FOUR SUBMARINES SUNK IN ONE DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 246, 18 October 1939, Page 7

FOUR SUBMARINES SUNK IN ONE DAY.

TWO OF NEWEST.

Intensified , Warfare By U-Boats Last Week. FIRST LORD'S STATEMENT. United Press Association.—Copyright. (Received 12 noon.) LONDON, October 17. The U-boat warfare was intensified at the end of last week, said the First Lord of the Admiralty, Mr. Winston Churchill, in the House of Commons. Four ships, including two French, were sunk between Saturday and Sunday. Three others were attacked but escaped. It should not be supposed that the los«cs were one-sided, he added. Four U-boats were certainly destroyed on Friday, including two of the largest and latest ocean-going type in the German Nothing like this rate of destruction was attained at any moment in the last war. It was estimated that 13 U-boats had been sunk during the war', five seriously damaged, and several others damaged. These figures were probably as understatement. In addition two-thirds of the U-boata engaged in raiding had suffered attacks from depth charges. 'The French Ifavy has also been active and has certainly taken its toll, but it is not for me to give figures on this subject," added Mr. Churchill. "We believe that from about 60 Üboats ready for action at the beginning of the war, about one-third have already been sunk or seriously damaged. The latest ocean-going type represent a proportion of about one-fifth of those put out of action. We actually hold the survivors from three of this higher class. Such skilled crews could not be easily replaced."

He added that U-boats had succeeded ao far in sinking 156,000 tons of Britain's 21,000,000 tons of mercantile Shipping. To these losses could be tdded 18,000 tons as the result of mines <r accident*.

Britain had raptured 20.000 tons of shipping from tlie enemy. and benefited bv commissioning new " ships . totalling 104.000 tons.

"It will he seen that while our mercantile marine remains practically unaffected by the U-boat warfare, losses had been inflicted on the enemy which, if continued, could certainly not be endured."

Replying to Germany's claims that she had command of the North Sea, Mr. Churchill said there was most effective control of all contraband and all commerce entering Germany. The North Sea was controlled effectively, so that CJermany had not derived any advantage whatever from her ocean-going commerce.

_ Lord Cliatfield, Minister Tor Co-ordina-tion of Defence, said in the House of Lords that there was no reason to suppose that the submarine which sank the Royal Oak had been destroyed. A Berlin report states that the commander and the crew of the submarine have vppeivpd iron crosses.

The French have captured a German merchantman in the Atlantic, according to a communique issued in Paris.

The British battleship Iron Duke was buiH Portsmouth, being completed in 1014 and was stationed with the Ist Wattle Squadron. At that time her primary armour was ten 13.5 in guns, and she also carried twelve 6in, four 3-pounder, and four anti-aireraft guns. During the Great War she was Admiral Jellicoe's flagship, and took part in the Battle of Jutland, being sixth ship of the line. She was mentioned in dispatches, and in 1919 became flagship of the Mediterranean Fleet, in Ajvril of that year bombarding the Russian Bolshevists' position at Vladivo\ska. Crimea. Her crew numbered about 1000.

'Nominated for scrapping under the London Naval Treaty of 1030, she was eventually spared for training purposes and was stationed a ; t Portsmouth. r lwo turrets were retained for gunnery practice. The Iron Duke gave her name to a class of four, the other three being the Benbow, Emperor of India and Marlborough. Recently a large number of boys under training have been quartered on the vessel, which went to sea only for gunnery practice.

Lord Jellicoe was a keen yachtsman and one of the first things he did when appointed Governor-General for the Dominion in 1921 was to order an X class one-design boat, which was later named the Jellicoe class in his honour. At the tiller of this 14-footer, which he named Iron Duke, after his former command, Lord Jellicoe competed in the first contest for the Sanders Cup held at Auckland at Easter, 1921. He was successful against Heather, representing Otago. in the first race, but was beaten in the next two. He continued to race Iron Duke each season as frequently as his duties permitted and when he left New Zealand he gave Iron Duke to Mr. Andy Carnachan, one of his crew.

The Royal Oak. which was completed for service in 1916, wag one of the five Royal Sovereign class of battleship, which was to have been serot to Singapore when the five new ships of the King George V. class are completed in 1911. Of 29,150 tons standard displacement, the Royal Oak was armed with eight lain gun 6, 12 six-inch and numerous smaller weapons. Like the other ships of her class, she was provided with protective anti-torpedo bulges when aha was refitted.