THE UPPER HAND

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 63, Issue 229, 8 July 1943, Page 4

THE UPPER HAND

IN ATLANTIC BATTLE. NOW HELD BY THE ALLIES. ADMISSION BY THE GERMANS. (N.Z. Press Association—Copyright..} (Rec. 12.35 p.m.) LONDON, July 7. An admission that the Allies at present hold the upper hand in the Battle of the Atlantic and that thev are further developing their del cnees against U-boats was made by a naval spokesman. Admiral Luetzow, over tin.' Berlin radio. “It is a hard struggle lor our U-boats from the time they leave their bases until they return,” he said. “We have increased the numbers and range of our boats, but realised in 1942 that conditions of fighting were more difficult for us. The enemy left nothing untried and increased the protection of liis convoys and met our counter-strokes with fresh devices. . “The enemy continually increased the number and efficiency of the planes policing the lanes and the convoys using them, thus gradually compressing tlio area in which U-boats coufil systematically pursue their attack. Carrier-borne planes now circle the convoys. They drop depth, charges and report the U-boats’ position to destroyers

“Our U-boat crews nevertheless are straining every nerve to wrest from the Allies the advantageous position they at present hold in the Atlantic.”