He said that huge waves swamped some lifeboats as they touched the water, throwing their passengers overboard into the cold, rough sea. Scores were drowned while lifeboats were being launched, an operation hampered by the darkness, he said.
Mr. Forsyth reported that he saw one over-turned lifeboat to which eight people were clinging. One by one they lost their hold on the capsized boat and drowned, he said. By the time another boat reached the scene, only one of the eight persons was still alive, he said.
Mr. Forsyth described the behaviour of the 215 crew and 191 passengers "During the day," the communique said, "aircraft of our Bomber Command attacked the port of Flushing and its defences and concentrations of barges and light draught vessels at Rotterdam, Antwerp and Ostend.
"Similar attacks were carried out near Terneuzen, Holland, and at Calais and the St. Omer Canal, "Aircraft of the Coastal Command operated successfully against ships at sea. A convoy of twelve merchant vessels was bombed near Boulogne.
"Patrolling aircraft also attacked a supply ship of large tonnage south of Borkum. Incendiary bombs could be seen striking the vessel.
"When two smaller ships were attacked near the Dutch island of Ameland, a direct luton one of them was followed by an explosion." United Press.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.