MODEST CLAIM.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 90, 16 April 1940, Page 7

MODEST CLAIM.

ATTACK ON SCHEER. Admiralty Never Exaggerates Successes. NAZIS' HEAVY SHIP LOSSES. United Press Association.—Copyright. " (Received noon.) LONDON, April 15. A naval expert is of the opinion that if the Admiral oeheer is still afloat it may be assumed that she is so badly damaged that she will be 6ut of the war fox* a very long time. The disadvantages of pocket battleships in which defensive armament is sacrificed to offensive power was shown when the Admiral Scheer's sister ship Admiral Graf Spee, was battered by British guns of smaller calibre. The Admiralty says the Scheer was possibly hit by more than one torpedo. The Admiralty never overestimates successes, therefore the phrase "successfully attacked" is significant. The Admiralty Btates that, in addition to the two German transports sunk by British submarines, a convoy of enemy transports was attacked in the Skager-Rak and four torpedoes found their marks. Another attack on transports and aircraft at Bergen was carried out by 15 aircraft of the Fleet Air Arm and several hits were obtained. One transport was set on fire, and a small storesliip sunk. A large flying boat was machinegunned and set on fire. One British 'plane has not returned. Hitler's Norwegian invasion has re-' suited in a sharp rise in German shipping losses, which previously amounted to G4 vessels totalling 199,651 tons captured, sunk or scuttled. The tahy is now at least 92 shins, totalling 370,000 tons, plus probably eight other vessels torpedoed in convoy with unknown result.