1.
LV FREIGHTER IN HEAVY SEAS.
0.14

2.
SV PLANE FLIES OVERHEAD.
0.15

3.
LV's FREIGHTER RIDING IN HEAVY SEATS.
0.29



Initials DE/V/MGT/PC DE/V/MGT/BB



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: A DRAMATIC ATTEMPT TO TOW THE CRIPPLED BRITISH FREIGHTER "AMBASSADOR" A THOUSAND MILES ACROSS THE ATLANTIC TO THE AZORES, ENDED IN FAILURE EARLY YESTERDAY MORNING (SATURDAY) WHEN THE SHIP SANK.

THE "AMBASSADOR" WAS ABANDONED EARLIER IN THE WEEK WHEN SHE TOOK ON A SEVERE LIST DURING AN ATLANTIC STORM. MANY OF HER CREW WERE RESCUED BY THE NORWEGIAN CARGO-SHIP "FRUEN", BUT FOURTEEN ARE STILL MISSING, PRESUMED DROWNED.

THE FIGHT TO SAVE THE SHIP BEGAN WHEN THE DUTCH TUG "ELBE" MANAGED TO GET A LINE ABOARD THE STRICKEN FREIGHTER. EVEN THEN HOWEVER, THE CHANCES OF REACHING PORT WERE CONSIDERED VERY SLIM. MOVING AT ONLY FOUR KNOTS THE TUG BEGAN THE LONG HAUL. BY THIS TIME THE RAILS ON THE PORT SIDE OF THE CRIPPLED FREIGHTER WERE REPORTED TO BE AWASH, AND IN THE HEAVY SEAS THE TOW LINE SNAPPED.

REPORTING THE SINKING OF THE "AMBASSADOR", THE MASTER OF THE DUTCH TUG SAID THAT THE HATCHES HAD FINALLY GIVEN WAY AND THE HOLDS BECOME FLOODED.