RAID ON NORTH SEA CONVOY

Press, Volume LXXV, Issue 22850, 25 October 1939, Page 10

RAID ON NORTH SEA CONVOY

ENEMY SEAPLANES SHOT DOWN FULLER DETAILS GIVEN (BRITISH OmCIiL WIEELESd.) (Received October 24, 7.20 p.m.). RUGBY, October 23. Further facts concerning the enemy air attack on the British convoy in the North Sea on Saturday show that from time to time during the morning enemy seaplanes were sighted shadowing the convoy from low-lying clouds at extreme ‘range. Their appearance was greeted with spasmodic bursts of fire from the escort vessels.

At 12.30 p.m. out of the mist appeared three bombing aeroplanes, diving at the convoy. Fire was opened by all the escort vessels and the enemy, after passing over the convoy and dropping several bombs, banked steeply and vanished into the mist. The sky to the south-east now cleared and there was extreme visibility to seaward. , '

At 1 p.m. seaplanes were sighted high up in the clouds to the southeast, and presently two flights of three turned to attack the convoy. The leading escort vessel opened a heavy barrage , from which the attackers turned away and bombs were seen falling. Again they turned towards the convoy, visible now to all the escort ships, which opened fire in the line of advance and again turned them. A flight of British fighters now came swooping across the convoy from the land, and when last seen from the leading escort vessel were disappearing into the clouds to the east in pursuit of the seaplanes. Four out of 12 enemy aircraft were brought down.

No hits were obtained on the convoy and no casualties were reported. The convoy reached Its destination in due course without further molestation.

When the raiders were finally driven off one of the escort vessels passed along the lines of the convoy flying a signal from the commanding officer congratulating them on the way they had kent their formation during the attack. No Report in Berlin The Rotterdam correspondent of “The Times” says that no word is published in Berlin about the attack, from which it may be concluded that the failure was even worse- than the British communique suggested. The newspapers exnress pride at the manner in which British airmen and seamen dealt with the Nazi bombers.

The “Daily. Telegraph,” while admitting that it is unwise to count on the maintenance of immunity and emphasising. that it is only the North Sea trade with which German aircraft can attempt serious interference, states;

“It is plain that arrangements for co-operation between the escort vessels and fighter aircraft worked with admirable efficiency. There could be no better answer than this complete defeat and disastrous rout to the claims which the Nazi broadcast put forth on the eve of the fight that German bombers rule the North Sea. The resort to the air arm has disappointed the Nazi leaders. The facts are grim for them. Air bombing was imperative if there was to be any hope that war on our ships would frighten us and neutrals and, perhaps the most important, encourage the German people.” Commenting on Saturday’s engagement the “Manchester Guardian” states; “In some ways this episode is the most encouraging of any that has yet taken place.” It also adds a note of caution until there has been wider experience in air attack on convoys in varied circumstances. The naval correspondents of the newspapers, who generally regard the lesson of the incident

, —o _ . , as heartening, emphasise the successful co-operation of fighter aircraft in the cohvdy system. TWO SUBMARINES SUNK SUCCESS CLAIMED BY R.A.F. LONDON, October 23. The Air Ministry stated that two attacks were made on German submarines by Royal Air Force machines. Both were believed to have been successful. One was in the North Sea and the other in the

Atlantic. Following is the pilot’s report of the North Sea attack: “Reconnaissance aircraft sighted and attacked a submarine in position. A salvo of anti-submarine bombs was dropped ahead of the periscope, and the submarine dived steeply. The _ air gunner said definitely that he noticed a second under-water explosion after the explosion of bombs. The aircraft then turned about, flew over the submarine a second time and dropped a second salvo. Patches of oil were observed after the first salvo and more extensively after the second attack. Nothing more was seen of the U-boat.” The pilot of the Atlantic patrol aircraft stated: “An enemy submarine was sighted some distance away. It dived and several heavy bombs were dropped on it. The first was thought to have been a direct hit. Dark objects appeared on the water after the attack, and air bubbles rose to the surface.’*