DESTROYERS IN THE CHANNEL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 61, Issue 44, 2 December 1940, Page 5

DESTROYERS IN THE CHANNEL.

REPEATED HITS ON ENEMY.

ONE BRITISH SHIP DAMAGED

(United Press Association—Copyright.) LONDON, November 30.

German destroyers engaged in the English Channel yesterday morning by a flotilla of British destroyers were repeatedly hit by shell-fire as they made off at. high speed toward Brest, and one British destroyer was hit by a torpedo, but reached port safely. Three German bombers wlii£h attacked the destroyer as she was on her way homo were shot down and another was damaged. The story of the engagement is told by the Admiralty, which says: tact was made at 5.40 a.m., and fire was immediately opened by both sides. “The German force, which consisted of ;it least three destroyers, scattered and withdrew at high speed toward the French coast, firing torpedoes as they went.- 1 • ■ • • ' ■' 1

“One of our destroyers, H.M.S. Javelin, on board which was the officer in command of the flotilla. (Captain Lord Louis Mountbatten) was hit and damaged by a torpedo early in the engagement. The Javelin has now been brought safely ! to port/ “Another of our’destroyers chased an enemy destroyer, which ‘ made off .to the west.tinder cover of smoke,, hut she lost touch after half,,an hour because of darkness and the enemy’s use of a smoke-screen.

“The remaining enemy destroyers were chased southward by other Britist units,; These... German destroyers also escaped in the darkness, and subsequent attempts to regain touch proved fruitless. “It has not been possible to establish with certainty the extent of the damage inflicted by our gunfire, but the enemy were seen to be repeatedly hit.

“Apart from the Javelin, the British focres sustained no other damage or casualties.”

The Air Ministry states that while fighting off a series of German bombing attacks against the Javelin, Royal Air Force fighters, without loss, shot down three planes and damaged another.

CASUALTIES ON TRAWLERS

ADMIRALTY LIST ISSUED

. (Received This Day, 10.50 a.m.) LONDON, December 1. The Admiralty named one killed and 13 missing, presumed killed, on the trawler Trinovia, also two officers wounded, ons rating killed and two died of wounds, with, four missing, presumed killed, and one wounded on the trawler William Wesney.