BRITISH WARSHIPS' FIGHT IN ARCTIC.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 143, 18 June 1940, Page 8

BRITISH WARSHIPS' FIGHT IN ARCTIC.

GERMAN TRIBUTE. How Glorious And Escorts Went Down. AFIRE BEFORE SINKING. (Received 10 a.m.) LONDON, June 17. A German news agency message describing the sinking of the air-craft-carrier Glox-ious and other British ships, pays a tribute to the courageous British fight towards the evening of June 8. Units of the German naval patrol in the Arctic Sea met the aircraft-carrier Glorious accompanied by two destroyers. The Glorious attempted to let her 'planes take off, which the first German salvoes prevented. Two., destroyer? threw out smoke-screens forcing the German guns to pause. The destroyers fired torpedoes again and again, and the German units were compelled to manoeuvre skilfully to avoid them. Concentrated fire put, one destroyer out of action, and the water closed over her. The Glorious tried to make off, but could not get up full speed owing to the damage. The fight continued till tin glow of fire was seen in the Glorious. Slowly the giant warship began to turn on her side. Pouring out flames and smoke she drifted with the wind, then sank. The remaining destroye: continued filing from its aft guns, though the forward guns were silenced, until more salvoes from the German guns at last silenced her. The destroyer, in flames, slowly began to sink, and the waves closed over these brave opponents, too. The Agency message adds that before intercepting the Glorious the same German naval unite sank a British tanker and a protective transport vessel.