Near the Arctic port of Archangel in Russia, floating pack ice traps and destroys dozens of merchant ships.

New York newspapers reported a merchant shipping disaster involving around 250 vessels suddenly trapped in heavy floating ice in the White Sea off Archangel, Russia.  Ice packed around many of the merchant ships, swiftly trapping and destroying dozens, according to reports from the British consul aboard one of the ships on the scene.  (By John Osborne)