GREAT NAZI EFFORT

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 32, 8 February 1943, Page 3

GREAT NAZI EFFORT

Enemy Preparing Major U-Boat Offensive k N.Z. Press Association.—Copyright Rec. 11 a.m. WASHINGTON, Feb. 7. The Secretary for the Navy, Colonel Knox, told the Press that more German submarines are now operating than in June last, when merchantmen sinkings were at their highest pitch. Hitler is unquestionably relying on submarines in the Atlantic for his major effort and devoting all German construction facilities to submarines,", he added. "We are,doing our utmost to produce anti-submarine craft. The principal submarine concentrations are in the north Atlantic, southward of Iceland, on the route to Britain. "There is a secondary concentration on the North African route. Submarines cannot operate too close to Gibraltar. Sinkings are continuing off Brazil, but our remedial measures are making progress." Rear-Admiral Clark Woodward says, in the New York paper Journal la American: "Many naval strategists fear that the Axis submarine offensive in the coming spring will be similar to that of April-May in 1917, which was the Great War's most crucial period. "Allied shipping losses in 1942 are estimated at 7,000,000 tons, while construction was 8,000,000 tons. Losses last summer were well ahead of construction. The ratio was reversed in recent months, but many army and navy officers believe that the available tonnage is not sufficient transport to maintain an additional large force overseas." Rear-Admiral Woodward estimates the German submarine fleet at 400 at present, of which approximately 135 are constantly maintained in the service. New construction averages 30 a month, which is twice the number sunk. It is expected that the U-boat fleet will reach its peak level of 500 or 600 in the next few months. Hitler will then be able to launch a gigantic offensive. Since the opening of the North American campaign, says British Official Wireless, Allied submarines in the Mediterranean up to February 6 had definitely sunk 46 Axis supply ships and damaged 33 more, many of which may have been lost, according to a senior naval officer. 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.