VICTORY OVER U-BOATS

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 24124, 7 December 1943, Page 5

VICTORY OVER U-BOATS

Six Sunk In North

Atlantic

BRITISH AND U.S. AIR ATTACKS

(N.Z Press Association—Copyright)

LONDON. Dec. 5. At least six U-boats were destroyed in a recent eight-day battle in the North Atlantic. The battle was,fought by British and American aircraft against two big U-boat packs which attempted to attack three Allied convoys. The Air Ministry describes this as a major action in which the enemy suffered two separate and decisive defeats. The attacks by Allied aircraft inflicted such severe losses that the U-boats were forced to abandon their, attempts to join battle with the Allied convoys. Three submarines were destroyed in each of two engagements. Nine others were attacked during the action and only bad weather and poor visibility saved the enemy from additional losses. The; engagement was one of the fiercest yet fought and the Admiralty has described it Us the most decisive victory against U-bOats in this war. The first battle opened when a Übpat pack was reported near two convoys south of Ireland. Long-range Liberators and Hudsons of the Coastal Command, and Venturas of the United States Navy, were sent out to protect the convoys. Three U-boats were sighted and attacked on the first day. On the following morning the action developed when aircraft discovered submarines running at full speed on the surface, attempting to close with two convoys. The first kill * was obtained by an American Ventura which straddled one of the submarines with depth charges. A Liberator destroyed the other in the face of' anti-aircraft fire from the Üboat, and a Hudson sank a third, again in the face of heavy fire from the submarine. After this the U-boat pack broke off the attempt to close with the merchantmen. Scarcely had the first engagement ended when an important convoy further south was reported to be sailing into a formidable concentration of U-boats. Liberators and Sunderlands of the Royal Canadian Air Force and machines of the Coastal Command had orders to protect the ships. There was the closest co-operation between .the surface naval vessels and the aircraft, and more U-boats were located by the Navy. Then the attack was opened by aircraft operating from Northern Ireland. In spite of appalling weather with rough seas, poor visibility, heavy rain, and fog, the attack was pressed home.

The first U-boat was sunk under water and the second was sunk in the same way. The third was sunk on the surface by a Canadian Sunderland, which dived at the craft through a hail of fire. The battle lasted 10 hours, after which the battered and dispersed, broke off the engagement. Not one torpedo had been fired at the convoy. The captain of a Liberator which was lost was a‘ son,of Air Marshal Sir Arthur Longmhre, former Air Chief in the Middle East.

The Gommander-in-Chief of the Western Approaches (Admiral Sir Max Horton) has sent a message of congratulation to all air saying that their timely intervention would have a big effect in the battle of the Atlantic.

NEW JUGOSLAV GOVERNMENT

MOVE REPUDIATED

GOVERNMENT IN CAIRO ISSUES STATEMENT (Rec. 7 p.m.) LONDON, Dec. ,5. The Royal Jugoslav Government, after a meeting in Cairo to-day, repudiated the new temporary Government which is reported to have been formed within Jugoslavia. The Royal Government, in a state-, ment, said: “The new movement- of terroristic violence in no way represents Jugoslavia’s democratic conceptions. The new movement has; re-, suited from enemy propaganda, to the success of which, unfortunately, the Allie : have contributed a great deal.’’ “The statement of the Royal , Jugoslav Government further widens the gap between the supporters of King Peter and Mikhailovitch, on the one hand, and Tito on the other;” says the “New York Times” correspondent in Cairo.

“One of the war’s greatest mysteries was solved when , it ■ whs learned, what had long been sus-, pected, that Tito is a Croatian peasant Worker. Josip Broz. “His election as president of the Jugoslav National Committee of Liberation complicates the position of the United Nations and the allies of Jugoslavia. All the Allies, including the big three, have diplomatic relations with King Peter’s exiled government in Cairo. The question now is whether the Allies should formally recognise Tito, as he demands.”

JAPANESE BOMB CALCUTTA

FIRST DAYLIGHT RAID

“SLIGHT DAMAGE; SOME CASUALTIES ” (Rec. 7 p.m.) LONDON, Dec. 5

Calcutta was raided to-day, says an agency message. It was the city’s first daylight raid. The attack quickly developed and the clear sky was soon filled with puffs of smoke, ’ An official statement issued by Combined Headquarters, Eastern India, said; “Japanese aircraft raided the Calcutta area to-day. A number of bombs were dropped, causing slight damage and some casualties." An official communique says; “Japanese bombers, escorted by flghtejrs, attacked Calcutta this morning in two waves. Reports indicate that two of the raiders were destroyed and four others probably shot down by fighters and anti-aircraft batteries. Some of the casualties caused were fatal." It was the first raid on Calcutta since April 27. Residents took the raid calmly.

WAR IN CHINA

AIR SUPPORT FOR CHANGTEH

(Rec. 11.30 p.m.) CHUNGKING. Dec. 5. Mitchell bombers and fighters attacked Japanese-held installations near Changteh, probably destroying four and damaging four intercepting Zeros, says General StilwelTs communique. Allied aircraft also dropped food and ammunition for the Chinese forces in the mountains near Changteh, and strafed 200 boats on Tungting lake, inflicting casualties. Two aircraft are missing. The Chinese have encircled the Japanese at Suchiatu, a southern suburb of Changteh. Other Chinese unit* north-west of Changteh have Joined the 57th Division in a pincers movement against the Japanese in that area Tme Chinese have wiped out several small Japanese forces west of Lake Tungting.

BOLIVIA DECLARES WAR ON AXIS

(Rec. U p.m.) LONDON. Dec, 6. After a long, secret session the Government of Bolivia declared Bolivia at war with the Axis.