SUPPLY SHIPS SUNK

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 31, 6 February 1943, Page 5

SUPPLY SHIPS SUNK

BIG ALLIED FOOD SUPPLIES British Official Wireless Rec. 2 p.m. RUGBY, Feb. 5. Since the opening of the North African campaign Allied submarines have definitely sunk 46 Axis supply ships and damaged 33 others, many of which may have been lost, a senior naval officer stated to-day. The British Navy, in the present campaign, he said, had received wonderful assistance from the Allies, including Norwegian, Dutch, Polish, French and Yugoslav units. Allied submarines had carried out many tasks apart from the actual hunting of enemy shipping. These included reconnaissance, co-operation in military operations, bombardment of shore targets, harbours, bridges, oil installations, freight trains, and special missions such as bringing away General Giraud. Mr. Edward Stettinius, United States Lease-Lend Administrator, described in Washington to-day the aid which America and Britain was sending to North Africa. Britain had diverted a convoy, and over 50,000 tons of food and other non-military supplies urgently needed by the people of North Africa had already been shipped. At the same time, he said, a joint programme had been put into effect for sending about 10,000 tons a month of non-military supplies from the United States alone, in addition to large quantities from Great Britain. In order to meet acute shortages of food in North Africa, Britain had diverted a convoy carrying wheat, flour, canned meat, sugar and other foods meant for Britain. In future most food would be sent by the United States, and Britain would supply goods that could be spared.