intercepted; the crew abandoned ship. Information was received yesterday morning from H.M.S. Hawkins that she had rescued the crew of 10 off- cers and 38 men.
Rear-Admiral Harwood states that the Hawkins herself was not involved In the incident.
The Wakama had a cargo worth U.S.$1,000,000. Reuter.
SET FIRE TO SHIP
London, To-day. The Admiralty announce that the Wakama was located by aircraft from British_warships in the South Atlan-
Mr. Schayesteh was appointed Minister in December following diplomatic breach lasting two years. tic on Monday.
a
Relations became strained when,
On being ordered by the aircraft to following a car accident in which stop, the German crew set fire to the he was involved, the Iranian Minis-- ship and scuttled her. A British war- ter to the United States was recalled. ship later picked up 10 officers and -Reuter.
Reuter.
38 men.,
It will be recalled that Dr. Thyssen fled to Switzerland at the beginning
to
of the war but his flight was kept Dr. Thyssen actively contributed secret since the German authorities Herr Hitler's success in 1933 and was feared that it might have an un- a staunch supporter of the Nazi re- favourable effect on German morale, gime until the spring especially in view of the fact that Havas.
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