BREMEN (Ship)

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO FROM LONDON
10/19/1939
HOW THE BREMEN GOT AWAY: DUTCH CREWMAN TELLS STOR

THE BREMEN WAS CAUGHT BY THE WAR IN NEW YORK HARBOUR. FOR MANY DAYS NOTHING WAS HEARD OF HER. THEN THE MEMBERS OF THE CREW BEGAN TO ARRIVE BACK IN HAMBURG AND IT WAS REPORTED THAT THE BREMEN HAD ARRIVED IN A NORTH RUSSIAN PORT MURMANSK WAS QUOTED. THE SHIP WAS PAINTED A NEUTRAL COLOUR WHILST AT SEA AND THE CREW DARE NOT GO BELOW TO SLEEP, FOR FEAR OF BRITISH CRUISERS. HER RADIO WAS MUTE, GERMAN NAVY BEJNG QUITE POWERLESS TO GIVE ASSISTANCE. THE FEAT OF TAKING THE SHIP THROUGH THE NORTH ATLANTIC MUST BE REGARDED AS ONE OF THE CLEVEREST PIECES OF NAVAL SKILL AND TACTICS OF THE WAR.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO SHOWS" MEMBERS OF THE CREW OF THE BREMEN LINED UP ON DECK RECEIVING INSTRUCTIONS AS TO WHAT THEY MUST DO IF THE SHIP IS SUNK. THE CAPTAIN WAS DETERMINED THAT SHE SHOULD NOT BE TAKEN IN A SEAWORTHY COND1TION AND HAD MADE FULL PREPARATIONS TO SINK THE SHIP HIMSELF IF A BRITISH WARSHIP WERE SIGHTED.

FL 217852 191039M OFFS EX F