British Merchant Cruiser In Action

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23088, 2 August 1940, Page 9

British Merchant Cruiser In Action

enemy forced to retire

DAMAGED

<tW£T*» SfIESS »3BOCUTte«--COt>TBIOHT.) (Received August 1,11.45 0.m.)

LONDON, Julv 31,

An action in the South Atlantic between the armed British merchant cruiser Alcantara and a German raider is announced by the Admiralty.

The raider escaped after the Alcantara’s speed had been reduced by a lucky shot. The British casualties were two killed and seven wounded.

It is known that the damage to the raider affects her fighting efficiency. The Alcantara’s damage Was slight.

The starch fob the raider is now proceeding, and there is a good prospect that the raider* damaged as she is, will be picked up. The Alcantara is commanded by Commander J. G. B. Irtghain, who Woh the D.S.O. for gallantry at Jutland.

. immediately upon sighting the raider, which is a fast converted merchantman mounting four guns on each broadside, the Alcantara engaged the enemy, which turned away when hit. Using smoke-floats, the German put out a smoke-screen, and retired at full Sbeed. The Alcantara gave chase, inflicting damage on the raider in a running fight*

The German vessel may be the raider which a forinight ago Was reported off the West Indies, where two British merchant vessels Were sunk. The raider was then reported to be flying the Swedish flag. Though there is nothing official to .connect this vessel with that chased by the Alcantara, it is believed that they are one and the same.

'. The Alcantara is a vessel ,of 22,000 ... tons, arid in peace time she was a vessel of the Royal Mali Line on the . South American service. She was built by Harland and Wolff In 1923, and is powered by six steam turbines, geared to twin screws, She has a speed v of 18 knots. .. . The British Embassy at Rio dG Jan- ■ firO has announced that the Aleahlara engaged, the German raider on Titesi .'day at 9200 yards oil Ilha Trinidads, seven hundred miles in an easterly .... direction from the Brasilian .coast. .The -Alcftntara, which was slightly dam- ■; r agbfl, is expected at Rio de Janeiro this , ■ afternoon. 1 ■ The Admiralty announces that a y, Greek tanker under charter to the . Italian Government was sunk in the Aegean Sea last Sunday. The vessel was carrying 300 tons of petrol and 200’ tons of lubricating oil for the Italian farces in the Lodacanese, The ship was intercepted by a Bri- : tish patrol, and, soofi after it Was located; the Italians launched a heavy , air; attack. In these circumstances, the British Were compelled to sink the , tanker by gun are, after taking oft the .fapiain and erew. ; This is thought to be the air attack about which the Italians have been

circulating highly-coloured claims of heavy casualties inflicted on British warships. The Admiralty message states that no damage was done to the British ships and no casualties were suffered. The delay in the announcement of the loss of the liner Lancastria wag explained in a statement made in the House of Commons by the Minister for information (Mr A. Duff Cooper). The Lancastria was engaged Ih the evacuation of British troops when she was sunk off the French coast, the Minister explained, She was engaged in military operations, and it was clear froap the German Wireless announcements that the Germans were unaware of the identity of the ship sunk. It. was not the policy of the Government to feveal the loss Of individual merchant ships, but only to indicate the number and total tonnage lost in weekly statements.- The Lancastrian tonnage was included in the weekly figure issued on July 2. The First Lord of the Admiralty (Mr A, V, Alexander), answering a questioner, said; “I cannot agree to give information about Italian and German submarines which have been captured, sunk, or damaged. Silence prevents the enemy from discovering how events Occur, also from gauging the efficiency of out methods." ■