Russian steamship Swanetia inspected by British cruisers according to a letter of the German naval attaché at Istanbul dated 2 December 1939

British Arethusa-class cruisers. ©Warshipsresearch.blogspot.com

In his letter dated Istanbul, Turkey 2 December 1939 No. 491 g. reported the German naval attaché to the Oberkommando der Wehrmacht Abteilung Ausland that the Russian steamship Swanetia active on the shipping line Istanbul, Turkey-Piraeus, Greece on 11 November in the Doro Channel was stopped and searched by two British Arethusa-class cruisers. On her return voyage was she on in the night of 22-23 November half way Doro Channel-Dardanelles by a British Arethusa-class asked to her identify herself. The Swanetia saw none warships above the mentioned cruisers on her round trip and no guarding of Istanbul.

Source

Bundesarchiv. German Marineattaché for Turkey, Greece, Romania and Bulgaria 1939-1941. RM 12-II/459.