AT SEA+G31668: Lancastria, Meknes Down

AT SEA

Lancastria, Meknès Down

Germany’s score for ruthlessness mounted last week in the accounts of two major ship sinkings, one old, one new:

Six weeks old was the hitherto censored story of the 16,243-ton Cunarder Lancastria. She was sunk in mid-June off the French harbor of Saint-Nazaire just after embarking 5,000 British troops and a sprinkling of refugee women & children for evacuation to England. Nine Stukas dived on her, three at a time. The first two waves missed. The third connected, but none of the three planes came out of its dive. All crashed into the sea. One bomb went down the Lancastrians funnel. The liner heeled over, trapping hundreds of victims below decks. The water was filled with floundering survivors when the other planes returned, savagely machine-gunning lifeboats, rafts and swimmers. Fuel oil covered the water so the Stukas dropped incendiary bombs, set the entire scene ablaze. Dead: more than 2,500 men, women and children.

Out of Southampton one night last week steamed the 6,127-ton French liner Meknès. She flew the tricolor and had it painted large upon her sides, for she was carrying back to France 1,300 French naval officers & men who had decided not to fight further with Britain against Germany.

Alongside the Meknès whirled a Nazi motor torpedo boat. The French captain was given five minutes to abandon ship. When he tried to signal his ship’s name and nationality, the Germans cut him short with machine guns. Then came a torpedo. Down went the Meknès. Dead: 383. The Germans (and the Petain Government of France) blamed Britain for not notifying them to obtain safe passage for the Meknès.