BLOCKADE IN BREST

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 4, Issue 305, 14 May 1941, Page 2

BLOCKADE IN BREST

NAZI SEA RAIDERS REPEATED AIR ATTACKS An important phase of the Battle of the Atlantic is the continual air attacks upon the German battlecruisers Sellarnhorst and Gnci'senau, which have been lying in Brest, the encjny's naval outpost and base be--ween the Bay of Biscay and the approach l<o tlu English Channel. After a lengthy cruise in the North Atlantic during which they made successful attacks on British convoys, sinking a fair number <.£ merchant ships, the German cruisers put into Brest during the, last week in March. There is reason to believe that their arrival in that port was hastened by the activities of fast and powerful Brilis-h warships, but in any case they would be in need of fuel as well as a refit after their long cruise. Heavily Bombed. At all events their presence in Brest become known immediately to the British intelligence) service, and, on, the night of March 30-31 they were attacked heavily by a powerful force of the R.A..R. Bomber Command.. The Scharnhorst Avas in dry dock, find the Gneisenau lying at the nearby quay. The area was criss-crossed by the attackers in the face of intense anti-aircraft fire and considerable damage was done. Since then repeated attacks, by aircraft have been made qn the battle cruisers, armour-piercing bombs being used on several occasions. It is not known whether any vital damage had been done to either ship but, considering the frequency and intensity of attacks it can be taken for granted that both have been badly battered in their upper works and rendered u nse a worthy and unfit to fight. Whatever the nature or extent of the dainag?, it is clear that the battle cruisers arc not in a fit condition to go to sea or they would have departed from Brest long before now. Asi long as they remain in harbour British bombers should be able to keep well ahead of the repair gangs, British convoys at sea will be spared their unwelcome attentions, and the few big powerful British warships capable of dealing with them will be set free for other duties.